So awesome.

[Ixnatifual]

Started playing on hard/hardcore/iron and reached the first crystal.

Warning: the game is really hard with these options. I mean, really hard. I would not recommend it for first playthrough, but if you know what you're doing…

Grimrock I played through on hard/hardcore, without map drawing and also with only saving on crystals. It was not THAT hard.
With Iron Mode in Grimrock 2 this get's a little more 'interesting' (actually even more 'interesting' then Wizardry IV with the pentagrams).
But I of course, I don't think I will get through the game this way the first time. I just want to try, how far I can get with it.
Most thrill and excitement possible only on first play-through in this kind of games. That's why I take the Max Iron-Mode first as long as I can, because this exact experience is only possible once.
So, yes I think I 'know' what I'm doing.

I find Normal in LOG2 harder than LOG1 on Hard. Though I agree LOG1 on hard wasn't a big deal.

[FlashSoul]

If you have ironman and crystals only use-able once, does that mean you can only save once per crystal too?

Yes. I gotta admit that this is very challenging.

[Dr.Disaster]

Started playing on hard/hardcore/iron and reached the first crystal.

Warning: the game is really hard with these options. I mean, really hard. I would not recommend it for first playthrough, but if you know what you're doing…

Grimrock I played through on hard/hardcore, without map drawing and also with only saving on crystals. It was not THAT hard.
With Iron Mode in Grimrock 2 this get's a little more 'interesting' (actually even more 'interesting' then Wizardry IV with the pentagrams).
But I of course, I don't think I will get through the game this way the first time. I just want to try, how far I can get with it.
Most thrill and excitement possible only on first play-through in this kind of games. That's why I take the Max Iron-Mode first as long as I can, because this exact experience is only possible once.
So, yes I think I 'know' what I'm doing.

As long as you did not select "Single-Use Crystals" is should be possible with a lot of patience.

[Mychaelh]

As long as you did not select "Single-Use Crystals" is should be possible with a lot of patience.

Hehe, of course I did it. I go Werdna-Style with this!
(at least till I get bored)

I have it installed on a computer I only use for this (so no need to quit the game).
It will all be about lot's of grinding and repeatedly try and error runs for the next crystal
(like for the pentagrams in Wizardry IV - Return of Werdna)
http://diehardgamefan.com/2008/05/23/th ... y-in-hell/

My starting party:
Min Bar - HeadHunt / WeapSpec (Athlet, HvyWeap) [Brute Force Fighter]
Hu Fig - Skill / Fast Learn (Conc, Armor, Dodge) [2nd Fighter, but maybe also some magic later on]
Hu Alch - Skill / Fast Learn (Acc, Firearm, Crit) [Potion farming, sharpshooter]
Hu Wiz - Skill / Strong Mind (FireMag, EarthMag,WatMag) [Blaster]

I'm now at 8 hours play time, but still in the starting area with the first crystal.
I just grind turtles.
My fast learning alchemist and fighter are already level 3 and the wizard and barbarian are now some 200-500 exp points behind on Level 2. So I already have light armor skills for barb and fighter, fighter got also light weapons and alchemist the alchemy skill.
Next I will now risk some first careful peek in this 'Kilhagan Dungeon'.
Let's see how this turns out.
No spoilers please!

[FlashSoul]

(at least till I get bored)

You might get bored if you just keep grinding turtles >.>. It's faster to level up while exploring the dungeons and fighting better enemies. Even if you die and start again from the last savepoint.
I don't mean to tell you how to play; it's just a friendly advice .

[Mychaelh]

You might get bored if you just keep grinding turtles >.>. It's faster to level up while exploring the dungeons and fighting better enemies. Even if you die and start again from the last savepoint.
I don't mean to tell you how to play; it's just a friendly advice .

Dead on Max-Iron means all things done lost since last save hours or even days ago. And then always having to do them again.
Reason of excessive grinding when possible is to always have above average character levels when exploring new areas.
This is necessary to have a better chance when I will get trapped for instance in rooms with multiple monster coming out of opening walls, like this room with skeletons early on in Grimrock 1.
So the point here is not fast leveling against better enemies, but to minimize risks through having mostly weaker enemies to fight as it would be on a 'normal' play-through. For Max-Iron this is the 'faster' variant in the long run, then just always stupidly charging ahead in the next 'brick-wall battle'....

[Brodie301]

Hey Grimrockers it's been awhile, real life I guess.
Gotta give kudos to the guys at AH!!!
I just bought and played for about 45 minutes and it's like what we wanted LotNR to be 2 yrs ago.
Thanks AH for another amazing game. Can't wait to hear your next announced game!

One question/complaint: Why not continue the story of the original default party with the addition of the new wizard taking the place of the old? Would have loved to seen it!

[Jaelus]

- When game started I looked around and thought I launched Wizardy 8 (which is kind of positive vibe in a sense)

I got the Wizardry 8 vibe too. Best in the series. Loved that game.

[Disasterrific]

(at least till I get bored)

You might get bored if you just keep grinding turtles >.>. It's faster to level up while exploring the dungeons and fighting better enemies. Even if you die and start again from the last save point.
I don't mean to tell you how to play; it's just a friendly advice .

Leveling up in the starting area is a tradition that dates back to dungeon master for speed runs. I can't imagine why you'd want to do that on your first play-through though when you could be out discovering the island!

Warning for everyone playing on hard/iron-man/single-crystal difficulty:
You are going to die a lot - it's going to be frustrating, possibly to the extent it might even ruin the game for you.
You may think you're doing pretty well initially but later crystals are few and far between, and some of the fights are already very difficult on normal.
Single-crystal ups the challenge to an endurance feat, especially when you're trialling and erroring your way through your first run.
If I had to replay hours of gameplay over and over just to get slaughtered by a random trap then it would really take away from my experience.
Part of the beauty of LoG2 is the feeling of exploration - personally, I know that it would ruin it for me trying to play the game like that first time.
That said, good luck - you're going to need it!

[Chimera005ao]

That said, good luck - you're going to need it!

From my observation of the game so far, they are going to need a lot more than luck.
Lots of luck, the ability to react at such speeds it borders precognition, endless patience, the ability to sense traps perfectly, and some divine intervention. Probably a bit more.