Great God Grove Review

Initial release date: November 15, 2024

Developer: LimboLane

Genres: Indie game, Adventure game, Puzzle, Casual game, Adventure

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S

Publishers: LimboLane, Fellow Traveller

Engine: Unity

When video games were first invented, technology and technical constraints limited what could be done. However, as time passed and technology grew, more complicated gameplay systems emerged, displacing some of the original game styles. Fortunately, with the rise of indie games, many of these distinct genres have found new life.

Great God Grove plays pretty much like a traditional point-and-click adventure game. However, its mechanics aren’t trapped in the past, and instead of the usual gameplay of merely clicking on items, you’re given a megaphone that allows you to suck up objects and then fire them at characters to finish missions. Where it truly changes things is that not only objects are needed to solve puzzles, but character conversation can also be sucked up and fired.

Literally, taking the words out of their mouths.

Make the most of your mystical megaphone.

The protagonist is about to embark on a vacation to the Great God Grove. While aboard the boat, this supernatural megaphone falls from the sky and lands in your possession. Shortly after gaining it, the protagonist disembarks to find the grove in turmoil.

As it turns out, King, the prior owner of the megaphone and a prominent figure in the community, has sent letters to all of the gods, causing them mental agony. An bad predicament at the best of times, but this happens to be the time of the great rift; an event that comes every 33 years when a rift in the sky opens up, and it is up to the gods to cooperate and seal the rift closed.

Following some extra explanation, the protagonist is charged with following King’s lead. Using the trusty megaphone, the protagonist must relay messages between the gods and the citizens, resolving their issues and putting everyone back on track.

For me, the plot loses its way a little, particularly near the end of the game. Without spoiling anything, while the in-game stakes are quite high, certain resolutions and character motivations are questionable, to say the least.

Despite this, each character is full with individuality. They are wacky and hilarious, and the characters who accompany the protagonist through the various regions have their own small character arcs that are entertaining to see.

Always get a haircut!

These numerous places are the domains of several gods, and King’s letters have caused unrest among not only the region’s god but also the population. As someone who can be a little slow when it comes to putting together point-and-click puzzles, this is an excellent way to format this type of game. These games are infamous for their incomprehensible logic, which necessitates a certain amount of trial and error. Limiting the overall area that can be explored at one time helps you stay focused on the activities at hand.

Aside from that, the gods of each location provide hints for each step in solving an area’s riddle. This makes Great God Grove one of the more approachable games of this genre I’ve played.

It’s not just about launching stuff at characters to solve puzzles; there are also brief battle parts between each sector. These are the poorest aspects of Great God Grove: the conflict is not low-stakes; rather, there are no stakes. There is no health bar, and completing each combat sequence is more like solving a tiny puzzle than fighting. This is particularly aggravating near the end of the game. See, the resolution to Great God Grove is a fight sequence that cannot be failed. The protagonist can be assaulted and pushed, but he will not receive any damage, fall off the map, or lose. The set piece is dazzling and exciting, but it’s impossible to create tension when there’s no chance of failure.

Incorporating dialogue launching techniques into the final resolve would have resulted in a far more satisfying ending. While the game is simple, it does not simply hand out answers to the players, and completing the various riddles is enjoyable. That mood simply does not apply to the fighting sequences.

Tons of personality.

Part of that joy stems from being able to anticipate which topics and lines of discourse would be critical in moving forward. The megaphone can only contain five items at once, so whenever a character says something that can be grasped, a decision is made. Not every line of dialogue is used to advance the game, therefore will it be necessary?

However, even non-essential lines of dialogue can be utilized on different characters to evoke distinct responses. There are several amusing lines of dialogue that are merely meant to screw with different characters. For example, if a character says, “Get a haircut,” you can use that line of dialogue to force characters to get a haircut. It’s ridiculous, but when a game integrates little gags and touches like this, you can tell they care about what they’re doing.

The only other issue I had with Great God Grove was that the user interface was overly zoomed in. The list of objects on the megaphone has been somewhat cropped, and there is no interface alteration on Xbox. It’s a simple change, but it’ll help the UI from feeling crowded.

Despite a few shortcomings, the Great God Grove exudes personality and goes out to accomplish its goals. It may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy point-and-click games and want something to do over the weekend, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 85%

Controls: 83%

Aesthetics: 88%

Content: 82%

Accessibility: 79%

Value: 84%

Overall: 84%

A BEAUTIFUL AND IMMERSIVE MYTHICAL JOURNEY!

Summary:

“Great God Grove” takes players on a mysterious voyage through a rich, wonderfully designed environment where mythology and nature collide. The gameplay is fascinating and seamless, combining exploration, puzzles, and occasional fighting in a way that feels gratifying but not overpowering. The art and mood are particularly noteworthy, with vivid sceneries and exquisite details that bring the grove’s ancient lore to life. With a generous amount of material and clever accessibility features, “Great God Grove” is an engrossing game that invites exploration and admiration of its magical universe.