Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/grindstone/id1357426636 Grindstone Capybara Games Inc. GRINDSTONE is a game of sword-slashing puzzle battles from the award-winning creators of Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery… TouchArcade Rating: Buy Now Watch Media DetailsGRINDSTONE is a game of sword-slashing puzzle battles from the award-winning creators of Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes and Critter Crunch! Grindstone Mountain is overrun with vicious Creeps! Slay your way up its treacherous peak where fortune, glory (and death) awaits! It’ll take sharp puzzle skills and an even sharper blade to cleave your way through the swarms of bloodthirsty Creeps dwelling within Grindstone’s dungeons. Battle bosses, loot resources, discover long-lost blueprints for powerful gear, all while cleaving the innards from your deadly foes! Now with more than 200 levels of intense puzzle-battling madness! Information Seller:Capybara Games Inc. Genre:Action, Puzzle Release:Sep 19, 2019 Updated:Jul 24, 2024 Version:1.1.38 Size:1.0 GB TouchArcade Rating: User Rating:Unrated Your Rating:unrated Compatibility:HD Universal Subscribe to the TouchArcade YouTube channel shining jade likes this. shining jade Well-Known Member Apr 1, 2013 387 3 18 #2 shining jade, Sep 18, 2019 This looks awesome! Like a premium matching game ! I love this! Morbus Iff Well-Known Member Sep 9, 2010 236 33 28 #3 Morbus Iff, Sep 18, 2019 Grindstone's not bad, though the hearts-mechanic feels like it was originally intended to be on a free-to-play timer. Currently, you start the game with three hearts, allowing you three hits. If you lose all your hearts, you'll only ever get back one heart to start with - you have to pay for your second and third hearts using the game's blueprints currency. On level 11, though, I do seem to have a surplus of this in-game currency, so maybe it's OK to spend. I would say that playing through the game on "one hit mode" (i.e., one heart only) is "hard"; the starting board of each level is randomized, and I have had to replay levels due to dying while attempting treasure chests. Treasure chests only ever appear after you meet the level goals, and before you can open them, you have to wait for the key to spawn, THEN get the key, THEN get a 5-hit combo on the chest. At the end-of-level, when monsters are raging everywhere, this can get pretty difficult. So far, so good though. Solid puzzle game, though I wish it used the width of the iPad properly instead of throwing up lame placeholder backgrounds for non iPhones. mkaen Well-Known Member Dec 9, 2011 165 0 16 #4 mkaen, Sep 18, 2019 The game is polished to a sheen, and while the matching mechanic feels a bit like Dungeon Raid, this is no Dungeon Raid. One quirk is that leaving the app and returning means you have to completely restart a level. It seems to be online-only as well. Mrwubbs Well-Known Member Feb 19, 2012 498 0 16 #5 Mrwubbs, Sep 19, 2019 How could it be online only? Apple specifically said that all Apple Arcade games are playable offline... Nonstickron Well-Known Member Sep 24, 2009 312 32 28 Graphic Artist / Pre-Press Central Florida http://www.rgdesignhouse.com #6 Nonstickron, Sep 19, 2019 This is my favorite game of the pile so far. Love the art and the personality. The line drawing mechanic is my personal favorite of the matching game archetypes. I’m not super far into it yet but I see me playing this loads unless the difficulty ramps up to far. Some of the boards feel kinda unfair and you just have to keep retrying them until you get lucky. ste86uk likes this. mkaen Well-Known Member Dec 9, 2011 165 0 16 #7 mkaen, Sep 19, 2019 Ah I didn't know they'd said that. It must have been a bug then. What happened is I once loaded the app with poor/no connection and it was like I started completely over at the intro tutorial. Then later, back online, progress was back. ste86uk Well-Known Member May 9, 2012 6,774 1,000 113 #8 ste86uk, Sep 20, 2019 Ooo I put off downloading this because of the file size, don’t let it put you off! It’s pretty awesome if your looking to scratch that Dungeon Raid itch, this is pretty much the only kind of matching game I enjoy...rather than those homescapes and the million others like it. Yet somehow this just works for me, also any RPG elements are always a winner for me so crafting gear and swapping and bringing in different things depending on the level and your tactics is gold. bacon-N-eggs Well-Known Member Mar 17, 2012 265 4 18 #9 bacon-N-eggs, Sep 21, 2019 I’m about 4 hours in, it’s great!!! Reminds me of being addicted to Hero Emblems, but with line matching mechanics. Two thumbs up ste86uk likes this. Alex Wolf Well-Known Member Dec 5, 2010 585 3 18 #10 Alex Wolf, Sep 21, 2019 havent played this yet , actually wanted to mention that game hero emblems in a reply to steve yesterday , but i must say scurvy scallywags is my alltime Favourite match 3 game ,and hero emblems and ( you must build a boat and 1 million, devil shard ..lol) ste86uk likes this. ste86uk Well-Known Member May 9, 2012 6,774 1,000 113 #11 ste86uk, Sep 21, 2019 I just took my first damage and lost 1 heart, so is the only way to recover it in the bar? Also just wondering what you all do, once you have collected everything from a level do you exit asap or do you stay behind and grind it for shards until it starts getting too hard and then hit the exit? Pitta Well-Known Member Oct 19, 2008 3,420 148 63 Male Italy #12 Pitta, Sep 21, 2019 At the start yes, your only option is the bar. After a while you will have a ton more money so it won’t be a problem...it just keeps on your toes the very first levels. Personally as soon as I collected everything I jump on the exit...the game gets deadly really fast. I’m absolutely IN LOVE with the game...I’m level 22 now...feels like an rpg...crafted many items, defeated bosses....they add a TON of cool (and deadly) things the more you play. My most played game together with Card of Darkness among all the ones I downloaded from Apple Arcade. ste86uk likes this. Morbus Iff Well-Known Member Sep 9, 2010 236 33 28 #13 Morbus Iff, Sep 21, 2019 To recover your hearts, you can spend your shards at the bar, yes. Or, for ramped up difficulty: don't. I've been running one-heart only through level 12, with all level criteria met. Given the random level builds, it's super frustrating and fulfilling Once I finish a level's criteria (monsters, treasure chests, crowns, etc.), I exit immediately. By the time I'm that far into the level, all the monster's are raging, I'm outta skills, and failure is imminent. ste86uk Well-Known Member May 9, 2012 6,774 1,000 113 #14 ste86uk, Sep 21, 2019 Last edited: Sep 21, 2019 Yeh I’m on level 12 now too and I’ve started seeing that it’s not best to hang around either! I did die once though I guess that’s with the random level layouts as when I tried again I beat level 11 easily. When I died it just brought me back to the bar and let me pay to buy 1 or 2 hearts. The only tiny gripe for me at the moment is that every time I open the game the cutscene comes up, i know I can skip it just by tapping but I feel like it shouldn’t come up after the first launch of the app. Edit; also just wondering if I craft an item like the jump potion is it single use only? They aren’t unlocked for good like the shield and arrow etc Pitta Well-Known Member Oct 19, 2008 3,420 148 63 Male Italy #15 Pitta, Sep 21, 2019 You recharge magical items with ingredients (that you have to gather). It’s like many old school RPGs. So far I never had any shortage of anything (without repeating a single level). ste86uk likes this. ste86uk Well-Known Member May 9, 2012 6,774 1,000 113 #16 ste86uk, Sep 22, 2019 Last edited: Sep 22, 2019 I had to try level 19 twice there for finally get all of the items, been the hardest level for me so far. I had to check the achievements just as one popped up saying about getting a chain of 10, the only ones I have completed are tutorial and chain of 10 which I only just got. Yet I know yesterday I was getting some chains 30+ on one level so it seems they aren’t working correctly? No big issue though but just wondered if anyone else has had that. Pitta Well-Known Member Oct 19, 2008 3,420 148 63 Male Italy #17 Pitta, Sep 22, 2019 Not sure about GC but the game has (repeatable) in game achievements that you can redeem for a good or coins of your choice. Be sure to check the tavern every now and then. ste86uk Well-Known Member May 9, 2012 6,774 1,000 113 #18 ste86uk, Sep 22, 2019 They didn’t make that very obvious or at least I didn’t notice it so probably missed out on some of those by not collecting. I keep feeling like I really like this game but it has a fair few things that could do with more polishing like the intro always starting on every launch of the app and not being centred properly, not telling you about the challenges and starting you at the bottom of the map all the time as I’m sure when you get further scrolling to the top will be a pain each time. PBSNellie Well-Known Member Jul 7, 2013 1,381 168 63 Southern CA #19 PBSNellie, Sep 23, 2019 I"m liking this one more than I thought I would. It helps that you always have one life even if you die. Anotherkellydown Moderator Staff Member Patreon Bronze Feb 10, 2014 4,575 1,131 113 Male CAD Technician I Upstate NY https://youtube.com/channel/UCcvu9xhE7xT-mZrXUZQJr5g #20 Anotherkellydown, Sep 23, 2019 Last edited: Sep 23, 2019 I’ve completed levels 1 through 12. Edit: Finished levels 1 through 15 collecting all blueprints, chests and crowns. The consistent addition of new mechanics keep things really interesting! This is my most played Apple Arcade game so far. Love everything about it, especially the cartoon gore and squishy sfx. Taking your time to get a huge combo link is incredibly satisfying. It does get tough quickly though but I’m pushing my way through. An absolute gem! ste86uk likes this. (You must log in or sign up to post here.) Show Ignored Content Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 Next > Share This Page Tweet Your name or email address: Do you already have an account? No, create an account now. 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Grindstone's not bad, though the hearts-mechanic feels like it was originally intended to be on a free-to-play timer. Currently, you start the game with three hearts, allowing you three hits. If you lose all your hearts, you'll only ever get back one heart to start with - you have to pay for your second and third hearts using the game's blueprints currency. On level 11, though, I do seem to have a surplus of this in-game currency, so maybe it's OK to spend. I would say that playing through the game on "one hit mode" (i.e., one heart only) is "hard"; the starting board of each level is randomized, and I have had to replay levels due to dying while attempting treasure chests. Treasure chests only ever appear after you meet the level goals, and before you can open them, you have to wait for the key to spawn, THEN get the key, THEN get a 5-hit combo on the chest. At the end-of-level, when monsters are raging everywhere, this can get pretty difficult. So far, so good though. Solid puzzle game, though I wish it used the width of the iPad properly instead of throwing up lame placeholder backgrounds for non iPhones.
The game is polished to a sheen, and while the matching mechanic feels a bit like Dungeon Raid, this is no Dungeon Raid. One quirk is that leaving the app and returning means you have to completely restart a level. It seems to be online-only as well.
How could it be online only? Apple specifically said that all Apple Arcade games are playable offline...
This is my favorite game of the pile so far. Love the art and the personality. The line drawing mechanic is my personal favorite of the matching game archetypes. I’m not super far into it yet but I see me playing this loads unless the difficulty ramps up to far. Some of the boards feel kinda unfair and you just have to keep retrying them until you get lucky.
Ah I didn't know they'd said that. It must have been a bug then. What happened is I once loaded the app with poor/no connection and it was like I started completely over at the intro tutorial. Then later, back online, progress was back.
Ooo I put off downloading this because of the file size, don’t let it put you off! It’s pretty awesome if your looking to scratch that Dungeon Raid itch, this is pretty much the only kind of matching game I enjoy...rather than those homescapes and the million others like it. Yet somehow this just works for me, also any RPG elements are always a winner for me so crafting gear and swapping and bringing in different things depending on the level and your tactics is gold.
I’m about 4 hours in, it’s great!!! Reminds me of being addicted to Hero Emblems, but with line matching mechanics. Two thumbs up
havent played this yet , actually wanted to mention that game hero emblems in a reply to steve yesterday , but i must say scurvy scallywags is my alltime Favourite match 3 game ,and hero emblems and ( you must build a boat and 1 million, devil shard ..lol)
I just took my first damage and lost 1 heart, so is the only way to recover it in the bar? Also just wondering what you all do, once you have collected everything from a level do you exit asap or do you stay behind and grind it for shards until it starts getting too hard and then hit the exit?
At the start yes, your only option is the bar. After a while you will have a ton more money so it won’t be a problem...it just keeps on your toes the very first levels. Personally as soon as I collected everything I jump on the exit...the game gets deadly really fast. I’m absolutely IN LOVE with the game...I’m level 22 now...feels like an rpg...crafted many items, defeated bosses....they add a TON of cool (and deadly) things the more you play. My most played game together with Card of Darkness among all the ones I downloaded from Apple Arcade.
To recover your hearts, you can spend your shards at the bar, yes. Or, for ramped up difficulty: don't. I've been running one-heart only through level 12, with all level criteria met. Given the random level builds, it's super frustrating and fulfilling Once I finish a level's criteria (monsters, treasure chests, crowns, etc.), I exit immediately. By the time I'm that far into the level, all the monster's are raging, I'm outta skills, and failure is imminent.
Yeh I’m on level 12 now too and I’ve started seeing that it’s not best to hang around either! I did die once though I guess that’s with the random level layouts as when I tried again I beat level 11 easily. When I died it just brought me back to the bar and let me pay to buy 1 or 2 hearts. The only tiny gripe for me at the moment is that every time I open the game the cutscene comes up, i know I can skip it just by tapping but I feel like it shouldn’t come up after the first launch of the app. Edit; also just wondering if I craft an item like the jump potion is it single use only? They aren’t unlocked for good like the shield and arrow etc
You recharge magical items with ingredients (that you have to gather). It’s like many old school RPGs. So far I never had any shortage of anything (without repeating a single level).
I had to try level 19 twice there for finally get all of the items, been the hardest level for me so far. I had to check the achievements just as one popped up saying about getting a chain of 10, the only ones I have completed are tutorial and chain of 10 which I only just got. Yet I know yesterday I was getting some chains 30+ on one level so it seems they aren’t working correctly? No big issue though but just wondered if anyone else has had that.
Not sure about GC but the game has (repeatable) in game achievements that you can redeem for a good or coins of your choice. Be sure to check the tavern every now and then.
They didn’t make that very obvious or at least I didn’t notice it so probably missed out on some of those by not collecting. I keep feeling like I really like this game but it has a fair few things that could do with more polishing like the intro always starting on every launch of the app and not being centred properly, not telling you about the challenges and starting you at the bottom of the map all the time as I’m sure when you get further scrolling to the top will be a pain each time.
I"m liking this one more than I thought I would. It helps that you always have one life even if you die.
I’ve completed levels 1 through 12. Edit: Finished levels 1 through 15 collecting all blueprints, chests and crowns. The consistent addition of new mechanics keep things really interesting! This is my most played Apple Arcade game so far. Love everything about it, especially the cartoon gore and squishy sfx. Taking your time to get a huge combo link is incredibly satisfying. It does get tough quickly though but I’m pushing my way through. An absolute gem!
