HEIMDALL - Review
The game begins when Heimdall must prove his Norwegian origin and demonstrate his Viking temperament. He faces three traditional trials: axe throwing, chasing a greased piglet, and boat fighting. If you perform well and achieve a minimum of 50% ability and five companions, you'll undoubtedly have an easier task, but this won't ultimately decide the outcome of the game.
The first trial is axe throwing. A fair-haired girl is trapped in barrels, and her beautiful braids are nailed to a board. You must select a target with the cursor — one of the braids — and throw very accurately, without harming the girl. You only have 10 axes available, and there are eight braids.
The second trial only seems simple. Chasing a piglet enclosed in a muddy arena, catching it, and knocking it down isn't easy. Especially since it's greased with fat. This trial will test your agility and speed.
The final test is the boat battle. Heimdall must knock down all the opponents without getting wet himself.
You can skip the trial stage, but the skills and abilities you automatically receive will be very average, and you'll certainly have a harder task in the future.
After completing the trials, Heimdall must choose five companions from among 30 candidates and set sail on the quest. Three worlds — the hiding places of the gods' weapons — will appear on the screen in the form of maps.
Thor's hammer, hidden in human reality, is your first target. On the map, you'll find a series of islands, each with its own secret. Discovering individual puzzles will either reveal the location of the hammer or show a way to bypass its guardians. You must lead your companions to each island. Remember: it's not just about sailing from island to island. You must ensure the crew has enough food — the maximum amount of food you can take will last for six days.
Each island has at least one labyrinth, with many traps and creatures waiting. Some of them can only be defeated with spells, while others require real battles. To obtain the hammer, you'll have to overcome many obstacles and solve dozens of problems. When you succeed, the ship will be transported to the world of the giants, where Frey's spear is hidden.
The gameplay is conducted on three screens. Travel between islands takes place on the map. Check if the crew is starving. This is done with the situational screen, which displays data about the crew's health.
Various characters are used to explore islands and discover treasures. Fights with treasure-guarding masks are conducted using icons or windows side by side, as the three-person crew decides on the next move in the exchange of blows.
This captivating world of images comes to life during the game, with forced perspective changes kept to a minimum. The map may make the least impression, but it's also the least used. The inventory screen casually combines real beauty and utility — it's easy to use and understand. The isometric world is the most important thing in the game; you'll find it easy to get addicted to playing. Constantly waging wars with other tribes was the Vikings' main occupation. Battles are therefore the most characteristic feature of this game. As your character approaches the enemy, the screen transforms into a battlefield. The opponent appears in a window, with your unit's current life level displayed on the graph. Possible actions in battle, such as attack, spells, defense, and escape, are depicted on small icons.
Watching the creature in the window, you must assess with great precision when to attack. Of course, it's best to strike when it's most vulnerable and quickly choose the appropriate initiating action.
HEIMDALL initially unfolds quite slowly, but its graphics are reason enough to continue. Once you understand the game's rules and system, admiration for the graphics gives way to tactical deliberation. Advancing in the search for the gods' weapons is constantly disrupted by supply issues and the need to perform smaller tasks. You must decide on the priority of each matter and choose from many possible strategies.
