Gyromancer
Gyromancer is a role-playing, turn based and 3 match game developed by Square Enix and PopCap Games in December 18 2009, Player makes his way through enchanted forest scavenging areas full of ally beasts from Gyro Codes to collect, and agressive monsters to fight. In battles enemies will attack with abilities of their own , while combat system is 3 match, later on Bejeweled Twist based of Gyromancer spin match system.
Gyromancer was released on Xbox Arcade and Steam, received positive reviews, with limited characterization, a particular score, and a dismal rated storyline receiving minor criticism. But reviewers found the gameplay to be fun and interesting.
Gameplay
During the battle, board with cells on the screen. The player must rotate groups of four gems with Rotator that three or four gems three or four gems with same colour would line up, in such case opponent would take damage. The storyline has text cut-scenes, the main character Rivel and his beasts that he summons can gain experience to level up.
Game between battles happens on map made of tiles with own patterns depending on area where you can collect Gyro Code with new monsters to complete areas task as got to point of interest or defeat all enemies on map and breaking blocking passages.
Moving through the levels, the character encounters many monsters on the way, each time the action is transferred to the battle screen, where player's monsters fights an enemy monster, and the course of events depends on the solution of a puzzle based on the Bejeweled Twist. Encountered creatures are variations of demons, dragons, giant spiders and various modified monsters from D&D.
Hero can take only three monsters to the level; before the start of the battle, game offers to choose one of three monsters player has with him. To win in encounter player shall match gems, a group of four nearby gems is rotated clockwise. If three or more gems line up, they disappear, allowing all the gems above to move into place causing cascade. After each closing of the line, the ability bar fills up, and after it being filled, a special gem appears on the board, that inflicts damage on the enemy monster. The enemy also has ability gauge, when filled after matching gems it's replaces random gem with Skull Gem with counter which contains the ability of a monster and element, similar to Bomb Gem from Bejeweled Twist that is based of Skull Gem when moves count down reaching 0, it's immediately causes harm to the summoned monster.
Later in the game, immovable stones (same as Bejeweled 2) appear, broken only by the special abilities gems of monsters, and the enemy gauge, more unsuccessful moves done, more stones would appear on board. The amount of damage inflicted and received depends on the selected monster, it's abilities and on the element it belongs to, summoned monster gain experience and obtains levels, which upgrades their characteristics: strength, agility, defense. Each monster, both summoned and enemy, has its own element color, and if it matches the color of the gems, the rate of filling the guages increases or not. After defeating the monster, the creature is added to the player's bestiary and can be used to complete any levels. New monsters can be found on the level in the form of secrets, as well as items hidden in different spots on the map, used during the battle, or hired in shops.
The protagonist of the game is a sorcerer named Rivel, an immortal monster summoner who travels through the enchanted forest of Aldemona. He pursues the head of the rebel gang Quraist Kingsley, who has killed a member of the royal family and went on the run. Simultaneously with the beginning of the persecution, someone placed a magical seal on the forest, locking all participants in the action inside.
According to rumors, the source of this mysterious seal is somewhere deep in the thickets, Kingsley is trying to find it and take possession of the magical load contained in the presence. The game is divided into twelve levels, which gradually open up, becoming available to the passenger.
To complete each level, you must complete a task, defeat the monsters blocking the passage, or solve puzzle in the allotted time. Additional levels are added to the game as DLC. In addition to the main goal at the level, and there's secondary tasks that are absolutely optional. Specific tiles of the map is blocked, they open only after backtracking the level later.
Music
Music was writed by Tsuyoshi Sekito and all rights belongs to Square Enix.
Track list
Gyromancer Theme
Music what plays in menu and main map.
- Main Theme
- Reminiscence
- On the Trail
Gyromancer suite
- A Hunch
- In the Tracks of the Beast
- Bared Teeth
- Victory Roar
- 'Neath the Eaves of the Wood
- Pressing Onward
- No Turning Back
- Suspicion
- Lashing Out (Default Battle theme)
- Licking Wounds
- Brume
- Looking Back
- Test of Faith
- Traverse
- Apart
- On the Heels of Truth
- The Scent of Blood
- Cloacked in Darkness
- Power Unbound
- Hand of Ice
- Hallowed Ground
- Wheels of Fate
- Green Shoots
Trivia
- Unused Skull gems from Bejeweled Twist are transfered to Gyromancer as Counter gems.
- This is first and last PopCap game what has support for Xbox 360 controllers on PC.
Gallery
Gyromancer main menu
Gyromancer Logo
Gyromancer game box art
Status icons
Ability icons
Board
Map tiles
In-game quotes
