Puzzle Quest is the epitome of addicting. It takes the heroin-like fun of Bejewled and combines it with elements of a High Fantasy Role-playing adventure. You, playing as one of four distinct character classes,(Like the Barbarian or Inquisitor), to rid the catacombs beneath the village of Verloran of evil.
While the core gameplay remains relatively untouched, much of the other gameplay elements have been radically reshaped. Instead of combat directly on the map, you now navigate through the various chambers of the catacomb yourself. You see the room in an isometric-view similar to Diablo and engage in combat with the many creatures that occupy the area. Once engaged, you fight the monster using match-three puzzle combat. The gameplay is identical to the original except for the inclusion of one-use items. These range from health to stat-boosts and can drastically change the flow of combat, making the game a little less difficult. A welcome inclusion.
The Xbox Exclusive Tournament mode allows you to fight as the monsters online.
Another similarity to the original game is the art-style, which is beautifully hand-drawn. The game-world also looks stunning thanks to extra attention to detail. Though the graphics aren't as impressive on the 360 compared to the DS, they're still fantastic. The audio is mixed. The music is interesting and varied, ranging from surreal melodies to an epic orchestral score. The sound effects, especially during battle are unfortunately extremely obnoxious and will irrate you after a couple battles.
The game is a worthy successor to the orignal and just as addicting. If you're looking for an engaging puzzle adventure and your calendar is clear for the next few months, go out and pick up Puzzle Quest for you Nintendo DS or on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points. You'll be glad you did.
- Kyle K.
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