Preview – Puzzle Quest 2

Game Profile

Puzzle Quest 2

Developer: Infinite Interactive
Publisher: D3 Publisher

Release Date: 2010

ESRB: RP

Genre: puzzle
Setting: fantasy
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Is it too bold of me to assume that you have already played the original Puzzle Quest to death? It is a very popular game due to the fusion of matching jewels and light role-playing elements. In fact, I bought it for my sister for her birthday two years ago. She still plays it to this day. Now the story continues with Puzzle Quest 2, which is available for the Nintendo DS and Xbox Live Arcade. I was fortunate enough to play a bit of the XBLA version at E3 before it launched.

Everything you know about Puzzle Quest is retained. You match different-colored gems to use your avatar’s skills. These skills can then be used to tilt the battle in your favor. And you have to be careful not to allow your character’s health to reach zero while attacking your opponent with skulls.

While things are the same, there are some new additions. First, you can match gauntlets. This allows you to perform a physical attack on your opponent. It may be resisted, but it seems to be a guaranteed hit. Second, your character can equip various pieces of armor instead of a few relics. And the biggest change of all is how you access everything. 980488_20100312_790screen013

Now you can actually see the map of various locales. If there is something you can do there, you’ll see a black spot where you can move the pointer. There is also an automap, telling you the general direction you should go. Movement is simple: You push the control stick in the direction you wish to go and stop when you land on a hot spot. If you stop moving the pointer before it lands on something, it’ll return right to your avatar. Thus, the game feels more like a dungeon-crawling experience than the original.

Graphically, Puzzle Quest 2 looks nice. It looks very realistic as the gems sparkle more than ever, especially around a character’s portrait. Little animations occur when your avatar inflicts damage from his sword. The map is cleanly laid out. 980488_20100312_790screen011

Overall, it seemed like Puzzle Quest 2 was ready for its market at E3. Personally, I would like to be reassured the game is completely balanced. Look for it on DS, PC and XBLA. For more information, visit http://www.puzzle-quest.com/.

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About the Author, Evan Csir (A.K.A Psychphan)

Hi, my name is Evan. I’m an RPGaholic and hard core gamer. I graduated from college in 2007 with a BA in English (Gasp!) and psychology. I’ve been playing video games since the age of three. My first game, ever, was Super Mario Bros. So yeah, I’m pretty darn good at this video game stuff. And persistant. I like RPGs the best because I can look at it as literature. This is especially true for the Shin Megami Tensei games and The Digital Devil Saga. I enjoy horror games due to their psychological nature, like Silent Hill 3. I don’t like FPS or anything that relies too much on the first-person perspective; they make me dizzy and nauseous. Ironically, I love Metroid Prime and Half-Life 2. Hmm... Where’s Alanis Morissette when you need her? I really like it when games are creative and technically pull everything off. In this case, my favorite game is Ico. I loved it due to the presentation and the way the characters interacted with each other. Yorda and Ico didn’t speak the same language, so they had to rely on gestures and other forms of communication. I also occasionally enjoy bouts of Mario Kart: Double Dash and Smash Bros. Melee. Overall, I’m rather boring. I stay home, read my homework, occasionally write, fool around on the computer, eat, and sleep. Except for those days that I travel to school. I sometimes am inspired to write poetry (if you really want to read it, just ask). I play piano from time to time. And my favorite book genres are psychology books, occasionally poetry, and most of all, mysteries. And I’m “addicted” to herbal teas and Starbucks coffee.