View Full Version : Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Damaniel
03-19-2007, 01:51 PM
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is supposed to be released for the PSP and DS this week. For those who haven't heard of it, think 'RPG meets Bejeweled' -- a RPG where the battles are fought out by making moves on a Bejeweled-like puzzle board.
I've been interested in this one for a while (even more so after having a chance to try a demo of the PSP version), though it looks to be a pretty minor release. EB/GameStop has it for sale on their website, but is not taking pre-orders in stores, so I don't expect that individual stores will be getting too many.
Has anyone else heard of this game, and is anyone looking forward to playing it?
Windy Miller
03-19-2007, 02:07 PM
My DS version arrived on Saturday, but I've yet to fire it up. It scored 8/10 in a UK Magazine & sounds quite promising, although I don't think Nintendo Power went much on it.
mailman187666
03-20-2007, 03:03 PM
yeah I've actually been keeping tabs on this game. I'm interested in any genre they mix with RPGs. This title sounds promising. Is it out in the US yet?
Isn't it already available on Bejewled Deluxe? I remember looking at the back of it at work and saw a picture of it on there.
Cantaloup
03-20-2007, 09:50 PM
Reviews for this game are up on GameSpot now. The PSP version got an 8.5, while the DS version got an 8.1. Seems to be mostly positive comments, but they mention the presentation on the DS version is cramped and the PSP version has occasional pauses while loading.
2Dskillz
03-21-2007, 02:30 AM
Review of the Demo that I just did:
Having just completed the PC demo of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords I would like to share my refreshing experience. Puzzle Quest is an upcoming title from D3 Publisher attempting to blend the addictive nature of Bejeweled style games with the game length and story of an RPG. Puzzle Quest is going to be released initially for the DS and the PSP with PC and Xbox 360 to follow.
On the outset of the demo choose new game and you are given character selection with one of four different classes including Druid, Warrior, Knight, and Wizard. Starting out you will be going between dialog and an overhead map. On face value you have very generic anime fantasy art, a very by the numbers story with a dull script, and a very solid soundtrack.
Once you complete the introductory story bit your first battle is with a training dummy. During this time you will be instructed on how different gems in the puzzle affect the game. This is where you can see that this is only Bejeweled in concept. Where other puzzle games play until a game over and you start again having the same basic experience Puzzle Quest makes every move mean more. Instead of just finding a good move you instead need to find a move right for your situation, do I damage the enemy or get the Air Mana that I need to cast this spell. See you are sharing the puzzle board with the enemy alternating moves meaning you must always watch to avoid setting up a devastating move for your opponent. As I continued into the story each foe that I faced had unique spell powers which turn each puzzle game into something new.
Keeping up with the RPG side of things Puzzle Quest offers leveling and the purchasing of equipment. Leveling involves using points to buy stats that afford you new spells and various other effects in the puzzle battles to come. All of the equipment to offers various effects; all of this character customization I feel could lead to strong replayability.
According an interview with D3 over at 4CR additional features in the full game include capturing monsters for their spells and to use as mounts, as well as forging weapons. Each of these side-tasks has their own unique spin of the puzzle goals. Another feature will be empire building in the way of capturing cities that will pay you gold and allow you to perform the side-task mini-games.
I see Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords as where puzzle games need to head in order to maintain a longer term audience. With the constant change of “rules” and variety of manipulation you have over the puzzle it will take a long time to experience everything. In the end this is a puzzle game first, but an excellent one thanks to the RPG elements incorporated.
Game Daily is currently hosting the demo.
cyberfluxor
03-21-2007, 11:11 AM
I just picked up Nanostray the other day so I'm hold back on buying anymore DS games for awhile. I'll definitely be checking it out whenever I see it on shelves. Thanks for the heads up!
mailman187666
03-22-2007, 10:42 AM
I went around to 3 different stores (2 gamestops, and 1 target) and nobody had it or have heard of it. One store had it in the computers but 0 in stock. Is it even out, sold out, or just limited release? or do stores suck in my area.
FAN8228
03-22-2007, 10:54 AM
I went around to 3 different stores (2 gamestops, and 1 target) and nobody had it or have heard of it. One store had it in the computers but 0 in stock. Is it even out, sold out, or just limited release? or do stores suck in my area.
The stores in your area definitely suck.
Windy Miller
03-22-2007, 12:21 PM
And for once, the UK got it first by a few days. There doesn't appear to be many people talking about it though...
Damaniel
03-22-2007, 12:54 PM
The stores in your area definitely suck.
Mine too. I tried all of the local GameStops yesterday and found out that nobody had even heard of the game, let alone had any copies in stock. I ordered it (the PSP version) from Amazon last week, but my shipment was delayed, so I don't know how long it will be until I can get one.
Daria
03-22-2007, 12:57 PM
Hmm... the demo's pretty fun. Now the question is which version to get.
Sniderman
01-06-2008, 09:10 PM
I just grabbed the PS2 version of this game just the other day. A Bejeweled RPG - what a bizarre concept. And completely engrossing. Fun, fun game.
djbeatmongrel
01-06-2008, 09:26 PM
i grabbed the wii version yesterday. although they are completely different games, the weird genre splicing gameplay of puzzle quest reminds me a LOT of culdcept. hell even the art style and music are very reminiscent of culdcept.
Icarus Moonsight
01-06-2008, 10:51 PM
This was one of those games that you pick up on a whim and it proceeds to dominate your waking hours of life until you finish it.
I went through with the warrior first. Once you get to the point where you have the ability to change all the blue orbs to red and then change all the red orbs to skulls is when the game actually gets broken a bit. Most battles, once I got enough mana to use the ability combo, you can pretty much repeat it to near infinity (through 5-at-once extra turns) until your opponent is dead. Was still a whole lot of fun though, broken or not. :D
If Culdcept is anything like Puzzle Quest I better jump on a copy. :)
Mangar
01-07-2008, 05:36 PM
If Culdcept is anything like Puzzle Quest I better jump on a copy. :)
Do it. I just picked up Culdcept last week, and I am literally hooked. It's nothing like Puzzle Quest in terms of gameplay, but more that it's sort of a mashing of two different genre's of game - Into one unique package. In the case of Culdcept, it's Magic The Gathering meets Monopoly. First time i played, I ended up glued to the set for 5-6 hours. Amazing.
Now back the Puzzle Quest chatter :)
gepeto
01-07-2008, 07:01 PM
There are tons of used copys of puzzle quest at gamestop for 17.99 now would be a good time to pick one up.
Jimid2
01-07-2008, 08:13 PM
It's hard to find a used copy for the PSP around here - I guess the word is out? Anyway, after asking around for a couple weeks I came across a copy before Christmas and once it found its way into my PSP last week, it got well and truly stuck there! My wife and son liked it so much that they picked up the DS version a couple days back... So we're all three of us engrossed by this game - that hasn't happened since Pokemon back in '98!
Chainsaw_Charlie
05-26-2008, 06:48 AM
I have the Ps2 version, I've made it to the end boss. What level should I be at and who should be in my party?
Jimid2
05-26-2008, 08:22 AM
I have the Ps2 version, I've made it to the end boss. What level should I be at and who should be in my party?
In the PSP version, I capped out at level 50, but I went around finishing up all the side quests and extra missions before I tried to take on the end boss, so I was probably equivalent to lvl 55-60 by the time we faced off... The PSP version had a bug that nullified the bonus effects of your party members, so I never paid much attention to that side of the game except as the various stories unfolded - I think I just had every character available to me traveling with me at the end... As I recall, the grand foozle was quite a challenge in this one... ;)
Perkar
05-26-2008, 09:20 AM
i played through this one on the 360... had a blast with the game... until i got to the final boss. now i know how important spells are in this game... because i certainly didn't have the correct ones to finish him off (i played as warrior, btw). so i changed the difficulty to easy and got the job done... and felt dirty about it.
I've been looking forward to this game for a while now... gonna have to pick it up soon.
@cyberfluxor: how do you like Nanostray? I've only got the first one and that game rocks (it's a bitch though)
badinsults
05-26-2008, 09:29 PM
I got this game for Christmas. I found the game to really lack challenge, especially once you got the 'stun' move that makes your opponent lose a turn, while at the same time damaging them. The only challenge was the final boss, really. The story was rather generic, and the 'random' encounters were rather tedious over time. Although I did pass the game, there are better games out there.
Jorpho
05-26-2008, 11:21 PM
I've been looking forward to this game for a while now... gonna have to pick it up soon.
You might want to wait for the space-themed sequel that is supposed to be out soon.
I for one am sort of hoping that the PC version will turn up in a bundle pack in the bargain bins sometime.
carlcarlson
06-15-2008, 02:03 PM
I just got this along with a DS off of ebay. After playing the demo on Live I was hooked. It's a great game on the DS as well, but I've got a question. Sometimes the music seems to pulse and pop a bit. It's not a huge deal, and many people probably wouldn't even notice it, but it gets on my nerves. Is this the game, or is it my DS? It's a Lite, maybe the Lite just has janky sound quality?
Trebuken
06-15-2008, 04:38 PM
I just got this along with a DS off of ebay. After playing the demo on Live I was hooked. It's a great game on the DS as well, but I've got a question. Sometimes the music seems to pulse and pop a bit. It's not a huge deal, and many people probably wouldn't even notice it, but it gets on my nerves. Is this the game, or is it my DS? It's a Lite, maybe the Lite just has janky sound quality?
I never noticed anything with the sound on my Lite, but I may have missed.
Awesome game.
I hear the sequel is going to be more sci-fi than fantasy...
carlcarlson
06-15-2008, 07:27 PM
Awesome game.
It really is. Before today I had probably put 5 or 6 hours into it and was loving it. Then today I discovered the whole Citadel thing and all of the different things that opens up. This game just keeps getting better and better!
I lost most of April and part of May to that game on the 360. I just need the online achievement...
FRED
Jorpho
03-21-2010, 10:42 PM
Ah, here's the thread about this game.
It finally (finally!) went on sale on Steam for $5 a while back, meaning that I could finally purchase it. My word, it is like the crack! The slick presentation really helps too. It might be generic fantasy art, but at least it's good generic fantasy art. And the music's none too shabby either.
I have Galactrix for DS already, but I wanted to try this one first. How does Gyromancer (the one done in part by Square-Enix) compare?
maxlords
03-22-2010, 01:21 AM
It's really too bad all the sequels to this game were ass (Galactrix, Puzzle Kingdoms, Puzzle Chronicles). I don't know why they couldn't just take the same gameplay, add a new story and new quests and a few new icons to the puzzles. Bah. Each one completely redesigns the puzzle combat...mostly for the worse.
Cantaloup
03-22-2010, 05:05 PM
Puzzle Quest 2 coming soon:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gdc-10-puzzle-quest/62961
heybtbm
03-22-2010, 08:29 PM
It's really too bad all the sequels to this game were ass (Galactrix, Puzzle Kingdoms, Puzzle Chronicles).
Puzzle Kingdoms and Puzzle Chronicles aren't sequels to Puzzle Quest. Sure, they're similar in style...but Galactrix is the only true sequel. It's kind of like saying Dante's Inferno is a sequel to God of War.
PapaStu
03-22-2010, 08:36 PM
There isn't s sequel yet.... But this Juneclick me to pre-order! (http://www.amazon.com/Puzzle-Quest-2-Nintendo-DS/dp/B0033BJS9M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1269304393&sr=8-1-spell)
Galactix was a space themed one made by the same people with a new playfield and according to the front cover blurb, Puzzle Kingdoms was made by the same people (or at least some of them, but what they did/influenced is beyond me) as it was not published by the publisher of Puzzle Quest/PuzzleQuest Galactix.
Jorpho
03-23-2010, 02:57 AM
Crikey, it's been a while since a game has led me to lose sleep.
Those Very Hard Spell Research bits are Very Hard!
maxlords
03-23-2010, 03:23 AM
There isn't s sequel yet.... But this Juneclick me to pre-order! (http://www.amazon.com/Puzzle-Quest-2-Nintendo-DS/dp/B0033BJS9M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1269304393&sr=8-1-spell)
Galactix was a space themed one made by the same people with a new playfield and according to the front cover blurb, Puzzle Kingdoms was made by the same people (or at least some of them, but what they did/influenced is beyond me) as it was not published by the publisher of Puzzle Quest/PuzzleQuest Galactix.
Oh....my bad. I thought they were supposed to be sequels. If a true sequel is coming...I'll be MUCH happier with that! I hope it comes for PSP though!