(XBLA) Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
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Puzzle Quest & Expansion Pack
Is the Revenge of the Plague Lord Expansion Pack worth a whopping 700 MS points?
Puzzle Quest: All things to All People
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords took the basics of a puzzle game such as Bejeweled and bumped it up a few notches by adding some rather deep RPG elements. The gameplay is extremely easy, but fun; there is no timer, so you can take your time to think about each move. The object of the game is to defeat your enemy by reducing his hit points to zero before your enemy can do the same to you. To accomplish this, there is a grid of 8X8 squares. Within these squares are seven different types of symbols, Green, Yellow, Red, and Blue “mana” gems, skulls, coins and purple stars. Match three in a row, and you claim whatever the symbol represents. Each of the four different colours of mana gems goes into the appropriate mana pool, coins are money which goes into your bank, purple stars are experience points and skulls do damage to your enemy. Match four in a row, you get an extra turn, five in a row nets you an extra turn and a wildcard.
Where Puzzle Quest differs from the pack of generic puzzle games is through it’s RPG elements. There are various different character classes, four from the original, and four new ones from the expansion pack. Each class has strengths and weaknesses; it will be easier to rank up certain skills and two or three times more difficult to rank up other skills. Skills govern how much mana you get when matching mana gems, how much damage you do when matching skulls, the amount of life points you have, spell resistences, chance of an extra turn when matching various gem types and how much experience and gold you receive for a win. Your character class also determines what spells you have available to you.
Both you and your enemy have spells that are powered by the different colours of mana. When playing as a Rogue (one of the new characters from the expansion pack) you start with a Sneak Attack spell that costs four green and four blue mana, it causes 3 damage to your enemy and your turn does not end. Spells do not always cause direct damage, some heal yourself, gives you extra turns, some manipulate the board etc. Combine this extremely deep levelling system with a main quest and storyline, side quests, ability to catch and train mounts, learn different spells from captured enemies, and the ability to find runes and create magical items and you have one of the largest XBLA games to date.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics are simple, as is appropriate for an XBLA game. The graphics within the story are simply pictures of you and whoever it is you are talking with over the appropriate background. The in game graphics are nice, the grid is colourful, there is no mistaking the different types of gems.
The sound is both good and bad. My advice is to turn the music off and have your own music in the background. The music is appropriate, but repetitive. The sound when matching gems is perfect though. Each gem type makes it’s own sound with is helpful when unexpected matches are created. The sounds themselves are short, but distinctive. The GONG when you “suffer defeat” jolts you in just the right way. The lightning bolt for when you match skulls brings across either a smile of delight of a grimace of pain, depending on whomever is on the receiving end. But again, this is a game you will want to play with the i-pod on.
Gameplay and Presentation
Have someone in your life who thinks that gaming is stupid or violent waste of time? Show them Puzzle Quest, they may change their mind. It’s fun, but challenging and it has a lot of depth. Know someone who kind of likes the idea of gaming, but it a bit intimidated by the controllers? Get Puzzle Quest. There is no speed trial, and all of the buttons are used so that it is an easy tutorial for learning the controller. Want a game that is both relaxing and engaging? Get Puzzle Quest. Truly, this game really is all things to all people and should be in every gamer’s library.
This is not to say that the game is perfect. I find that some of the classes just don’t work to my own style of play. I tend to be a bit of a velvet hammer, minus the velvet. It’s all about direct damage for me. As such playing as a bard or a knight just doesn’t sit well with me. But again, this is a personal statement, others may love playing a more finesse game.
The gameplay can also be uneven in times. I spent hours and ranked up to an obscene level in order to defeat the first major boss, and then the next bit of the game I was completely overlevelled. Next time I played with a different character class, I defeated him first time. I am also confused by the game’s A.I. at times. The computer does not go for the kill; I have had “unlucky” drops where I left the opportunity for the enemy to match skulls and thereby do damage to me. Instead the computer opted to match gems for spells that they don’t use that often.
Presentation does have some of it’s own problems. It’s not obvious what the various debuffs actually do to your character or to your enemy. Sometimes the accessories that your enemy is wearing is more important than the spells they can cast, but to view the accessories is a bit of a hassle. However, there is so much information on the screen, it would be very difficult to have each of these things in a easy to read HUD.
Value
This game is really the Oblivion of the XBLA world. There is just so much to do. I have spent a disgusting amount of time with this game and I have only scratched the surface. Each of the four (or eight depending on if you get the expansion pack or not) classes plays so differently that changing classes is like playing a brand new game.
That being said the expansion pack, for any fan of the game, is a must have. You get many more side missions, more weapons, four new classes etc. I will admit, 700 points is a lot of money for an expansion pack. If you have the original and are debating: here is a list of the new character classes and their specialties, see if there is something that piques your interest.
Rogue: Spells based on coin manipulation.
Primary Skills: Water Mastery and Cunning
Ranger: Direct Damage type spells:
Primary Skills: Earth Mastery and Battle
Bard: Status Effects
Primary Skills: Air Mastery and Morale
Warlock: Spells based on Skull Manipulation.
Primary Skills: Earth and Water Mastery
Bottom Line
If you do not have Puzzle Quest, it is a must have. It is one of the best games, both for gamers, and people who are new to gaming. It is on our Top Ten List of XBLA titles. Enough said.
Verdict:
Buy the game and the expansion pack! This game is a classic!Pros
Oblivion of XBLA games: huge game, excellent gameplay
Great game for both a seasoned gamer and a newcomer
One of the best XBLA games out there
Expansion pack adds four new, fun classes: new quests etc.
Cons
Slightly uneven gameplay at times
Music makes you appreciate your own MP3 player
Final Verdict
Here's a small guide to help you understand our evaluation of games.
PRESENTATION GRADE
Can be from the game's box to the contents of the booklet, and even the game introduction. (Intro, menus, options, etc)
GRAPHIC GRADE
Up to what point the graphics have been worked on my the developper. The design type, the effort used for textures and environments, as well as animations and framerate.
AUDIO GRADE
Is the soundtrack a good match to the game's style, he ambient sounds keeping with the gameplay and the sound effects clear and convincing?
GAMEPLAY GRADE
Placement of the controls and the inferface that the player with be using during the game.
REPLAY VALUE GRADE
The most important factor in the evaluation of a game. It identifies the lifespan of the game and the fun of coming back again and again.
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