This review is a little late in coming, not only because this game has been out for almost 2 years, but because we played it a few months ago, and I just never got around to telling you about it. Sure, I mentioned it in our Demolicious post, but other than demanding that you play it, I didn’t really have a lot to say. We felt, at the time, it was more important to warn you away from the train-wreck that is Braid. Now, however, I have tons to say about PQ.

If, for some reason, you don’t already know what this game is about, or for some stranger reason, aren’t willing to blindly follow me down any gaming path, let me lay it out for you. Puzzle Quest is first, and foremost (as alluded to by its title), a puzzle game. In the style of Bejeweled, the actual puzzle is a grid of coloured tiles, and your goal is to match up vertical or horizontal lines of 3 or more tiles of the same colour, by swapping (again, horizontally or vertically), any two tiles on the board. When 3 or more of the same coloured tile are matched up, they disappear, and more tiles fall down from the top of the screen to take their place. It’s a pretty standard concept.

In addition to the coloured tiles, there are also squares occupied by purple XP stars, coins, and skulls. When destroyed, coins give you coins (duh), and xp stars give you xp (duh again). Destroying skulls damages your enemy, and here’s where it gets interesting. Each puzzle is a battle, and the object is to kill your opponent (by reducing their HP to zero), before they can kill you. Combat is turn based, and you’re both using the same puzzle board, so you have to be careful not to make moves that set up opportunities for your opponent to hurt you. You can reduce their HP by matching up lines of 3 or more skulls, or by using one of your magic spells. Because there are magic spells! When you match up and destroy coloured tiles, you gain magic points (MP) of the corresponding colour, which are used for casting. You can only take 6 spells with you into any combat, but you have a large library of them which grows as you level up, and as you buy new ones. You can use spells to damage your enemy or steal their mana points, heal yourself, change the board, or charge up your own mana. Some spells use your whole turn, and some allow you to make a move on the board after they’ve been cast. The types of spells you have, and your proficiency with them depends partly on the items you are carrying, and the class of character you choose at the beginning of the game. Some characters cater more to offense, some to defense, some to healing, etc. You know the drill.

Outside of the actual puzzle battles, there is a traditional rpg-ish story that involves something going wrong in the kingdom (zombies, or skeletons, or what have you), and the queen deciding that the best person to handle these issues is a brand new first day trainee in the queen’s guard. You navigate a map, buying armor, fighting puzzle battles, leveling up, conquering cities, choosing factions, etc, etc.

The gamer population can be divided into three groups. First group: people who have played Puzzle Quest and loved it. These people are happy and fulfilled, and tend to lead long, satisfying lives full of good health and great success. Second group: people who haven’t played Puzzle Quest, but would really like it if they did. This bunch tends to be depressed, lack purpose and direction in their life, and generally drift through their days aimlessly, not understanding why their existence has no meaning. Third group: people who either played Puzzle Quest and didn’t like it, or who haven’t played puzzle quest, and wouldn’t like it if they did. I would like to think that these people don’t exist. If you belong to the first group, then you are like me, and you understand what I feel, and there is no need for us to speak any further. If you belong to the second group, don’t despair! I have shown you the true path, and puzzle-blasting ecstasy is easily within your reach. If you belong to the third group, well… you are evil and twisted, and I don’t like you, so go away.

I feel like PQ strikes a really good balance between its RPG and puzzle aspects, never leaving you feeling like you wish it was more of one or the other. However, despite my glowing review, I have to admit that for us this game burned hot and fast, and then got pushed aside. For almost two weeks, we did nothing but play Puzzle Quest. Our world revolved around tile-swapping puzzle combat. Have you ever played a game so much that it starts to warp your perception of reality? Simple acts like getting milk out of the fridge were over-layed in my mind with skull explosions and chain combos. It was like I was always playing the game in the back of my head. I guess that’s what happens when you stare at something for 14 hours straight. It kind of sticks with you. I even dreamed about Puzzle Quest. Then, suddenly, like any summer romance, it was over and we moved on. I can’t even remember now what new game turned our heads, but I have a feeling it was Pinata, but maybe it was Mega Man? It sure wasn’t that crap-show Braid. Okay, now I’m rambling, but you should seriously try this game. It’s at least worth your time to peek at the demo.

I’m a math guy, so I’d like to boil it down into a simple equation:

Tetris = Good, Final Fantasy = Good

Tetris + Final Fantasy = Puzzle Quest

Good + Good = Super Awesome

Therefore, Puzzle Quest = Super Awesome

See?  Simple.  Since it’s on every console and handheld you can think of, and at a pretty low price point, there’s no excuse not to give it a shot.

As an aside, I didn’t find Braid to be a mind blowing crapfest, just misguided and perhaps overrated.

Also, on a final note, when Julie first used “PQ” in her article, my brain immedaitely went to Police Quest and I thought ‘What the hell does that have to do with anything?’.  I doubt I’m the only one…