Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

It's really a gamble you know? Taking two genres and placing them together in a hybrid-style game and then hoping that the ingredients mix together well enough to create a new and exciting splinter genre. Looking back there have been many games that managed to unite two genres and pay off big, but more often then not, it usually ends in disappointment. Just off the top of my head I can think of some real hits, Deus Ex (FPS/RPG), Resident Evil (horror/adventure), Serious Sam (FPS/Arcade) and, well, let's just say I could write an entire article on the bad ones, Culdcept (card/RPG), Unlimited Saga (Point N Click/RPG) come to mind right away. So, with that, Puzzle Quest is the latest entry in the wild world of merging genre's, taking a puzzle title and joining it with a somewhat immersive RPG game is a gamble the folks at D3 publishing are hoping you'll take.  

Starting off selecting one of four character classes (knight, wizard, druid, warrior) you roam the countryside in an effort to complete the somewhat formulaic concept you run afoul of all sort of nasty villains who you get to do battle with. Only it's not what you think, you engage in combat by dueling if you will, on a puzzle game. Completing lines of skull shaped puzzle pieces will allow you effective attacks on your opponent, taking away their health points. Chaining attacks will do even greater damage as will your reserve of magical attacks. Magic is used in both an offensive and defensive capacity and depending on your character, the level and type of attacks will vary.

"One wouldn't think that a zombie would be effective in a battle of the mind, but one would be wrong."

It's weird, really, weird. The game itself meshes quite well together, better than the two parts easily. The puzzle game, in fact, is a decent one but seems to lack that certain ommpphh that other more-popular puzzle games possess like Bejeweled or Tetris. It's decent, don't get me wrong, but alone it would be a repetitive and simplistic game. The same could be said about the RPG storyline; we've seen it before, the leveling up of characters, the improvement of attributes the character possesses it's a tried-and-true (and well worn) formula that alone would have this reviewer complaining of its unoriginality. However, when the two are combined the whole is greater then the sum of its parts, or so the saying goes. A pretty solid RPG experience with the puzzle attacks and very addictive gameplay. On more then one occasion, I told myself, "OK, one more battle" and that would be at 1:30 in the morning. 

Graphically, the game does get the job done, I would have liked that the setup of the dual DS screens was a little more well though out, as it is, some of the puzzles lose some visual clarity along the bottom edge of the lower screen. This can cause some frustration as the game's villains will sometimes whack you with a combo of such powerful chain reaction attacks that the battle will be over before you even start. Flashy light effects are somewhat reserved and the game does have that older RPG look to it. Fortunately, the looks take a second seat to the actual fun.

 
"Ah, the token woman in a robe giving instructions."

Sound wise the game, again, seems somewhat dated; it was as if the developers were making an homage type game, only with the puzzle thing going on. There isn't anything that is particularly innovative or original about the score and accompanying sound effects. Merely adequate filler for the gamer.

Surprisingly the game is really long, with the game boasting over 150 quests in the full-blown adventure. But again, the game sometimes seems to play by its own rules by having incredibly difficult bad guys appearing fairly early on in the game and then there are those times when you don't even get a shot off against your opponent they whup up on you so quickly.

But the game does allow for some fairness, even though it may not seem like it. Get beaten by an enemy and you still will get some experience points and other goodies, and be able to fight again. In parting, my wife, who is a total puzzle game addict could not get into this game, and it had a lot to do with the storyline, reading of the plot and the fact that there was actual monsters to fight. The whole RPG thing just does not do it for her. I, however, can totally see why this game is good, but then, I like RPGs, so, be forewarned if you are a puzzle player, this may include elements that you may not care for.
 

Gameplay: 7.8
Sometimes the odds are so stacked against you, you will die immediately. The touch pad can lead to some unnecessary frustration and the game is pretty difficult at times. I enjoyed the heck out of it.

Graphics: 7.0
It has a sort of retro Sega Saturn/PS1 RPG look to it. Not so's you would hate it, but the look is definitely there, words leap off the screen when something really good or really bad happens.

Sound: 6.8
A bland background noise filler that only seeks to keep some sort of noise going on.

Difficulty: Hard
The game is long, and the baddies are really tough, expect to be beaten, a lot.

Concept: 8.8
A marriage of two genres that really works, Amen!

Multiplayer: Unavailable
Two cards are required to play head to head.

Overall: 8.0
A solid, entertaining slice of dual-genre pie. I like the puzzle fighting, I liked the plot, I liked the game