RPG exist longer one decade. Write character extract quest smash orcish get level bleed characteristics buy steep armors and sword longer, flunk dragon marry princess ... familiar? No less familiar and classic puzzle where you have to combine in a series of three icons of the same color - at least have the same Bejeweled, by which the world had gone hundreds of thousands of man hours. Why no one had thought to combine these two genres in one game before the advent of Puzzle Quest - a mystery. After all, RPG-elements now getting shoved wherever. And beat'em up, and in the GTA, and even the strategies have experience points for leveling. But the crossing of RPG and puzzle gave a truly stunning result.
 | |  | Very rash decision: worth interchanged blue Manu with gold right instead top - then fell would extra turn. | | AI sometimes makes notables blunders: now eg collects mana instead strike using skulls. |
First acquaintance admittedly deceptively. Because case with Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords easily imagine though before us usual RPG. Selecting class (warrior knight druid or mage) world map with city where can collect rumors in tavern otovaritsya in shop and get assignments in royal palace - all very close and familiar anyone habitue genre. But than tighter acquaintance nearer shock guaranteed when form first battlefield.
Fights in Puzzle Quest represent a classic puzzles «match three». Field 8 on 8 on therein - chips seven types. Admissible passages - those resulting whose series lining three or more chips one type. Yes just as in Bejeweled or Zoo Keeper - only Double and step mode.
And this system works! Putting in series three chips we obtain concrete effect: eg case with skulls adversary applied physical damage. Violets chips bring experience pro money and without superfluous explanations all understandable rather remaining four species chips give party battlefield mana appropriate color. With it can conjure and apply skills - while their here tens and they really diversify battle! There simply attackers; there entitling additional move that destroy selected chips and even whole rows there buffs - or contrary, debilitating there treating and many others. And each opponent - inimitable skill set about which also be remember - differently have tightly.
 | |  | On the world map will not get lost - where available quests are marked as such. | | And in the PSP-version looks like damage to the enemy. |
Actually, in the gradual shortening of the enemy HP with skulls or spells, and is a big part of gameplay. Sometimes given the opportunity to combine in a series of three to four or even five pieces - if you granted the right to further progress. Only trouble is that, as is the case with Bejeweled, much depends on luck. When you already think that the victory in his pocket, move the enemy can suddenly gave him five more "free" passages, during which he methodically you shared the walnut. Undoubtedly, many of these situations can anticipate and timely "podstelit straw", but to completely eliminate the appearance of the incident from the top row of three skulls did not.
 | Prospects |
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords will not remain exclusive for portable systems: the already announced PC version and Xbox 360 - though without specific release dates. Demo for the PC you can download (or find it on our hard drive) now, there you are limited to the seventh level, but you can fully know all the subtleties of the game, but at the same time, and evaluate whether it is still addictive. As of version Puzzle Quest for the Xbox 360, it will be distributed via Xbox Live Arcade - so there's sure to become the main feature online multiplayer. Yes, and it should cross your fingers, so that developers are not too lazy to add anything new. Asked about a possible release of Puzzle Quest for the PlayStation Network or Virtual Console, they are responsible vague - they say, the publisher knows best. But really, what we think about D3? After all, Puzzle Quest - a goldmine, not otherwise!
 | |  | Available spells highlighted. | | Looking at the citadel in Puzzle Quest, can not forget the "Heroes of Might and Magic." |
For winning the battles and quests (which consists, essentially, all in the same massacre of opponents) are given money and experience - in a much larger quantity than what is produced in the fighting. After rising in the level, you can distribute a four-point skills among the seven characteristics. Increasing skill combat, morale (which is the vitality), cunning (defines the right of the first move), and possession of four elements, we increase our chances for victory in battles with stronger rivals. However, many of the quests are quite restrictive and keeps out the greedy, but weak characters.
Puzzle Quest offers us, and other activities, apart from endless battles.Thus, to meet a certain monster for the fourth time, you can catch him, so his ability to learn or even ride the poor in order to receive bonuses for performance. Can be precipitated by the city - beating capacity, and then each month you will receive a tribute. Money to spend on equipment, and construction of its own citadel, where the characteristics of the increase for a fee, and new items using special runes vykuyut and captured creatures to coach - all with the same puzzles.
Whether Puzzle Quest simple repetition of Bejeweled - was quickly forgotten about it would be, whether it be the usual RPG - and then it would be very few people seriously interested in (if you take into account the oversaturated cliches and the plot is incredibly monotonous quests). But, being somewhere in between, Puzzle Quest managed to grab the best of both genres. The appeal of the puzzle that lies at the core of the combat system, spurring perform tedious tasks, and progress is evident: rising levels, to improve the performance - and manchkinsky instinct pulls forward to new battles. You will need a fair amount of willpower to get off the Puzzle Quest, - she draws so much.
| Differences |
The DS-version is very skillfully used both the console screen, and stylus to control where it is more convenient than to drive back and forth frame pointer. On the other hand, the battle is still turn-based, and haste, as is the case with the Zoo Keeper, no. Version for the PSP, in turn, looks much better thanks to higher resolution and advanced special effects. Nevertheless, she crept into most unpleasant bug: the ability of companions that join you simply do not work. Even though it almost does not affect the passing game, all the same shame and disgrace! However, the hideous quality of the music in the version for the DS - the lack of a much more significant, so that the estimates obtained are equal.
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