Normally, when you take a well-known game and try to combine elements of other games with it… it doesn’t end well. Most of the times, the new elements overshadow what the original game was all about, and it’s just kind of lame.
But for some reason, Puzzle Quest is one of those games, and it works. I don’t know why I should be getting excited for a game that’s built off of Bejeweled, but the fact is that this is a solid title.
Puzzle Quest features single player and online multiplayer capabilities, though most of the action will take place in the single player story mode. Here, you can create a character by selecting a class, a character design from four different templates per class, and name your character. Your job in story mode is to become the strongest fighter in the land, and to do so, you'll need to complete missions and battle anything in your path.
Underneath all of this story lies the same basic game play and controls as you might find in Bejeweled, but with a few new additions. It's still match-up three of the same color in a row to clear the board, but this time, you're doing it to gain mana. This mana is then used in order to cast spells, which can be used as attacks, healing spells, or to destroy pieces, among other things. There is also the added bonus of matching three skulls up together to unleash an attack on your enemy. By defeating them, you can level up and earn gold to spend in the game's shops or in your own personal citadel.
But Bejeweled's problems rear their ugly head here. The game is subject not only to randomization of pieces as you clear the board, but it sometimes will line things up so that your opponent can launch a huge combo on you. And in Puzzle Quest, this can mean a huge amount of damage being dumped on you all at once. Not very fun.
Article comments