bit-tech Shopping: D3 Publisher Puzzle Quest: Challenge of Warlords (PSP)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3

Strengths: perfect portable game, lots of replay value, great time-waster

Weaknesses: can be repetitive, not really a weakness but the DS version with touch control is better

Summary: i'm going to assume that you already know what puzzle quest is about (a vs. bejeweled with RPG elements) so we can skip over that part.this is the kind of simple puzzle game that can hook you and have you playing for hours without even noticing. the gameplay can get a bit repetitive as it is just playing bejeweled over and over (with a couple of variations) but it's a great distraction while watching tv or listening to music.a friend of mine has the ps2 version and it just isn't the same. i mean the game itself is exactly the same, but playing it with the controller and on the big screen just doesn't feel right. whereas on a portable system this game is just perfect. it doesn't require your full attention, you can pick up and play for 10-20 minutes, then be done without penalty.it's not always true but in this case: portable + puzzler = perfect

Rating: 4

Time with product:

Strengths: "revisionist" spin on both genres; mapped controls/screen perfectly to platform

Weaknesses: dull and repetitive; a marriage of convenience ONLY, doesn't enhance gameplay one way or the other

Summary: My criticism of this game is only a drop in the sea of acclaim for this particular game. Juxtaposing RPG elements in the background of a puzzle game, it highlights the addictive qualities of both genres, summarily affirming the addictive qualities of both. As a puzzle fan, I was slight turned off by the dependency of the RPG elements because it doesn't add much to the basic core gameplay. A game like lumines brings out music as a component. The beat of the music synchs closely with your peformance, an audio cue to your game performance. Puzzle Quest's RPG elements doesn't have the same effect, I could have a complacent attitude towards the RPG gimmick and it wouldn't have detrimental effects.I wish I could scratch deeper in the game but I found out that the game does not contain any subtle nuances. The lack of depth is disconcerting--in a versus mode, I could easily lost to a beginner or a polished veteran. The lack of return correlates and affirms the shallow puzzle element of this game.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Original concept, Gameplay

Weaknesses: Glitches and not the best version

Summary: Puzzle Quest is a RPG Puzzle game for Sony PSP. The creators of this game decided it would be cool to combine the puzzle genre with the RPG genre. It turns out they struck gold. You can gain levels, gain companions, loot, etc. The only real flaws are that the game has glitches and this isn't the best version of the game. But other than that I give the game 4 stars for a great first try at an original concept. The developers will perfect it for the sequel.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Great gameplay, excellent graphics, FUN!

Weaknesses: Wife wants to play too and we only have 1 PSP Slim

Summary: At first, I was skeptical of this game when I heard about it. Friends highly recommended it so I picked it up. If you have a wife or girlfriend, it's a game even non-gamers will love. The game is like World of Warcraft meets Bedazzled. Very cool story line and lots of options. You get to choose your class first, then each time you level up...you allocate where you want skill points to go. There are just so many features for this game, the more you play the more you want to play. It's not just a puzzle game. I have 18 games for the PSP and I can't put this one down. Buy it now for either the PSP or DS. Next year (2008) this game is coming out on the PS2, Wii, PC, and mobile phones. Right now it's only available on PSP, DS, and Xbox Live download.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 60

Strengths: Extremely addictive gameplay, great "on the go" gameplay style perfectly fits a handheld, top-notch music

Weaknesses: Buggy, and the story is typical fantasy RPG

Summary: Puzzle Quest is one of the most addictive games I?ve played in a long time. On paper it doesn?t sound like much ? take an RPG and combine it with Bejeweled. But play it, and it?s nearly impossible to put down. It gives the puzzle genre something it?s needed for a long time ? a purpose. No longer are you matching gems just to kill some time, now you?re fighting a battle, gaining gold & experience, and building up your character. Get a friend addicted as well (which isn?t hard to do) and you can have some great 2-player matches. The only negative I can say about the game is that it has some bugs. For example, the companions you meet are supposed to give you a bonus in battle, but on the PSP version, they don?t. I have also experienced some occasional lock-ups, but thanks to the frequent auto-saves I?ve only lost time due to this once ? and even then it was only a single battle. In the end, the bugs don?t come close to ruining the fun you?ll have with this game. This is an easy recommend to almost anyone.