Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

I spent more time playing this game than any other Arcade game to date. It's that good. Period.

Extremely fun and addictive game.

The great thing about this game is the fact you can spend long periods of time playing or just a few minutes & the fun is equally enjoyable.

Different play modes, multiplayer & story mode are all quite good.

Definitely one of the highest rated XBLA games IMO.

A great take on the normal colour-matching ouzzle games, incorporating RPG elements.

Take turns each to match coloured symbols on a board. Match skulls to take energy off your opponent. The symbols give you mana, which can be used to cast spells; cash, which can be used to buy equipment to help you in battle, etc; or exp which allows you to Level Up.

It's very addictive, and there are quick modes and multi-player for people just wanting to get straight into the action without having to do the Quests.

Epic D&D/Bejeweled-in-a-gene-splicer game. Hours of gameplay and fun. Enemy AI is sometimes a bit cheap, like that orc that always made its saving throw. Highly recommended. There's an expansion available which brings more of the same, but for most, "more of the same" will be exactly what you want. Hie thee hither to Puzzle Quest!

Great way to make a puzzle/rpg! One of my top five XBLA games to date.

Single-handedly created a new genre and still stands on top of it as the greates game.

The best puzzle game that you can find in the xbox live marketplace

Absolutely excellent puzzle/RPG/strategy hybrid that was worth $15 and is worth the $10 asking price now. Sure, it's fairly repetitive, but certainly less-so than the game it's based upon (Bejeweled) thanks to neat RPG elements.

The bugs present in other handheld versions have been rectified here. The HD graphics look strong. Most importantly, with online play, the game is essentially given the ultimate level of replay value. Great fun.

Puzzle Quest is a fun and addicting game based on Bejeweled that's also pretty unique in that it combines puzzle with a story, but it works. Although it seems like the computer might be cheating a little bit, it's a great game for anyone who likes puzzlers or wants to try a different breed of puzzler.

This title is one of my most played XBLA titles. I keep coming back to it.

Great mixture of gameplay... RPG/Puzzler. Similar to Bejeweled... but with classes/spells/map/encounters vs. Monsters, that you compete against on the puzzle board.

Graphics are basic and to the point. Online component. Very addictive gameplay. Solid polished title. One of the most played games that I've owned on Xbox 360.

I highly recommend to give the trial of this game a go. It will make a believer out of most.

Nice puzzle game for sure!

I loved every minute of this game, it gives you hours and hours of play. Go and get it.

Only pick up this game if you have a lot of time to kill. I swear I've spent about 100 hours in this game, which means it's on par or better with most retail games (read: $60).

The game does have some tedious quests, but they all involve matching gems and fighting new monsters. I have to say - I really loved this game!

Its a classic match the gems puzzle in line with the bejeweled series, add in some RPG elements and you have puzzle quest. It's well worth the points as it will entertain you for hours and has lots of replay value.

It is probably the game I have spent the most time out of all my 360 game library.
It may seem expensive, but it is worth every point spent.
Turns the classic match 3 jewels in a RPG adventure filled with combat and strategy.
The only negative is that sometimes enemies seem to make all the right decisions. But overall it is very well balanced.
Tons of replayability. In my opinion, one of the top five purchases in the marketplace.

I love this game. It takes the casual break this color combo and turns it into a fighting RPG! I love casting spells and the battles can become very difficult. It will eat up whatever time you have and there's always that "I Just want to do this real quick" task that keeps you stuck for a while. Worth the money for sure. Esp. when you consider it coming out on so many other gaming devices (some for more $ I believe). Try it, buy it, and enjoy the heck out of it!

The combination of the RPG and Bejeweled was something I was vary wary of at first, but I became quite fascinated and in turn, quite addicted. You can play through the regular story to gain most, if not all the achievements, but if you want more depth to your game, you can also build your citadel, capture enemies, learn spells from them, train mounts, capture other cities for gold and create your own items. I was wary of the original 1200 point price tag, but with the reduction to 800 points, I say it is 100% worth it. The soundtrack is quite relaxing and sounds great, but after awhile you may want to bring your Ipod or Zune into the mix :) Another benefit to this over the PS2 or DS versions is the ability to play online against other people or friends. Also available is an expansion, in case you finish everything in the main game, which includes an increase to the level cap.

This game blends puzzle and RPG game types into a very fun XBLA game. Offline can take many hours to play through depending on what your style is. You can also take your character online to battle friends or other XBL users.

I want to start this off by being honest. I DON'T own this game on the XBLA. The only reason I do not is because I had already purchased it for my Nintendo DS before it hit the Live Arcade. However my brother does own it on his 360 and I am confident in saying that after completing the game on the DS and then seeing it in action the 360 that I am able to review this game.

Puzzle Quest is a strangely addicting puzzle game. It takes the basic gameplay mechanics of Bejeweled (A game I never liked) and adds RPG elements to it. And somehow from that mix you get a fantastic puzzle game. The single player with it's main quest, side quests, rune collecting, mount training, spell learning, and item creating will last you for hours. And if that's not enough you can play against people in online multiplayer (something the DS version unfortunately lacked).

For $10...you're getting one of the best puzzle games on the XBLA.

Easily the best thing put on the arcade yet. Classic RPG gameplay where the battles are decided with Bejeweled. And unlike the DS and PSP versions, it actually works correctly.

I thought the story was a bit hookey but I was in it for the game. With lots of customization options this makes for a game well worth the money.

The premise is simple, bejeweled with a RPG twist. I do think though that stat distribution unbalances a game, as hardcore fans will learn. Playing against a NPC you won't see much difference, but online those with experience in stat builds will pummel you (where you'll chose stay a noob or read up on builds for your class). Stats destroy the concept of a simple game as it does in mmos.

That aside the game is innovative bringing many new ideas to the table, but I would suggest you give the trail a go, before shelling out about $15 for it.

Interesting gameplay with the whole puzzle battle thing, buts its still a bit boring

I was skeptical when I tried the trial, but it was pretty fun. I found it to have a bit of a learning curve, but once I got he hang of it I was having a good time.

I tried out the demo and thought it was really fun so I bought the full game. It was worth it, for tons of hours of entertainment. With different classes for different style of gamers, this game is for everyone. The only bad thing about this game I would say is the music.

Just simply a great game for everyone. Really let the addiction of Bejeweled combine with the love of RPG's it is a can't miss game. The earlier reviews describe the game play and mention the new expansion for it. There is also a sequel coming out next year (it will be set in the future and in space though) that was displayed in E3 this year. The sequel will have the same type of game play, but the board will be circular with gems coming from all sides to spice things up a bit.

Definitely worth a d/l of the demo and if you get hooked after 3-4 battles try the game out as it only gets better!

Puzzle Quest is a great game, especially at its now low price point at 800 Microsoft Points. If you're into Bejeweled and RPG's this game is definitely for you. It's like Bejeweled + an RPG all-in-one, not to mention the time on this game. I bought it at around 1:00 AM and played until near 6:00 because I was getting tired. This game has around 30+ hours if you go through everything and you can make new characters and Instant Action and play even when you beat the game. Also, there is an expansion now for 700 that adds even more to the game. Definite buy!

Puzzle Quest: All things to All People

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords took the basics of a puzzle game such as Bejeweled and bumped it up a few notches by adding some rather deep RPG elements. The gameplay is extremely easy, but fun; there is no timer, so you can take your time to think about each move. The object of the game is to defeat your enemy by reducing his hit points to zero before your enemy can do the same to you. To accomplish this, there is a grid of 8X8 squares. Within these squares are seven different types of symbols, Green, Yellow, Red, and Blue “mana” gems, skulls, coins and purple stars. Match three in a row, and you claim whatever the symbol represents. Each of the four different colours of mana gems goes into the appropriate mana pool, coins are money which goes into your bank, purple stars are experience points and skulls do damage to your enemy. Match four in a row, you get an extra turn, five in a row nets you an extra turn and a wildcard.

Where Puzzle Quest differs from the pack of generic puzzle games is through it’s RPG elements. There are various different character classes, four from the original, and four new ones from the expansion pack. Each class has strengths and weaknesses; it will be easier to rank up certain skills and two or three times more difficult to rank up other skills. Skills govern how much mana you get when matching mana gems, how much damage you do when matching skulls, the amount of life points you have, spell resistences, chance of an extra turn when matching various gem types and how much experience and gold you receive for a win. Your character class also determines what spells you have available to you.

Both you and your enemy have spells that are powered by the different colours of mana. When playing as a Rogue (one of the new characters from the expansion pack) you start with a Sneak Attack spell that costs four green and four blue mana, it causes 3 damage to your enemy and your turn does not end. Spells do not always cause direct damage, some heal yourself, gives you extra turns, some manipulate the board etc. Combine this extremely deep levelling system with a main quest and storyline, side quests, ability to catch and train mounts, learn different spells from captured enemies, and the ability to find runes and create magical items and you have one of the largest XBLA games to date.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics are simple, as is appropriate for an XBLA game. The graphics within the story are simply pictures of you and whoever it is you are talking with over the appropriate background. The in game graphics are nice, the grid is colourful, there is no mistaking the different types of gems.

The sound is both good and bad. My advice is to turn the music off and have your own music in the background. The music is appropriate, but repetitive. The sound when matching gems is perfect though. Each gem type makes it’s own sound with is helpful when unexpected matches are created. The sounds themselves are short, but distinctive. The GONG when you “suffer defeat” jolts you in just the right way. The lightning bolt for when you match skulls brings across either a smile of delight of a grimace of pain, depending on whomever is on the receiving end. But again, this is a game you will want to play with the i-pod on.

Gameplay and Presentation

Have someone in your life who thinks that gaming is stupid or violent waste of time? Show them Puzzle Quest, they may change their mind. It’s fun, but challenging and it has a lot of depth. Know someone who kind of likes the idea of gaming, but it a bit intimidated by the controllers? Get Puzzle Quest. There is no speed trial, and all of the buttons are used so that it is an easy tutorial for learning the controller. Want a game that is both relaxing and engaging? Get Puzzle Quest. Truly, this game really is all things to all people and should be in every gamer’s library.

This is not to say that the game is perfect. I find that some of the classes just don’t work to my own style of play. I tend to be a bit of a velvet hammer, minus the velvet. It’s all about direct damage for me. As such playing as a bard or a knight just doesn’t sit well with me. But again, this is a personal statement, others may love playing a more finesse game.

The gameplay can also be uneven in times. I spent hours and ranked up to an obscene level in order to defeat the first major boss, and then the next bit of the game I was completely overlevelled. Next time I played with a different character class, I defeated him first time. I am also confused by the game’s A.I. at times. The computer does not go for the kill; I have had “unlucky” drops where I left the opportunity for the enemy to match skulls and thereby do damage to me. Instead the computer opted to match gems for spells that they don’t use that often.

Presentation does have some of it’s own problems. It’s not obvious what the various debuffs actually do to your character or to your enemy. Sometimes the accessories that your enemy is wearing is more important than the spells they can cast, but to view the accessories is a bit of a hassle. However, there is so much information on the screen, it would be very difficult to have each of these things in a easy to read HUD.

Value

This game is really the Oblivion of the XBLA world. There is just so much to do. I have spent a disgusting amount of time with this game and I have only scratched the surface. Each of the four (or eight depending on if you get the expansion pack or not) classes plays so differently that changing classes is like playing a brand new game.

That being said the expansion pack, for any fan of the game, is a must have. You get many more side missions, more weapons, four new classes etc. I will admit, 700 points is a lot of money for an expansion pack. If you have the original and are debating: here is a list of the new character classes and their specialties, see if there is something that piques your interest.

Rogue: Spells based on coin manipulation.
Primary Skills: Water Mastery and Cunning

Ranger: Direct Damage type spells:
Primary Skills: Earth Mastery and Battle

Bard: Status Effects
Primary Skills: Air Mastery and Morale

Warlock: Spells based on Skull Manipulation.
Primary Skills: Earth and Water Mastery

Bottom Line
If you do not have Puzzle Quest, it is a must have. It is one of the best games, both for gamers, and people who are new to gaming. It is on our Top Ten List of XBLA titles. Enough said.

Verdict:

Buy the game and the expansion pack! This game is a classic!

Pros :

Oblivion of XBLA games: huge game, excellent gameplay
Great game for both a seasoned gamer and a newcomer
One of the best XBLA games out there
Expansion pack adds four new, fun classes: new quests etc.

Cons

Slightly uneven gameplay at times
Music makes you appreciate your own MP3 player

Puzzle Quest was the first Xbox Live arcade game to grab my attention and not let go. Originally set at 1200 points it seemed a little pricey but after hearing glowing reviews I took the demo and was soon hooked. This is a game you will lose many many hours to playing without the desire to stop. The gameplay is simple and yet can be so complex with it's planning, spellcasting and item creation. I was unable to stop playing until I completed the story and racked up the achievements. Those achievements are fairly easy to accomplish by just playing the game and even the difficult tasks such as making a godlike item are challenging but not devastating.

The slight knock (and thus the first 9 rating here) was that the direction of the game from a story point and flow of action was a bit lacking. The story keeps a simple premise of good vs evil and allows for an early decision to affect the path of your character. But mostly it's fairly linear and the game is only lengthened by a large variety of subquests that you most likely only want to play in order to see everything in the game. The writing is fairly bland and sadly there are quite a lot of fetch quests where you are required to repeat the same type of battles over and over. Add in the randomly generated monsters on the paths between cities you will have to fight and it becomes more of a chore.

But the overall experience of getting into a nitty-gritty close battle and reaching into your spells for a combo trick is enthralling. Building your character through special items for added bonuses becomes a point of personal pride. It's completely worth the reduced 800 points price and hardcore enthusiasts will want to buy the expansion. Which is sadly not very long in addition for the 700 points. But I'm still satisfied with this purchase and recommendation.

I have no idea how many times I have said that in my head after playing Puzzle Quest. It is amazing how a game where all you do is match like colored gems has burned so many hours from my life. Extremely addicting and enjoyable. Counting down the days until Puzzle Quest Galatrix comes out.

I've only played the demo version of Puzzle Quest, but it's a brilliant game nonetheless. The puzzles are a good combination of simple and challenging and the RPG element of the game throws in a lot of strategy to make it fresh and interesting so you're not just pointlessly playing puzzle after puzzle.

Something about the RPG element of this game makes it extremely addicting. The battles are fought using a Gem-matching game and has a deeper strategy than just clearing gems.

The expansion pack for this game just game out and is a little pricey but I found it worth it because it got me to replay this game from the beginning again.