Puzzle Quest: A Marriage of the Puzzle and RPG Genres

Published October 22, 2007

It's not every day that a puzzle game asks you to don the mantle of a knight, druid, warrior or wizard, and do battle with ogres, wights, trolls, and other unsavory creatures all in the name of glory, loot, and the defense of your sovereign country.

Skull attack incoming.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords™ is no ordinary game though, as its rare but elegant blend of puzzle gameplay and role-playing mechanics demonstrates.

The Bare Essentials
Imagine playing Bejeweled® 2 where each colored gem represents a "mana" source that can be used to cast spells or trigger special abilities, and you'll have some idea of Puzzle Quest's basic structure. In addition to standard gems, unique items such as skulls, stars, and coins litter the board, allowing you to inflict damage, gain experience, and collect money respectively.

Puzzle Quest is as unique and creative a game
as you're likely to find anywhere on either Xbox LIVE
Arcade or even the Xbox 360 library.

However, unlike Bejeweled 2, every match—whether against the A.I. or a human opponent via Xbox LIVE®—is played competitively, with each player taking alternating turns on the board.

The simple goal is to reduce your opponent's health to zero using a deft combination of skull attacks (line up three or more skulls for a basic attack) and spells powered from the gems you collect. And you must do all this while trying to avoid setting up powerful combinations for your enemy.

Don't Forget the RPG
While the preceding covers Puzzle Quest's active combat mechanic, it's the role-playing elements that drive the game's drama and gives it the depth separating this Xbox LIVE Arcade title from the competition.

Nice move.

You play the part of a burgeoning hero in the Agarian Empire—a nation that until recently has known little but peace and prosperity. But now, undead masses have begun creeping along the borders, while ogres, orcs, and trolls commit atrocities at the bidding of an unknown dark master. It is, naturally, up to you to unravel the mystery surrounding the threat and stave off Agaria's destruction.

Travel across the breadth of Agaria in service of your queen, accepting quests near and far and generally providing a helping hand wherever it is required. It is during these moments that you will uncover Puzzle Quest's RPG mechanics, which power and influence your character during battle.

• Leveling up: Like any other role-playing game, experience is accrued through battle and by completing quests. Collect enough to earn a new level, and then spend points to further power your character. Improve your base damage by adding points to your Battle statistic, or improve your mastery over different kinds of mana such as Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. New spells are unlocked every few levels and some of these can be quite powerful, such as Charge, which destroys an entire row of gems at a time.
• It's a party: Throughout your travels, new party members may be brought into the fold, helping to advance the story and to increase your chances in battle. For example, the dwarf Khalkus will improve your Battle statistic whenever you lay siege to a city.
• Equipment: Every hero needs a bit of armor, weaponry and a magical item or two. Whether you make it yourself, buy it from a merchant, or earn it as a quest reward, all manner of items are included in the game to make a more powerful and versatile character.
• Mount up: Early on in your adventures, you'll have the opportunity to capture a creature that can double as a mount. Much like your party members, your mount offers special abilities and statistical assists during battle.
• Capturing Cities: Laying siege to and capturing cities will earn youa stipend of gold every month from each conquered city. Of course, not all cities appreciate Agarian rule, so keep an eye open for rebellions.

The seat of Agarian power.

The Citadel
Your base of operations is your Citadel, and as you increase in power and wealth, your noble dwelling will be furnished with additional functions. Add a dungeon and keep captured enemies there to learn their special abilities. Fashion a temple and spend money to improve your stats, or build a guard tower to help keep captured cities from rebelling.

Online Experience
At any time, take your hero onto Xbox LIVE® to battle fellow Puzzle Quest players with all the same spells, gear, and equipment you bring to bear in the single player experience. The money and experience you earn during an online battle transfers directly to your single player campaign. Having trouble defeating Dugog? Try earning a level or two online before facing him again.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is as unique and creative a game as you're likely to find anywhere on either Xbox LIVE Arcade or even the Xbox 360 library. There are dozens of hours of entertainment packed into this remarkable little hybrid of the puzzle and role-playing genres, creating a perfect marriage of gameplay. Visit Agaria, you're sure to enjoy your time there.

Article by Ryan Treit