Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 11 October, 2007

Even more heroic effort.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Wine in a box, eBay, shower radios, Worcester sauce crisps. We can all think of at least one thing we wish we'd thought up first. Puzzle Quest is another one. Take the puzzle mechanic of Bejeweled and make it the basis of a turn-based RPG. Genius.

It works like this: when you go into battle, you and your enemy take turns to try and make lines of three or more gems, coins, stars or skulls by selecting and swapping adjacent tiles. These then disappear in time-honoured fashion so that the gems, coins, stars or skulls above them can slide down to fill the gaps.

Gems come in four colours, which correspond to a particular type of elemental magic - earth, fire, etc. - and making lines of these puts magic in the bank for use later in the fight. Making lines of coins gives you cash to spend at shops, and stars give you experience points. Creating lines of skulls inflicts damage on your opponent.

The idea is to drain your opponent's health points by doing lines of skulls, or using some of the magic spells that you can put into play when you have collected enough gems. You also have defensive spells, spells that force your enemy to miss a go, and so on. You can also make sure you get two turns in a row by creating lines of four or five tiles.

'Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords' Screenshot 1

Skulls do damage, but don't be afraid to look around the board first to get an idea of what's possible in two or three turns.

It's all very simple, and the winner is usually the person who makes the most forward-thinking moves: obviously you don't want to leave semi-complete lines of skulls on the board, because your opponent will go straight for them, but if you're clever you can complete the skull line indirectly by tactfully moving something lower down, banking some gems at the same time as giving the other guy a slap.

Taken in isolation, this idea would be as exciting for the Bejeweled "genre" as Super Puzzle Fighter was for falling blocks, but developer Infinite Interactive has gone further - Puzzle Quest is a proper RPG, where you journey between castles, forts and towns doing missions for queens, dwarves, minotaurs and all sorts, most of which involve having a fight.

As you go, you also have the option of investing your hard-earned loot in a fort. This allows you to forge items, and capture enemies to use as mounts or research their spells, among other things. Since it's an RPG, you're also constantly levelling up as you accumulate experience, which improves your attributes (like the amount of damage your basic hits do, or the likelihood of having the first turn in a fight), and there's also a wide range of equipment to collect or forge, which usually has a similar buffing effect.

These are just a few of the things you can do in Puzzle Quest. There are countless side quests too, like beating up rune guardians so you can take their goodies back to base and forge ever more elaborate items. Since everyone likes Bejeweled, and Puzzle Quest's is a brilliant new application of that compulsive standard, you make it your business to do everything on the map.

'Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords' Screenshot 2

The world map is pretty vast, and there's room for expansion when the inevitable DLC turns up.

The story isn't particularly exciting - it starts off rambly and likable, like a Fire Emblem game, with some lovely 2D artwork to stare at while you skip through the speech bubbles, but it quickly becomes rather boring. But you won't mind, because everything else is so ingenious.

Having come out on the DS and PSP some time ago, today's Xbox Live Arcade user also gets the benefit of a refined version of the original. Certain spells, like "Stun", were deemed a bit too effective, so they now take a couple of turns to recharge before you can use them again, while an annoying bug that stopped your companions (yet more attribute modifiers, basically) having any effect in the PSP version has also been quashed.

They've also added a narrator to some of the pivotal story bits, which is worth it if only to hear what a cross between Brian Blessed and Stephen Hawking sounds like.

Perhaps best of all, we also now have online multiplayer, which allows you to battle against real people in ranked and unranked matches, with leaderboards to go alongside them. Infinite has also included an offline multiplayer mode, so you can still play against your flatmate, wife or cat.

'Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords' Screenshot 3

Once you get a bit good, you can siege other castles, which then provide you with a regular income.

There is still one problem with it, which has always been the case, and isn't really solvable. Basically, you'll get cross with it for "cheating". It's most noticeable when your AI enemy takes you out by pulling off moves that rely on skulls coming in from the top of the screen, which he or she has no right to know about. This is the game's simulation of luck, which is fair enough, but doesn't feel like it. Perhaps mindful of how off-putting this can be, they have at least made some of the early fights a bit easier.

You definitely need to play it in any case. Graphically it's not come on much, but then it didn't need to - it looked gorgeous on the PSP, and still does - and while the music's the same, Infinite's splendid collection of Lord of the Rings-ish melodies sounds so much nicer coming out of a proper sound system.

Of course, 1200 Microsoft points sounds like a lot, and certainly feels like a lot if the reaction to Lumines Live was anything to go by. But this is a game that boasts dozens of hours of gameplay offline, and quite a few more with friends. Having gotten about two-thirds through on DS, beaten the PSP version and made it to level 30 on Xbox Live Arcade, it already accounts for more of my gaming time this year than the rest of Xbox Live Arcade put together. Amazingly, I'm still not bored of it.

Spruced up from the PSP and offered for 10 quid, it's probably the best release on Microsoft's clever little service all year. Buy it, and wish you had thought of it first. And wish for another one where they come up with even more brilliant ideas.

9 / 10

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (42) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #1 4 years ago

    Coo!

  • Benno #2 4 years ago

    lol

  • Darren #3 4 years ago

    I tried the demo last night and just couldn't understand why the game has been getting so much praise because it's pretty much the same as Bejewelled 2 with a fantasy storyline and presentation tagged on to make it feel different. While there isn't anything wrong with it particularly, the fact that I already own a similar game makes it less appealing, especially at 1,200 points. Nice game but too late and not worth the asking price in my opinion unless you've never played these kind of puzzle games before.

  • Universal_Hamster #4 4 years ago

    Its a great little game and I'm looking forward to getting into it properly, but it can be maddening too. The first skeleton kicked my ass repeatedly.

  • alpha-0ne #5 4 years ago

    "it's pretty much the same as Bejewelled 2 "

    LOL if you dont follow the tutorial you could think that... Did you rey and level up and buy the spells etc??

  • BBIAJ #6 4 years ago

    Darren, if you get into it (even the demo will show you this), it couldn't be more different to Bejeweled 2.

    End result = SOLD!

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #7 4 years ago

    I didn't try the XBLA demo (just dived right in), but if it's a bit slight then you might find the PC demo more convincing. It does a good job of emphasising the need to protect yourself from the other guy's next move while trying to develop the board so you can take advantage once he's gone.

    It's available here.

  • IAmBatman #8 4 years ago

    Got bored of it on the DS. I really can't understand the love this gets.

  • Cryguy #9 4 years ago

    Loving the demo, pretty sure I'm going to spend 1200 MS points..anytime...NOW...!

  • Darren #10 4 years ago

    Yeah, but the problem is that XBLA has so many of these kinds of puzzles games that the only differences between them is the way they're dressed up. I've tried them all and bought most of them so maybe I've just played one too many puzzle games. After the excellent Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo I'm starting to feel like I've overdosed on them! LOL

    As I said there's nothing wrong with this new game, it plays well and it's slickly presented and everything, it's just not different enough to warrant me buying it, not at 1,200 points.

  • menage #11 4 years ago

    This isn't the same as other puzzle games at all. They just do the same thing over and over again. Sure it moves the same, but you can easely defeat the NPC with magic attacks, heal yourself, equip shit, etc. It really is more and more like an RPG if you get past the first few levels. You actually have a feeling that what you're doing isn't so useless as most puzzle games feel. An actual feeling of progression which I find lacking in games like Bejeweled.

  • Ceatlan #12 4 years ago

    Darren,

    I still find that although the mechanics of this game are the same as bejewelled it is very different as a whole. Where as I find bejewelled quickly becomes boring, this is fun every time you play it. There is such a huge amount of strategy involved in trying to get the colour you want for your spells, getting skulls when you can, stopping your opponent getting skulls at all, and making sure they can't get the colours they need for there spells. For me it turns it from something less akin to a puzzle game at all, and more like a game of chess.
    Edited by 2 at 11/10/07 @ 11:41

  • siro #13 4 years ago

    One of the greatest games on the DS, with the only flaw of it being far too easy. Maybe the spell recharge will even that out. Prolly won't tho, as most battles end in a single round anyway if your character is good...

  • Lutz #14 4 years ago

    siro: Only a few spells acn end the game in one round, and considering they tiem dealyed a basic spell such as Stun, I think something like Deathbringer will be REALLY held back.

  • JayPee #15 4 years ago

    If you like puzzle games with added depth (from "spells" etc.) you'll love this.

    If I didn't have in on DS, I would be very tempted. But then it is the perfect "on the go" type game rather than "sat at home" one.

  • groovychainsaw #16 4 years ago

    Its got everything I hated about bejeweled fixed - too often you would run out of moves simply due to poor luck (a big chain leading to no gems dropping in that you could use). In this, there is still a small luck element, but its much reduced, and makes for a much more strategic puzzle. You can still get stuck, but you don't automatically lose for this, you just lose a bit of health. This is fully desrving of a 9/10, its probably one of my favourite games this year...

  • miiiguel #17 4 years ago

    yesterday:
    "you must like FPS games or else you'll be playing nothing these past and upcoming months. Yeah great console the xbox 360."

    today will be:
    "you must like puzzle/RPG's hybrids games or else you'll be playing nothing these past and upcoming months. Yeah great console the xbox 360."
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/07 @ 12:22

  • stx #18 4 years ago

    Does the AI still award itself extra moves for no apparent reason?

  • spelk #19 4 years ago

    Dash Text: [ESRB: E10+ (EVERYONE 10+) Suggestive Themes] Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 1-2, Local Multiplayer 1-2, HD (High Definition). Classic puzzle game action meets an epic RPG story of good vs. evil. Features enhanced graphics, HD support, and Co-op multiplayer over Xbox LIVE. There are no refunds for this item.

    WHERE IS THE CO-OP MULTIPLAYER? I can only see a Vs option in Multiplayer through Xbox live.

  • MrChuckles #20 4 years ago

    My hint for the day.....

    DON'T play as the Knight. I have this on the DS, and when i got to around level 20, some of the Knight skills and equipment combine meaning you can get an infinite combo in almost every battle and never lose, sort of wrecked the game for me....

    Have an item that gives me mana for matching 4 or 5 symbols, then continually cast 'Knight Lord' (after a 'Stun') meaning huge numbers of Stars match with every cast (If they don't, cast Stun again). Every now and then skulls auto-match meaning i have full mana every turn, gain about 1000xp a battle and almost never lose. (Sometimes it takes a few turns to start up, and resistance can be annoying)

    (Edit: as long as they put the recharge on Knight Lord, that might not work on the Xbox)

    Is a great game without that, so i guess i have to start again.
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/07 @ 12:40

  • Monkey_Puncher #21 4 years ago

    The demo on XBLA is actually a lot longer than most and gives you a great taste of what the full game's like, definetly worth checking out if you're not sure if it's your sort of game. I wasn't sure as I didn't enjoy Bejewelled, but after playing the demo I was sold. It's everything that for me Bejewelled wasn't, the extra RPG elements make the game addictive and really make you feel like you're making progress, unlike Bejewelled which I found to be quite stale and unrewarding.

  • Miths #22 4 years ago

    I played the demo last night and loved it - and unless I get lucky in an hour and find a store that has put PGR4 on the shelf a day early :p, the full version of Puzzle Quest should definately keep me entertained until tomorrow. And by the sounds of it, many other days as well.

  • Kropotkin #23 4 years ago

    I played this to death on the DS when I was rather sick back in April. Still can't get the music out of my head which had to be turned off in the end as it was rather annoying.

    As a tip, use the stun spell, always screwed up the opponent no end and you can get some nice strings of attacks that way.

  • lennon #24 4 years ago

    I actually played this more than PGR 4 last night. Was extremely impressed as was my misses who absolutely hates games but has the odd go on Bejeweled as she felt that it made the genre more interesting.

  • Lutz #25 4 years ago

    stx: It's never done that. There's always a reason, be it a spell or a 4/5 of a kind.

  • Bits #26 4 years ago

    I really enjoyed the trial of this, played it as far as it would let me. Although I'm unsure wether to get the XBLA version or maybe get the DS version, which I might prefer.

    Any recommendation?

  • mkreku #27 4 years ago

    The PC version really benefits from the mouse controls. I've played it on the DS before but it's much better on the PC.

    Also, it's possible to play this game in windowed mode. It's perfect for when you just want to chill and relax and talk to friends and play at the same time! No stress and lots of fun!

  • Bidermaier #28 4 years ago

    Where is the Wii version???

  • thegamesthething #29 4 years ago

    Do I really want to play through this whole thing again?

    Yes.

  • asphaltcowboy #30 4 years ago

    Love it on DS, it's ace! Unfortunate they didn't re-do the music, it's awful!!!

  • stx #31 4 years ago

    Lutz, maybe it was something to do with the PSP version but I had to stop playing it after 10 hours or so as the AI seemed to award itself arbitrary free moves for no obvious reason. Maybe I was missing something, but I took away the impression the AI was cheating and it made the game completely unfun.

  • Psychotext #32 4 years ago

    Something to keep the missus busy with. :D

  • DjFlex52 #33 4 years ago

    Watch out, though, the hours can fly by when you're playing this game like Peggle Deluxe did to me.

    One word: addictive.

  • smelly #34 4 years ago

    This game is ace.

    You play it for hours.. Think "ooh, im bored of this now".. But still somehow keep playing for hours more as you're hooked.

  • smelly #35 4 years ago

    >Where is the Wii version???

    In development.. my money is on a wiiware version..

  • haowan #36 4 years ago

    "There is still one problem with it, which has always been the case, and isn't really solvable. Basically, you'll get cross with it for "cheating". It's most noticeable when your AI enemy takes you out by pulling off moves that rely on skulls coming in from the top of the screen, which he or she has no right to know about. This is the game's simulation of luck, which is fair enough, but doesn't feel like it. Perhaps mindful of how off-putting this can be, they have at least made some of the early fights a bit easier."

    That's such bullshit.

  • TedMoseby #37 4 years ago

    A lot of people think the game cheats, but according to the developer, on their forum at D3, the AI logic is actually quite simple and small in terms of code, and the game doesn't cheat (it just makes you mutter expletives when it does manage to chain together another Heroic Effort, seemingly out of nowhere, but that's part of the charm).

    I've played it on the PSP (annoying loading pauses for such a simple game - curse you, UMD format), the DS (the occasional slowdown, but actually really nice - there seems to be fewer variations in the music though), the PC demo - lovely, and made me want to buy it within minutes of trying it.

    The demo of the 360 version seems much the same as the PC version - but nice to have it in widescreen and relaxing on the sofa...

    Wholeheartedly recommended.

  • hoos30 #38 4 years ago

    Best XBLA demo ever = Immediate sale. Halo 3 is now competing for scarce play time.

  • Lov3 #39 4 years ago

    The 360 is actually really great for puzzle games. Back when I had one, Lumines Live was one of my favourite games, and Settlers of Catarn impressed me greatly (thats not quite a puzzle game, but it's a similar market). I played Arcade more than disk games actually :).

    Anyway, I forgot this game existed! Thanks for the review, I just ordered it for DS.

  • dryden555 #40 4 years ago

    there's some genuine fun strategy in the game -- I enjoyed it a lot on the DS. It gets kinda cheesy in later levels because both you and the computer AI will have the ability to change virtually the entire board in one turn. Luck starts to play to great a role at that point. Playing the demo doesnt really give you a full impression of the game.

  • miiiguel #41 4 years ago

    "Halo 3 is now competing for scarce play time."

    +480.000 online players a few minutes ago.

  • fujimaster #42 4 years ago

    This is a wonderful game! Never played the DS version, but don't care - it's utterly absorbing. A nice big map to explore, cities to take over, runes to collect, citadels to build, monsters to fight and capture, spells to learn, weapons to build ... totally excellent. The biggest problem this game has is the price, at 1200 points not enough people will buy it, which means not enough ranked players to fight :(