Metachronos overall score = 9.2 / 10
Positive
# The best puzzle game ever made on the XBOX 360
# RPG context adds depth to familiar puzzle gameplay
# Puzzle gameplay makes traditional RPG structure way more addictive
# Dense gamefield easier to read on a larger screen
# Adds online play
Negative
# The wii and the ps2 versions suffer from slowdowns
# Difficulty level can be inconsistent
Originally released earlier this year on the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS, Puzzle Quest was a revelation. By taking some of the most compelling properties of role-playing and puzzle games, Infinite Interactive created something that was more than the sum of its parts. It's both an RPG that can be played in short bursts, as well as a puzzle game that begs to be played in long stretches. Puzzle Quest is now available on Xbox Live Arcade, and in addition to enhancing the graphics to look sharp on a big HDTV, online play has been added to the mix, making the competitive multiplayer that much more accessible. For 1200 points ($15), you're getting a superior version of a really great game.
For those who've already sunk their hours into either the PSP or DS versions of Puzzle Quest, you might notice some changes in the XBLA version--some subtle, some not. The graphics look about as they did on the PSP, though all of the great 2D art has been upscaled. It looks better than ever, though we did find ourselves squinting at the overworld map on a few occasions and wishing there were a zoom feature. Playing Puzzle Quest on a big screen has some functional benefit as well. We found it easier to identify patterns, and the distinct rune patterns on the mana pieces can make them easier to identify for colorblind players.
Online play is a great addition, even if it's limited to straightforward ranked and player matches. It's still fun to be able to take the character you've been building up in the single-player campaign against another live player, and the ability to adjust the time limit for each player's turn can make the action much more frantic and challenging. Developer Infinite Interactive has also implemented a few balance changes and bug fixes. Certain spells now have cooldown timers, and the companion bug from the PSP version has been addressed, among other things. In our experience with the game, the changes were noticeable, but their effect on the gameplay wasn't overt. The appeal of Puzzle Quest for fans of either RPGs or puzzle games is quite obvious, but what's most remarkable about Puzzle Quest is how a simple change of context turns some tired genre conventions into something suitable for just about anyone, regardless of your interest in the components. Despite coming out on XBLA a good half a year after the original DS and PSP releases, Puzzle Quest still feels incredibly fresh and vital, and the changes made in between make it even easier to recommend.
Subject: Puzzle Quest: Challange of the Warlords 
Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:46 pm
