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Puzzle Quest 2 coming to DS, XBLA in Spring 2010
Though we're confident Infinite Interactive's Puzzle Quest 2 will eventually be a mega-multiplatform release like its predecessor, D3Publisher announced that the game's roll-out will start on DS and Xbox Live Arcade. It'll be out in spring 2010, along with every other game you've ever heard of, which means that you'll now have the choice to play all those games or Puzzle Quest. They'll occupy about the same amount of time. Puzzle Quest 2 will let players match gems as one of four new character classes: War Mage, Inquisitor, Barbarian, or Assassin, using "all-new weapons, spells, and shields." Sorry if you just got over a Puzzle Quest addiction.
Puzzle Quest sequel revealed
It appears that GamePro will reveal the first details of Puzzle Quest 2 in its next issue. Beyond a single image, the mag doesn't drop any details on its website. After Infinite Interactive went a tad off course with Galactrix -- meanwhile, developing Puzzle Kingdoms, Puzzle Chronicles and Neopets Puzzle Adventure -- it's good to see the team going back to its roots. From the image, it seems that Puzzle Quest 2 is being developed for Xbox 360, but if it's anything like its predecessor, the game will eventually release on every console, handheld and electronic device known to man. One can also deduce that purple is now a rune for spells instead of XP. But what purpose do the gloves serve? We're sure to learn more very soon.
Puzzle Quest ventures to $5 this week on XBLM
The excellent and addictive Puzzle Quest gets half off this week for Xbox Live Gold Members. Major Nelson sends word by necromantic carrier pigeon that the jewel-dropping epic will cost a mere 400 ($5). Even if you aren't interested in the game at the moment, may we suggest picking it up as a "boredom insurance policy?" Seriously, the first time you get bored, just boot up Puzzle Quest and you'll come out of the trance sometime the following week. Hey, listen ... we said it was an insurance policy against boredom -- nothing about you being able to keep your job, spouse or grades after starting. Queue Puzzle Quest to download on your Xbox 360%Gallery-8259%
MTV's Totilo: DS version of Galactrix plagued by load times
Considering our outrageous, unslakable handheld lust for Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, we didn't think anything could keep us from diving back into our dual-screened device for a go at Galactrix -- though a report from MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo is giving us slight cause for concern. According to Totes, the DS version of the game suffers from "surprisingly long load times." Yes, he said the DS version -- not the Commodore 64 version. We were confused at first as well.Totilo said that the four to five-second load times occur before each puzzle, during mission selection and when checking inventory. Doesn't sound like much, but as he assures us, "it adds up." Anyone else notice their precious seconds being squandered whilst participating in some interplanetary gem-swapping?
You should probably play this Galactrix demo
This Flash demo will give you a pretty good idea of what playing the DS Puzzle Quest Galactrix will be like, except that the DS one will look different, cost money, and last longer. Playing the thing will explain the concepts of the game a lot better than we can. Even the pre-demo instructions seemed complicated (and we've seen the game before), until we started playing, at which point we just got it immediately.We wanted to complete the demo, so we could take in the entirety of the presentation before reporting it for you, but that's just not going to happen right now. In fact, we're going to go ahead and proclaim that it's impossible to beat General Tarn or whatever, and also that the game is cheating and it's totally not fair.%Gallery-16886%
Resistance is futile: Puzzle Quest Galactrix launches Flash demo
A Flash demo is available now for those looking to try Puzzle Quest's sci-fi follow-up, Galactrix. The rules may be slightly different (the no extra turn for 4-of-a-kind is a doozy), but be warned, star gazing gem shifters: the refined spice which made the fantasy realm of Puzzle Quest so addictive is still quite potent in this new form. Galactrix is expected to arrive the relatively near future for Nintendo DS, PC, XBLA and PSN. The demo doesn't seem to take prisoners, so hit the enemy with lasers and use shields when opportunity allows.[Via X3F, Evil Avatar]
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix demo trialable online
Figured you'd like to know that there's a Puzzle Quest: Galactrix mini demo now available online at playpuzzlequestgalactrix.com. The flash demo of D3 Publisher's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade release of Galactrix gives a sampling of the gameplay, the powerups and the overall experience. Just watch out for that General Tarn and his abuse of the Trident Laser. He's a Trident Laser madman. [Via Evil Avatar]
Infinite Interactive mixes it up again with Deathbringer
Well, we've seen Infinite Interactive take on the puzzle game with RPG elements, and that went okay. Time to branch out into new territory, right? That's just what they're doing with Deathbringer -- an ARPG ... uh, with puzzle elements.Listen, when the hybrid works, it works. And most RPGs have some puzzle elements somewhere, so despite the hilarity of Infinite Interactive doing the opposite of what they've done before, it's not too far off the beaten path. Of course, they could probably make a game about scooping doggy poop off the sidewalk and we'd play it. That Puzzle Quest was some fun. Hit the break to see what they have to say about their forthcoming Deathbringer, which will be released for nearly every console known to man. Think companions and co-op. Maybe they should have named it Awesomebringer..[Via NeoGAF]
DS Fanboy Interview: Neopets Puzzle Adventure's Griptonite Games
The last time we spoke to Griptonite Games, they were adapting a huge franchise with massive expectations onto the DS. Now, with Neopets Puzzle Adventure, two big series are in their hands: Infinite Interactive's narrative puzzle game series (Puzzle Quest, etc.), and the Neopets franchise. The version of Neopets Puzzle Adventure that they're making for the DS features mostly the same gameplay as the PC and Wii versions, has been tweaked by Griptonite for handheld play. We spoke to producer Sean Epperson about the process of adapting Infinite Interactive's Othello-based puzzle game to the small screens.What other gameplay/mechanics ideas were considered, when looking for an idea for a Neopets game (e.g. collectible card game, pet sim, etc.)?When Capcom came to us, a good portion of the PC and Wii game had already been designed. We ran with those core ideas, leveraged what would work well on the DS platform, and made some changes where things wouldn't have worked as well. This also allowed us to create a different experience on the DS, which gives players a real reason to try out all the versions of the game.%Gallery-34221%
Neopets Screenshot Adventure
Capcom has sent out a set of screens of the DS version of Neopets Puzzle Adventure, one of our most anticipated games in spite of an unfamiliar license. The screens feature some of the Neopets that you can create as avatars, if that matters. Also notable: one of the Petpet abilities, which forces the opposing player to place a tile in a set location. These abilities are, to us, the most important addition to the Othello-based gameplay, as they allow players to do something to change the tide of the game other than placing tiles. This one also happens to be a lil' Pegasus. That's pretty excellent.The minigames, which include things like drawing icons quickly, give us a bit of fear about how this will turn out. But we trust Infinite Interactive, Griptonite, and Capcom to deliver the Neopets game we've been waiting for. By which we mean one that we are interested in to some degree.%Gallery-34221%[Via press release]
Neopets Puzzle Adventure gets October release window
When we raved about the Othello-based, Neopets Puzzle Adventure, we couldn't scrub away the sadness of endorsing something built on a Tomagotchi-knock-off. We name-dropped how it's being developed by Infinite Interactive, creators of Puzzle Quest, but that wasn't enough. We shivered for weeks.Capcom let us know that the PC and DS versions are due by the end of October, while a Wii edition is coming later. So you'll soon be able to share our love of the puzzler (and self-loathing). Check out our original impressions again for the full details.
Gaming to Go: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
The premiere Puzzle Quest title debuted to generally positive reviews, many of which praised the unexpectedly compelling mix of Bejeweled gem-swapping puzzles and standard RPG elements. Any gamer who has given the title a whirl knows the critical claim doesn't come unwarranted, even with a few niggling things like cheating AI and a complete lack of closure. Those minor complaints are more than made up for with the mind-boggling amount of depth the developers crammed into the cartridge, transforming what could have been just another puzzler into an addicting little package still worth playing over a year since its release.With the space-age sequel rumored to land sometime in October, now is as good a time as any to take a look back at the sword and stone puzzler that started it all. If you never bothered to pick it up, consider yourself thoroughly shamed -- but don't let the weight of your emotional guilt bring you down. Come along with this week's edition of Gaming to Go for one last reminder that sliding colorful stones around a board is a perfectly viable way to wage digital war.%Gallery-12163%
First look at DS Neopets Puzzle Adventure
This holiday, DS puzzle fans will grudgingly line up for a game about Neopets, and Neopets fans will grudgingly line up for a game with actual gameplay in it. And lots of us will line up for glorified Othello! The reason for the strange situation is Infinite Interactive, whose Puzzle Quest has inspired deep loyalty in pretty much everyone who has played it. IGN has the first screens and videos of the DS version of Neopets Puzzle Adventure, a game which we fully expected to scale down to the DS admirably. And it has, although certain changes have been made from the other versions. For one, Petpets, which act as special magic attacks, are limited in stock (to five) rather than by a supply of MP. The changes don't sound like anything done to adapt to the DS's limitations, so maybe Infinite Interactive is just trying to sell you two versions.
Puzzle Quest update to infect XBLA this Wednesday
Those jewels you've been collecting are about to get a whole lot more infectious, as D3Publisher announced that its player-christened Puzzle Quest expansion, Revenge of the Plague Lord, will infest Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, July 23. Develped by Puzzle Quest devs, Infinite Interactive, the 700 Microsoft Point update will offer a virulent mass of new content, including 25 new quests, 50 new spells, 40 new items, and four new heroes, as well as the ability to build up characters to level 60. In addition, Revenge of the Plague Lord will also add three new Achievements to the popular puzzler, giving us plenty to feed our fever until we look to the skies next year.
E308: Neopets Puzzle Adventure flips Othello over
So I didn't exactly play Neopets Puzzle Adventure on the DS. But I did play Neopets Puzzle Adventure, and Neopets Puzzle Adventure will eventually end up on the DS. It's not as if the Othello-based gameplay will face significant challenges in the transition from PC to DS.And Othello it is, at least at first. You place a piece on the board to flank the opposing player's pieces, flipping them to your color. But there are layers and layers of new weirdness that change the board game entirely. For one, the board is different shapes, not just the standard square. Some spaces on the board award points, and others are marked with icons of a certain color. Points and gem collecting are the real point of the game, rather than controlling territory. You get points for covering spaces, but you can't just win by controlling more of the board.Gaining control of a space with an icon on it enables you to use Petpet abilities, which are like spells. Each Petpet requires a varying amount of icons to activate. Clicking on a Petpet activates a spell that does something like flipping a bunch of pieces or awarding you points or otherwise altering the game -- you know, basic spell stuff. What this means is that it's no longer obvious how to succeed at Othello. Random and non-board elements can change the status of the game instantly. In addition, when you flip a bunch of pieces, you trigger a combo effect that flips even more pieces.
Puzzle Quest: Galactrailer
Okay, so Puzzle Quest: Galactrix doesn't have online play. It's still got the rare and ephemeral quality of being Puzzle Quest! That counts for a lot. And besides, it's supposed to be an RPG, right? Those don't need online multiplayer! (Ignore the other versions of Galactrix. And, uh, the MMORPG genre.)If this brief gameplay video is any indication, Galactrix moves really, really quickly. We'd get our futuristic spaceship captain asses handed to us before we could even figure out what all those numbers on the top screen meant. We'll be content to lose to the computer, and to our friends, who can then console/mock us in person.
DS version of Galactrix missing online play
What a bummer. We were all excited when we saw the first screens of the DS version of Puzzle Quest: Galactrix attached to IGN's preview. Then we had to go and read the preview. "Galactrix will feature the same multiplayer modes as Challenge of the Warlords. That means the Xbox 360 and PC versions will be playable online, and the DS will include local multiplayer." And just like that, our dreams of Puzzle Questy Game Nights disappear like four contiguous red blocks.This is less of an issue, of course, for people who have friends outside of the Internet, but we were really hoping Infinite Interactive would bring online play to the platform that made Puzzle Quest a household name (for certain values of "household"). And the screens do look nice.
E308: Capcom puts Mega Man 9 on the menu, we plan to binge
Do you want to know everything there is to know about Mega Man 9, or, uh, Neopets? If so, it's time to send hugs and kisses to Capcom. The company officially announced what it's showing at E3, and, guess what? Those titles made the cut. Now you have more reason than ever to try and get on Capcom's invite list.For Wii owners, the Capcom Belle of the Ball is definitely going to be (a playable) Mega Man 9, a game that we just can't shut up about. Those of you who aren't impressed by the awesomely retro, 8-bit goodness might just come away from E3 feeling better about the project (/hypnotic stare). The rest of us who are already in love can commence happy dancing, as we wonder what Mega Mannish goodies will come out of the convention.Oh, and Neopets! Can we get a woot? ... No? Okay, well, we tried.
Fawkner talks up Neopets
Steve Fawkner, the CEO of Infinite Interactive, chats a bit about the recently announced Neopets and some of its features in the video above. Neopets takes the game Othello (also known as Reversi in some circles) and spruces it up a bit with magical spells and things of that nature, while also adding an adventure storyline. This may not excite some of you, but we still have fond memories of 7up's Spot: The Video Game, which showed us that Othello can be awesome in the right circumstances.Fawkner also claims that if you play just one game, you'll be hooked. Since Infinite Interactive gave us Puzzle Quest, a title that people had big doubts about until they realized it was video game crack (the DS version, at least), we're inclined to see if Neopets can live up to Fawkner's promise -- even if we still think the tie-in with the Neopets franchise is just weird. Gallery: Neopets Puzzle Adventure
Overheard@Captivate 08: Of Puzzle Quest and bomb threats
Steve Faulkner of Infinite Interactive was promoting Neopets: Puzzle Adventure last week at Captivate 08, but hit us with this informative nugget when asked about Puzzle Quest's level 50 cap."I actually got a death threat for that," Faulkner said. "Twenty-five years in game development, I get one death threat. Puzzle Quest comes out and I get six death threats and a bomb threat."Apparently, the bomb threat was thanks to a glitch in the PSP version. So keep your head high, QA staffers: You're more than bug squashers ... you're lifesavers.
