Puzzle Quest 2 - All News
Wednesday - January 05, 2011
Puzzle Quest 2 - Developer Bought, iPad Review
Puzzle Quest and Warlords series developer Infinite Interactive has been bought by Firemint, developers of Flight Control. Seems it should have been the other way around to me, because you'd imagine Puzzle Quest has been ridiculously successful - but there you go. Studio head Steve Faulkner and team will stay and are working on the same game as before the acquisition. Details at GameSpot.
While we're on the subject, Mike Anderson has penned a review of Puzzle Quest 2 for the iPad at Gear Diary.
Monday - August 16, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Reviews @ Suite101 and Games On Net
Omega points out a couple of reviews for Puzzle Quest 2. Suite101 says the sequel "supasses Puzzle Quest in every way" while Games On Net has a score of 3.5/5 and here's a snip:
Puzzle Quest 2 is even more accessible and streamlined. Where the first game was over-burdened with frustrating distractions like citadel management and item construction mini-games, the sequel is squarely focused on combat and character development. Taking cues from the similarly addictive Diablo series, the entire game (more or less) takes place in an immense dungeon filled with slavering monsters, insidious traps, and (of course) lots and lots of fat loot. The chief virtue of this new structure is that it elicits a palpable sense of perpetual progress: the deeper you go, the stronger you become; the stronger you become, the deeper you go. It’s the perfect addictive feedback loop.
Wednesday - August 11, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Review @ Gaming Angels
A short review of Puzzle Quest 2 for the PC and Xbox 360 is to be found at Gaming Angels.
The first Puzzle Quest had flaws that I could go on for hours about, how it felt less like a roleplaying game and more like, well, just a puzzler. You never got to actually see enough of your character other than staged art and you weren’t guided through the process in a way that made it fluid to the seasoned RPG gamer. If you went into it thinking it was a mixture of both, Puzzle Quest 1 certainly didn’t help you continue that train of thought. It was just too chaotically thrown together and I worried that notes weren’t listened to or taken into consideration this time around. I was wrong though and happily, I got to create my character and take my Barbarian through a town, kill me some rats and go seeking through an ice cave for a huge Troll. New to Puzzle Quest 2 are the actual close-up shots of your character moving through the maps of town and the world. You’re no longer left to imagine what your character looks like or even the people he’s speaking to. It’s no longer just wipe-screens where inanimate characters are drawn into a background resembling where you just went to. It’s actually… gasp, like an RPG.
Puzzle Quest 2 - First impressions @ Rock Paper Shotgun
Rock Paper Shotgun have some short impressions on Puzzle Quest 2, which is to be released this Friday.
The sequel actually starts slowly, but once you’re given free reign to accept side quests or go wandering off and get your ass kicked then this man with the club materialises. The tension of PQ2′s combat emerges when you start facing down tough opponents, as does this obsession with improving your character, and the new isometric viewpoint comes into its own when you start exploring the game’s dungeon.
Tuesday - August 10, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Review @ 1UP
1UP reviewed the PC version of Puzzle Quest 2 and came to the conclusion that it is an OK game, with some issues.
However, left to my own devices I found PQ2 a little too easy. Admittedly, the A.I. in the first game was a bit unbalanced -- your opponent would get massive, too-frequent chains and combos, leading to death in just a couple turns. PQ2 improves this aspect, but in exchange for balanced A.I., the game makes you feel a little overpowered. For instance, my barbarian, Dashiell, was able to dispose of most enemies in just a few hits with his Bastard Sword -- a weapon you acquire at the beginning of your adventure. Luckily, by the later stages of the game, the difficulty equalizes and players are finally greeted with more challenging foes.
Thanks Omega.
Friday - August 06, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Steam Release Next Week
Puzzle Quest 2 hits the PC via Steam next week on August 13, with a 10% discount on offer for preorders.
Thanks, Daddy32!
Sunday - July 18, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Review Mini Round # 2
New reviews for this game can be found on the internet. I'll quote from one of them and list the others:
GameNode has a review with a score of 4/5
All in all, Puzzle Quest 2 is a perfect example of Xbox Live Marketplace quality. An engaging story, a fun puzzle-based battle system, and new ways to customize your characters will have fans playing for days. If you're wary of the battle system, don't be: you'll be having plenty of fun.
N-Sider
Blend Games 3.5/5
Game Shark C
Gaming Age A-
Msbox-World 9/10
Snackbar Games 4/5
Source: GameBanshee
Monday - July 05, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Review Mini Roundup
Here's a small collection of Puzzle Quest 2 reviews.
Unlike the sprawling overworld map of the original, Puzzle Quest 2 adopts a Diablo-style isometric view that brings their slim universe to vivid life. New attractive artwork and a surprisingly solid story significantly beef up the roleplaying side of the package. However, the action all takes place in a selection of dungeons rather than traversing a continent and laying siege to entire cities; so whilst things feel a lot more personal, they also feel a lot less epic than before. Much like Diablo, you’ll accept quests and delve into the dungeons to solve them, usually killing designated enemies and exiting via blue town portals. Whilst these dungeons are intuitive to navigate on the DS, they feel extremely clunky on an Xbox 360 controller (which frankly should’ve had full 1:1 movement rather than clickable hotspots).
Thursday - July 01, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Launch Trailer
For those of us playing the game, we can now enjoy this official launch trailer, courtesy of Gamebanshee.
Wednesday - June 30, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Released for Xbox 360 - More Reviews
You can now get Puzzle Quest 2 from Xbox Live Marketplace for 1200 MS points.
Some more reviews for your enjoyment:
Gamespot gives it a 7.5/10
It's appropriate, then, that the best-looking part of Puzzle Quest 2 is also its strongest element--the gem-matching puzzles themselves. With a simplified approach to its role-playing half, the puzzles are left to carry the game, and they do so with aplomb. Puzzle Quest 2 is a fun experience that'll keep your attention for the 15 or so hours it'll take to complete the game (without tackling its many side quests), and despite its RPG-lite approach this time around, it's a game that's easy to recommend.
Ultimately, Puzzle Quest 2 manages to add some new strengths while still clinging onto some old weaknesses, resulting in a game that's addictive and engaging in short bursts, but slightly repetitive in extended sessions. Though a more visually appealing version is due out for XBLA next week -- at half the cost of its DS counterpart, no less -- it's still seems like an experience designed to be played for a few minutes, folded up and placed neatly in your pocket.
So Puzzle Quest 2? Yeah, it's the real thing: no hexagons here. Despite a fairly extensive list of tweaks and changes, the basics remain intact, so anyone who's played the original game should feel at home. In-game tutorials will cover everyone else, which is fortunate given that the joke of an instruction manual is all of three pages.
Read more: http://g4tv.com/games/ds/63217/Puzzle-Quest-2/review/#ixzz0sMaKNYkv
Sunday - June 27, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Review @ Game Trailers
GameTrailers have made a a very positive video review for the DS version of Puzzle Quest, marking the game 8.8/10 - the link to the review is here.
Source: GameBanshee
Thursday - June 24, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Released, Roundup
Puzzle Quest 2 has been released for the DS and the X360 version follows on June 30, according to GameFreaks365. Here's a small collection of reviews to along with the release.
1Up says the game is improved in almost every way, with a score of B+ :
An updated navigation interface allows you to move your character around in an isometric view, with both characters or enemies prominently displayed on each screen. You can explore the areas you visit, as opposed to only being shown a cut-scene in that given location. Each quest in the first game felt disjointed; there was a clear break between going out on a mission and watching the story unfold. Puzzle Quest 2 eliminates that divide and helps to actively involve you in the world. The new interface also gives the game's minigames an actual purpose.
PC World has a positive article but feels the DS version can't keep up with the others. A snip on battles:
Interestingly enough, the brutal downsizing in Puzzle Quest 2's battle system actually works in the game's favor. There's another element to offense now, thanks in large part to the new "gauntlet" gems that allow you to physically attack a monster with your equipped weapons. In addition to that, you can still dish out some additional damage by matching skull gems and casting color-coded magic. Instead of having to waste turns trying to gather money while your enemy pecks away at your health, experience and gold is automatically rewarded at the end of each encounter. While that may not sound like a lot on paper, it dramatically changes the pace of the game, so much so that a single poorly planned move can put your warrior on the wrong end of a lengthy gem combo.
...and Kidzworld has a short article with a score of 5/5.
Thanks to Omega for all these links.
Monday - June 21, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Review @ IGN
IGN has posted a very positive review of Puzzle Quest 2 9.0/10, thus thinking Infinitive Interactive's puzzle/rpg is this:
This is the Puzzle Quest you fell in love with, and the new dungeon exploration and usable items only sweeten the deal. If only all of life's problems could be solved by matching colored objects together.
Source: GameBanshee
Monday - June 14, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Interview @ Gamasutra
Omega points out an interview at Gamasutra with Steve Faulkner on Puzzle Quest 2:
How far do spells go toward achieving the balance that's disrupted by, say, the randomness?
SF: I really feel that achieving that balance is partly about the channels that damage is dealt through in this game, and that having skills as your only [method of] dealing damage would allow for pretty large imbalances.
So in the first Puzzle Quest, you had skills plus spells to deal damage. That allowed two ways of dealing damage, and of course you can deal more damage that way.
So a good player can manipulate the game; using spells and the board will deal more damage. That will kind of bring him back, if he gets behind. Some good players will bring themselves back.
We've added a third channel of dealing damage in Puzzle Quest 2, which is the action points and weapon system. We feel that it makes it easier for us to balance the game.
Wednesday - June 09, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Video Preview @ Gametrailers
Omega points out this video preview of Puzzle Quest 2 over at Gametrailers, with a little under three minutes of footage and commentary.
Tuesday - May 25, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Preview @ Joystiq
Omega sends in this handful of Puzzle Quest 2 tidbits, starting with a hands-on preview at Joystiq:
Yes, the class list is very different. Instead of the archetypal D&D classes in the first game, the list of four is more combat-oriented this time: Barbarian, Assassin, Sorcerer, and Templar. That's because the overworld is also gone. Rather than wandering an empire, you're dungeon-delving into one deep cave below the town of Verloren and instead of navigating from town to town, you're going from point to point in a series of rooms. Fawkner described the gameplay to us as more like Diablo than a full D&D campaign.
That also means that all of the overworld stuff that was so important in the first title is now gone: No mounts (with their extra abilities), no castle sieges, no "owning" castles, and no overworld travel. Why lose such a significant part of the game? "We felt the map navigation was a little impersonal," says Fawkner. "We wanted you to go down into the dungeon and see the monsters."
Also, a Pre-E3 video interview with studio head Steve Faulkner at GameSpot and screens at GameSpot.
Thursday - May 20, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - PC Version Revealed
Shack has news that Puzzle Quest 2 will be released on PC (and iPhone and iPad) this summer. IGN also has an E3 Update preview including multiplayer details and some new screens.
Friday - May 07, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Classes Trailer
Gaming Nexus has a trailer on the classes in Puzzle Quest 2, with the video showing off some character generation. While we're at it, GameSpot has new X360 screens.
Saturday - May 01, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - June Release
Shacknews has a new Puzzle Quest 2 trailer that sports a June release window at the end - at least, for the NDS and X360 versions. There's also a new video interview with Producer Tim Ramage demonstrating the core gameplay at Gametrailers.
Thanks, Omega!
Wednesday - March 31, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - PAX Roundup
Here's a handful of Puzzle Quest 2 items from PAX East, sent in by Omega.
- Executive Producer Tim Ramage demoes an area called Verloren in this Gametrailers video.
- Silicon Era has comments from Tim Ramage on making the game stand out.
- A short preview at Agrrogate.
- Hands-on impressions from The Flick Cast.
Monday - March 29, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Preview @ Kotaku
Omega sends in this hands-on preview of Puzzle Quest at Kotaku:
A half hour wasn't enough time to give me a comprehensive feel for how the game is going to turn out, but it has assuaged my fears about Infinite Interactive's ability to deliver an entertaining follow-up. I lost a little faith with Galactrix and Puzzle Kingdom, and was worried the developer might have simply lost the magic.
The magic is still there. It's just a little different.
Wednesday - March 24, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - New Website, Preview
Two Puzzle Quest 2 bits. First, an all-new website has been launched and, second, Silicon Era has a preview that was spotted by Omega. Here's a snip:
While the psuedo-dungeons are a nice addition, Puzzle Quest 2 is very much Puzzle Quest, but not Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. The Bejeweled-style match three puzzle board returns with an extra type of mana and gauntlets. Match gauntlets to active your character’s weapons, which act like equipable special attacks. Compared to the original, Puzzle Quest 2 has more customization options. You can outfit your hero assigned to one of four selectable classes (assassin, barbarian, sorcerer, and templar) with a sword, shield, and multiple types of armor.
Friday - March 19, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - Preview, Screens, Trailer
Omega sends over this new preview of Puzzle Quest 2 from 1Up:
For the actual "puzzle" parts of PQ2, there are a few significant changes. Basically, it's the same match-three setup, with skulls used for attacking your opponents when three or more of those match. But this time, the purple gems are regular magic-giving orbs now, and don't contain experience points -- XP is now naturally earned after winning battles. A variety of supporting spells return, and to help those along is a new purpose for weapons and armor: abilities. By matching and clearing action point gems (shaped like gauntlets), you raise points that correspond to abilities offered by equipment -- which admittedly do very similar things as spells do (like instantly attacking opponents, or buffing you from receiving too much harm), but provide a nice "reserve" of added help should you need it. Loot is also in abundance, which can be sold to earn money for new equipment, or to upgrade existing gear.
....and screens and a trailer at Frisky Mongoose. Nice name.
Thursday - March 11, 2010
Puzzle Quest 2 - GDC Roundup
Omega sent in a bunch of Puzzle Quest 2 links mostly related to GDC, so I'm going to collect them here.
- "Return to Fantasy" video interview at Gametrailers
- Puzzle Quest 2 will ruin your life at Destructoid
- Hands on preview at MTV Multiplayer
- Hands on at GameSpot
- "Blowout" preview at IGN
- Goblin Witch battle video
- Night on the town HD video ("New to the Puzzle Quest franchise, travel the towns and bash in doors to explore new areas!")
- Screens at IGN
...and a quote from IGN:
While the puzzle battles are pretty familiar, moving about the game world is completely different. Gone is the world map with various towns and caves to visit. Puzzle Quest 2 takes place entirely in the town of Verloren and the dungeon below it. This is more of a dungeon-diving game and most of your quests and side quests will lead you into the depths underneath the village. Like the first game, you can take on multiple quests at once and keep track of them all in your journal. Eventually you'll reach warp points that will allow you to jump to previously explored areas of the dungeon. And there is always the opportunity to just run around killing monsters if you want to do some grinding. Unlike the original PQ, purple gems don't provide experience. They now provide mana and experience is awarded at the end of battle.
You also have a much closer view of the world this time around, due to the camera being zoomed into your characters. You'll be able to walk right up to individuals and engage in conversation while some light voice acting lends the NPCs personality.
Tuesday - December 01, 2009
Puzzle Quest 2 - Officially Announced
Following up the newsbit we posted last week concerning hints at GamePro magizine about a full-fledged sequel to Puzzle Quest: COTW, publisher D3 and developer Infinite Interactive today put out the official press release announcing Puzzle Quest 2.
The initial information lists the first platforms to see the sequel as the XBox 360 and Nintendo DS, but if past performance is any indicator, the game should hit PC and almost every other console and handheld device. Three screenshots have also been released.
You can view the full press release at Gamer's Hell and a short summary at Eurogamer. There's no box art as yet, but three new screenshots and a little concept art is up over at Gamer's Hell.
Information about
Puzzle Quest 2Developer: Infinite Interactive
SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Unknown
Genre: Puzzle-RPG
Combat: Real-time
Play-time: Unknown
Voice-acting: Unknown
Regions & platforms
Unknown
· Homepage
· Platform: PC
· Released: 2010-08-12
· Publisher: Namco