Review of an incredibly addictive phone puzzler

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Mobile Phone
THQ Wireless

So addictive it should be made illegal

On the surface this award winning mobile game is infuriating. A stupendously tricky difficulty curve gently introduces the player to a surreal mix of MSN Messenger favourite Bejewelled and stripped down RPG elements, before throwing your face in a pile of shit and making your squeal like a pig.

But without you realising, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords sticks its grubby claws in you and draws you into the most addictive fun you can have in the palm of your hand.

It’s pretty ambitious for a mobile phone game too. After selecting a fantasy stereotype (I went for the druid owing to his prowess with herbs), you gallivant around a 2D map, conversing with weird old men and battling trolls. Runes, hit points and other such mandatory RPG jargon is muttered as you upgrade levels and the like. And what does our brave hero do upon encountering wolves in the woods? He battles them in the only way he knows how: by taking in turns to re-align jewels into lines of three or more.

Mild sarcasm aside, this is actually a pretty addictive game. The neat RPG facade simply forms a backbone to what is essentially a puzzle game that cleverly incorporates strategy and tactical nuance. Think Bejewelled, but rather than simply racking up multiples within a time-limit, your objective is to destroy your opponent by stringing rows of skulls together or casting spells fuelled by magic accumulated from combining coloured jewels.

If that lot doesn’t make any sense, chances are that you have a life.

But the lack of a time limit on your actions added to the pure frustration of helplessly watching yourself being mercilessly butt-fucked by the AI enemy, forces you to think tactically and pore over the possible consequences of falling jewels, and how to limit your opponents moves. This deep strategy however is offset by the occasional flurry of chain reactions where a fluky move can win a game almost instantly.

Yet despite the advent of 3D graphics, improved memory and larger screens on mobiles, most mobile phone games are still crippled by infuriating controls over-reliant on quick finger-work. The brilliance of Puzzle Quest is its thoughtful fusion of genres that actually work well on a mobile phone; RPG, puzzle, turn-based strategy, into one superbly addictive bundle.
www.infinite-interactive.com/puzzlequest
Dave Allen
4.5/5
For fans for: Final Fantasy Tactics, Jewel Quest, Metal Gear Acid, Tetris, Dungeons & Dragons

initially pub. on www.subba-cultcha.com