Bejeweled may have popularized the match-3 puzzle action gameplay, but Puzzle Quest really added depth to the genre by incorporating various RPG elements in a way that nearly blurred the line between casual gaming and hardcore gaming. Its gameplay style has been imitated by many—even by Popcap and SquareEnix in the form of Gyromancer—but none have been able to get the formula just right. Even Puzzle Quest’s own spin-off, Galactrix, seemed to somehow fall short. Now all puzzle fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as Puzzle Quest 2 has been confirmed by D3Publisher for a Spring 2010 release on Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS.
It has been revealed that Puzzle Quest 2 will allow the player to take on the role of a character from one of four new classes: War Mage, Inquisitor, Barbarian, or Assassin. The demon Gorgon has got his hands on the once-peaceful village of Verloren and it is up to you to put an end to his evil reign and reclaim the village once and for all. Story Mode, Instant Action, and Multiplayer Mode all make a return, along with a new Tournament Mode that is expected to provide a rich and diverse experience. As is becoming standard with most traditional RPG’s as of late, it would seem that the entire Puzzle Quest world is accessible in real-time for a more streamlined experience, which may very add a whole new depth to the game.
Although not much is revealed in this Puzzle Quest 2 announcement, what we have been given is cause enough for excitement. Judging by the screenshots released so far, it is obvious that the game has been completely redesigned with a whole new artistic style and significantly modified playing field. Even the hint systems appears to have been improved. It would also seem as though there are more opportunities to collect mana, although the images seem to suggest that not as many spells will be available at any given time. Of course, it is difficult to draw accurate conclusions based on only a couple of screenshots and it is far too soon to know exactly what to expect. All we can right now is that Puzzle Quest 2 is going back to its fantasy roots and it should be bigger and better than ever.
