Puzzle Quest 2 Reviews

Before we head into another weekend, I figured I better round up the large batch of Puzzle Quest 2 reviews that made their way to the web this week.

WorthPlaying gives it an 8.5/10:

Hiccups aside, Puzzle Quest 2 is a fine sequel that is sure to please fans of the original as well as draw in plenty of new players. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t really have to. Combine the solid gameplay with a budget-minded retail price of 1200 Microsoft points ($15), and you have a game that’s difficult to pass up.

AtomicGamer gives it an 80%:

Rather than a wholesale re-imagining of the franchise, offers the next evolutionary step in gameplay. It continues the original’s fantasy style mechanics, in an amped-up, slimmed-down, better-looking version that adds a new camera view as well as new quests, spells and weapons. A game that can just as easily be played all day or for only an hour, is a solid, if somewhat safe addition to the franchise.

MTV Multiplayer doesn’t do the scoring thing:

Sequels are best when they build on their predecessor while fixing some of the issues that arose once players got their hands on it, and “Puzzle Quest 2” does both of those things expertly. Fans of the first game that were able to kick the habit are bound to be sucked right back into the addictive gameplay, while newcomers should find this update much easier to follow and less intimidating to pick up. The original “Puzzle Quest” was the nerdiest game ever released, but its sequel manages to top it in every way, making it a must play for both hardcore RPG gamers and casual fans of “Bejeweled” who are looking for something with a little more kick.

GameRevolution gives it a “B”:

Puzzle Quest 2 is helped more by the return to the classic Puzzle Quest puzzling than the classic Diablo dungeon crawling. The linear exploration, weapon and armor systems, mini-games, and graphics are all passable, but don’t shine nearly as bright as its addictive (and again, delicious) match-3 gameplay. The repetitive nature can wear on you if you play Puzzle Quest 2 for more than a few hours, but it’s still one of the best pick-up-and-play, zone-out-for-a-while titles the Nintendo DS has to offer.

DualShockers gives it an 8.0/10:

In conclusion, Puzzle Quest 2 brings plenty to the table. The game succeeds at offering an innovative experience unlike anything else available, barring its prequel. While the addictive puzzle combat is the main draw, the game purposefully handles itself like a core RPG. It does not hold your hand, has tons of optional missions and content and will kick your ass if you don’t learn the ropes. With many hours of campaign and optional play, a time consuming multiplayer mode, loads of customization options and dozens of enemy types, I’d recommend Puzzle Quest 2 to puzzle fans and RPG fans alike. If you by chance enjoy both of these genres, then this one’s a no brainer.

Aeropause gives it a 3.5/5:

Puzzle Quest 2 adds just enough to the classic Puzzle Quest experience to make it worth the new episode, without breaking what made the first game so much fun. It’s a well-executed sequel with very little to complain about in the gameplay. Still, the graphics could have been nicer. I like hand drawn graphics a lot, but perhaps this could have been done either with a bit more style, or a bit more flash. I give it three and a half out of five.

GameXplain gives it a 4/5:

Like its precursor, Puzzle Quest 2 is brimming with side-quests, customizations, and mini games that will keep you satisfied for months on end. At first I was a little turned off by the new art style, but that was quickly ignored when once again I was sucked into the entrancing puzzle combat. Though the deviations from the originals path are subtle, the refinements made offer a deeper, more fledged out experience. Be warmed though, with all the RPG garnishment it can be hard not to want to devour this game in a few sittings, but like any great puzzle game, the craving is best subdued with a few bites at a time.

And GamerLimit gives it an 8.5/10:

At the end of the day, it all comes down to this: is the game still fun, especially for those who had their fill of the original? There’s no doubt that this is a better overall game, and it’s going to provide enough new puzzle styles and beneficial changes to draw in people who are already Puzzle Quest fans. It’s easily the most fun I’ve ever had with a puzzle game (yes, that includes Tetris). However, this still isn’t your game if you were born hating match-3 games, or you’ve been aging your hatred long enough to put it amongst the finest reserve wines. And for anyone who simply hasn’t tried Puzzle Quest or match-3 games, I only have one thing to say.