Xboxist

Puzzle Quest 2 Coming to Xbox 360 this Spring

If we had to list our favorite Xbox Live Arcade games of the past few years, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords would definitely come out near the top. The innovative title, which fused simple bejewelled-style grid puzzle with RPG spells and stats immediately won accolades for its unique mixture of gameplay genres. It was a breath of fresh air that pleased both puzzle and role playing fanatics, meaning that it appealed to a very large swath of the gaming population. Now, two years after the original took just about every platform by storm, the folks at D3 Publishers have announced a true sequel is coming to the Nintendo DS and Xbox 360 this spring.

Forget that half-baked sci-fi spinoff, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. This sequel will take us right back to the original fantasy setting of orcs, humans and wizards. According to the developers, Puzzle Quest 2 will combine its trademark style with an enhanced real-time experience using all-new weapons, spells, and shields. They hope that these changes will make every decision meaningful and never passive in the deepest puzzle adventure yet. With names like Improbably Armor, Fumble Hex, and Slam, a whole new array of skills await mastery by savvy players.

"Puzzle Quest is an award winning franchise with numerous accolades including an Interactive Achievement Award for "Best Downloadable Game of the Year" for Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords," said Peter Andrew, vice president of product development, D3P. "Puzzle Quest 2 returns with a captivating, rewarding, and accessible journey for gamers of all levels as the ultimate delivery system for the mental release puzzle gamers seek."

Like the original, Puzzle Quest 2 will still contain match-3 gem matching and fantasy, with a simple but engaging role-playing experience where players can choose any of four character classes; War Mage, Inquisitor, Barbarian or Assassin. Each character class provides interesting twists during multiple play-throughs as players reclaim the once peaceful village of Verloren from the evil clutch of the demon Gorgon. Players will be able to level up each character to progress through the adventure in Story Mode or simply fight it out in Instant Action, Tournament Mode, or Multiplayer Mode. With the entire Puzzle Quest world accessible at your fingertips in real-time action, those players who want instant gratification will be able to find it.

What Puzzle Quest 2 may look like.