Quick Look: Puzzle Quest 2

Puzzle Quest 2 is the sequel to the gem breaking hit from Infinite Interactive and D3 Publisher that arrived in 2007 for a variety of platforms and it managed to exhibit the same hypnotic abilities of the first game while developing the mechanics somewhat while creating a bigger and more nuanced game world.

There are now four classes to chose from, offering different skills and spells that can be used to take out enemies and focusing on different characteristics in the manner of traditional role playing games.

I went for a Rogue, mainly because I offers a balance between the Barbarian and the Paladin and I suspect that the Wizard is a bit too much of a glass cannon for my taste (I remember that you needed quite a bit of hit points to make progress in the first game).

The match 3 (or more) gameplay feels instantly familiar to those who picked up the first game and I suspect that it's also easy to pick up for those who have enjoyed other gem based casual titles before (and there are plenty of those).

I also helps that Puzzle Quest 2 is more interested in explaining its new mechanics, like the action points that can be used for character weapons and armor or the new way the mini games, linked to everything from opening doors to getting loot, work.

The fact that the camera is closer to the main character than in the first video game and that the in game world is more developed also helps players to feel more engaged in the action, even if the gem matching is still the most important element of Puzzle Quest 2.

And the matching is as addictive as ever, with battles feeling engaging even when the player is facing fairly low level enemies and becoming obsessive when high level combatants enter the fray.