The genre-bending puzzle/RPG game for the Nintendo DS and PSP, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, hits store shelves tomorrow. Developer Infinite Interactive couldn't contain their excitement, so they released a PC demo of the game to make sure everyone was as giddy as they are.
Puzzle Quest is a cross between a casual tile-swapping puzzle game and a classic CRPG. You choose a character and explore a fantasy kingdom where you go on quests, shop for items, and manage a host of spells and statistics. Engaging in battle is a different story. Instead of slapping each other with pieces of sharp metal, Puzzle Quest uses the familiar Bejeweled formula. Swap tiles and make matches to gather mana points for spells, earn experience, and damage the enemy. You and your opponent take turns moving tiles, so quite a bit of strategy is needed to balance offensive and defensive postures.
Infinite Interactive is trying to bridge the gap between casual and hardcore gamers with a game that's easy to play in short bursts but can hold you for longer periods of time. The demo shows promise, but it's not without its faults. Does Puzzle Quest have what it takes to make both casual and hardcore players swoon?