CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games Books TV
Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords psp Game Reviews
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Critic Score
Metascore: 84 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.4 out of 10
based on 32 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 13 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Set in the Warlords universe, Puzzle Quest challenges gamers to create, develop and customize the ultimate hero to save the land of Etheria from the evil Lord Bane. In order to advance, players battle in turn-based, head-to-head "match-three" style puzzle games in one of three distinct gameplay modes: Single-player allows gamers to battle against the computer AI as they embark on over 150 challenging quests, Instant Action allows gamers to jump in and immediately play continuous battles to level-up characters without participating in quests, and Multiplayer allows gamers to battle live opponents via wireless connectivity. Victory will advance the player’s hero, magical arsenal, creature companions and more - ultimately rewarding gamers at nearly every turn and providing endless hours of replayablity. [D3Publisher of America]

PUBLISHER: D3 Publisher of America
DEVELOPER: Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd - Vicious Cycle Software
GENRE(S): Puzzle
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2007

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Gaming Age
With rewards such as an extra turn for linking four or five gems together or the warm feeling of doing double damage to your enemy because of a well-planned chain incorporating themselves into the tactical side of a game like Bejeweled, players will find themselves playing to master the game as best as they can -and that's not a bad thing.
Read Full Review
92
Pelit (Finland)
An excellent and incredibly addictive puzzle game/RPG hybrid. [June 2007]
91
Worth Playing
Puzzle Quest is truly a masterpiece.
Read Full Review
91
GameShark
The time you spend earning it is well worth it, not just because it makes your hero stronger but also because of the additive fun you have along the way. Despite the torturous AI, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is easily one of the most original games to hit the PlayStation Portable.
Read Full Review
90
GameSpy
Both versions of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords come highly recommended, and even in light of the annoying bugs, the PSP version is the better choice and deserving of our Editor's Choice recommendation.
Read Full Review
90
IGN
Puzzle Quest's addictive mixture of role-playing stat progression, and casual gem-matching has resulted in one of the most captivating PSP games this year. The graphical and aural enhancements in the PSP version make it the definitive version of a game that is quickly becoming one of our handheld favorites.
Read Full Review
90
AceGamez
This game will ruin Bejeweled for you forever, because you will be longing for some consequences beyond just getting points. You will also quickly descend into 'just one more turn' territory until you make your way to the end, which will take dozens of hours.
Read Full Review
90
Sydney Morning Herald
So addictive it should come with a warning sticker on the box.
Read Full Review
88
Cheat Code Central
This game has taken the best aspects of two winning genres and created an experience that is both original and rewarding. Both puzzle hounds and dungeon crawlers alike will find this game to be just what the doctor ordered.
Read Full Review
88
Game Chronicles
Puzzle Quest uses a very good balance of the puzzles and the RPG theme to create an overall well made game that is interesting and yet challenging.
Read Full Review
88
GameZone
You will not want to let this game out of your hands because it is extremely addicting for you and anyone who gets their hands up on.
Read Full Review
87
GamerNode
Puzzle Quest is just plain great. If you own a PSP, you need Puzzle Quest.
Read Full Review
85
1UP
The PSP version does have a bug that prevents your companions' special abilities from actually working, but that doesn't have much impact on the gameplay.
Read Full Review
85
Digital Entertainment News
What could have been a generic puzzle game is made all the better by a layer of depth with the RPG elements. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a very fun title that can be played in short bursts as well as marathon stretches.
Read Full Review
85
GameSpot
The parts may seem commonplace, but Puzzle Quest's blend of RPG and puzzle-game convention makes for something refreshingly unique and dangerously addictive.
Read Full Review
85
Deeko
If you are a puzzle fan and hate role-playing games, you'll love it. If you're a role-playing lover who despises puzzle games, you'll want to hug it. If you're a first person shooter fan who loves to kill things, well, you might like this.
Read Full Review
85
PSM Magazine
Push past the initial hump, however, and the RPG elements pull you into an incredibly addictive and enthralling role-playing game experience. [June 2007, p.81]
85
TotalPlayStation
I've never been so happy to be so angry with a game. The peanut butter/chocolate combo took this long to be combined why, now? You know what, it doesn't matter. You need this game -- even if you think you don't. Just be ready with the blood pressure meds.
Read Full Review
84
GameTrailers
The battles could also stand to be a little flashier. At the same time, puzzle games don’t get much better than this, and Puzzle Quest is a solid, original concept and nearly perfect for the handheld medium.
Read Full Review
83
Game Informer
The AI seems insanely good one minute then misses an obvious attack the next, and the story is completely throwaway, but there is enough gameplay here to keep puzzle fans busy for a long time. [May 2007, p.99]
83
The Onion (A.V. Club)
More compelling than a glorified Flash game ought to be.
Read Full Review
83
Game Revolution
For either system, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a portable addiction, and while I recommend the PSP version, the DS game is almost as good.
Read Full Review
82
GamingTrend
The game that will replace "Lumines" to satisfy my quick puzzle game craving.
Read Full Review
80
Games Radar
The PSP version loads a bit more slowly but looks better, and the DS version features lightning-fast loads but tosses in slightly sluggish, clunky touch-controls.
Read Full Review
80
WHAM! Gaming
Don’t be put off by this oddball mixture of a casual puzzle game and a fantasy role-playing adventure. Puzzle Quest is stellar as both, and amazingly addictive.
Read Full Review
80
EuroGamer
It has excellent local wireless multiplayer.
Read Full Review
80
NTSC-uk
Puzzle Quest PSP does exactly what it sets out to do, masterfully combining the role-playing and puzzle genres into one game that is perfect for handheld gaming.
Read Full Review
75
Detroit Free Press
A must-have for anyone who loves both RPGs and puzzles, and will probably delight anyone who's a fan of either genre.
Read Full Review
73
The New York Times
The game does an admirable job of adding some strategic depth and complexity to the casual game model without losing its pick-up-and-play nature.
Read Full Review
66
Play UK
Demanding, but rewarding for the few who engage it. [Issue#153, p.84]
60
Pure Magazine UK
A mish-mash of puzzler and RPG that never really hits the heights it initially promises. [Apr 2007, p.84]
50
Playstation Official Magazine UK
It's gently hypnotic stuff, but fight a dozen super-intelligent skeletons and you'll soon be yearning for the simple pleasures of "Lumines." [Mar 2007, p.111]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James gave it a10:
Puzzle Quest is so addicting... the good kind! I've playthrough this entire game and I'm starting another character today, it's too fun.

Jim S. gave it a2:
Take a simple puzzle game perhaps best suited to a novelty online flash implementation and combine it with the sort of RPG that would have looked unambitious and dull on a SNES. As you might expect, you end up with limited gameplay that quickly becomes tedious - the cringeworthy nature of the plot sequences with their fantasy writing by numbers dialogue is arguably the most entertaining thing in the game. Fun for about half an hour, but if this game was free online it wouldn't even make my favourites list.

Fojak V. gave it a9:
Great addition to the PSP bad library, good game idea blending puzzle plus RPG customization. One of the gratest games of 2007 for both DS and PSP (better and bigger graphics). Addictive as Tetris, and other type of games. Dont´s hesitate to buy it, great decision. The story is SIMPLE and only a way to move through the game to obtain experience and gain terrain and power.

Gavin G. gave it a1:
This started out fun, but be warned - I found that it soon gets VERY tiresome. I totally agree with the Official UK Playstation Magazine's summary above (but obviously rate it even lower). Progression and levelling up was a chore. Winning the matches against the CPU opponents (the main part of the game) I found difficult, annoying and in the end boring. This game is definitely one to rent before (not) buying wherever possible.

Allistair P. gave it a10:
This game is insanely addictive in it's simplicity and flawless design. Puzzle games always have the addictive factor but after a while you ask "What's the point?" and while you won't find Allah with Puzzle Quest you will find yourself saying "To level up, to learn a new spell, to get money to buy better armor". Ingenious and fun! I'd love to see a sequel with a Diablo sorta co-op multiplayer where you and your party of friends online can take on separate enemies in a more scoped-out dungeon environment. Sounds bizarre but you know it'd be rad.

Jay K. gave it a9:
Amazing. Take the an excellent puzzle game design (far better than Bejewelled), and add deep strategy, the addictiveness of skill enhancement, the depth and story of an RPG, and throw in a bunch of fun bits. I got sick of Bejewelled because of the randomness and lack of strategy; this a totally different, and totally better (though if you like Bejewelled, you'll love this). Buy it!

White L. gave it a9:
What a delightful waste of time. I find myself walking around my house walking in to walls playing this little gem. I'm hooked. RPG nerds and Puzzle nerds UNITE!!! One Word: BOOM!

Read more user comments...

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | BOOKS | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

About CNET Networks | Jobs | Advertise | Partnerships                                Visit other CNET Networks sites:

Copyright ©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use