Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

"Finally! An excellent RPG game for the Nintendo DS!"

First of all, I must start by saying that this is possibly the best RPG game available for the Nintendo DS. I won't annoy you with lots of introductory words, so let's jump straight in to the review.

Graphics: 9/10
Blue, green, red, and yellow, the four basic colors of a puzzle game. Along with that, the gems in-game have special little designs on them so as to not be too dull. The character portraits and cutscene background scenery are actually quite good. The map graphics are also nothing to sneeze at. But who cares about graphics, as long as you can tell what everything is, right?

Gameplay: 10/10
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is quite different from a traditional turn-based RPG game. Instead of simply selecting an option to attack, use an item, or cast a magic spell for your turn, you will have a Bejeweled style game board, in which you switch gems and what-not to match 3 in a row or even better, 4 or even 5. In doing so, you can add points to your mana reserves (you have 4 types of mana) and, if you match skulls, deal direct damage to your opponent. Using your mana, you can cast a spell which can clear gems from the board, deal direct damage, or even restore lost life points (which is basically your HP). It adds a nice twist to the game and actually makes you think strategically and plan out your moves, which most gamers nowadays loathe so very much. You are also allowed to take 4 items (a helm, clothing, a weapon, and a miscellaneous item) into battle, which can benefit you in various ways. The gameplay here is much better and more in-depth than most turn-based RPG games I've played.

Quest system: 8/10
Quest are pretty much just taking on enemies that are stronger than normal or unique/boss type enemies that are particularly challenging. It's okay though, as the rewards for completing quests are quite good. Like receiving a rare and special item that can't be obtained anywhere else or being paid an excelllent sum of money. Trust me, questing is definitely worth your time if you want to level up fast or get rich quick. There is also a main quest that you can take on, where you learn why the undead are rising from the grave and battle fierce boss enemies along the way and also add companions to your party, whom can assist you in battle. And there are always plenty of quests to take on, some simple and short, some long and challenging.

Level up system: 10/10
Each time you win a battle (or even sometimes if you lose) you will gain some experience points. Upon gaining enough experience points, you will level up and receive 4 skill points to increase your various skills with. The amount of points it takes to improve a certain skill depends on your profession. For instance, warriors take a whopping 3 points to improve their water mastery but only 1 point to improve battle or fire mastery. This part has been done exceptionally well compared to other RPG games. Also, you can build a temple in your personal citadel which you can use to pay gold to improve your skills, rather than using valuable skill points.

Overall: 10/10
Puzzle games have never been better or been so in-depth until this little beauty came along. Expect to be playing this for hours on end and maybe even more so if you're a fan of both RPG games and Puzzle games.

This has been Quadruplesword, signing out till next time...

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/27/08

Game Release: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (US, 03/20/07)