[casual_games] Just when you thought match-3 had been done in every way...

[Andy Makely]

We often complain about how game mechanics can get cloned to death, and it's
refreshing to see someone take an old favorite and completely turn it on its
head and make an amazing game.

I'm talking about Puzzle Quest for DS and PSP.  I just got it for DS, and I
can't stop playing it.  Take your standard role-playing game, and make the
battle mode a gem-swapping match-3 where each character takes a turn.  New
quests, improved character abilities, acquiring magic items, capturing enemy
spells, etc. all depend upon you succeeding on the match-3 battle grid.
This game has even hardcore console gamers raving about it.

Of course, the trouble is that Puzzle Quest may have crossed the "casual
game" line.  One person I know, who is a big Bejeweled fan, wasn't
interested in PQ because of all the extra role-playing elements of the
game.  It was a layer of complexity they felt like they didn't need.  Maybe
it's not "casual" enough for some.

What do you folks think?  How do you expand on basic, established game
mechanics without adding so much that it drives players away?

If you're curious, there's a PC demo available from their site...even though
there is no PC version for sale.
http://www.infinite-interactive.com/puzzlequest/


-- 
andy makely
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