At a time when the market was plagued by match-3 puzzle games years ago, something stood out about one particular title. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords combined the puzzle play style with an RPG motif – and a damn good one at that. The end result was a game that stood out very well, and inspired a sequel to boot. But now the original Puzzle Quest is back for more, as an Immortal Edition brings its addictive gameplay to a slew of new platforms.
You know the drill, right? You’re on quests, collecting items and facing off against enemies in match-3 combat. You’ll attain materials for spells while at the same time delivering quick hits, and trying to stay in one piece. But be careful. Even though your character grows over time, so does the challenge against them. Some of these folks simply aren’t pushovers.
With Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, the devs keep it simple. Most of the gameplay from the original is still intact, with no new genuine tricks to lean on. That’s fine, as it still plays brilliantly. However, there’s no new quests or content to speak of, and the lack of multiplayer is worth noting. I mean, imagine battling with your friends to see who truly rules the kingdom. Ah, well, maybe with an update.
But if you can accept it’s more of an homage than a revamp, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition will win you over. It’s still a heck of a lot of fun to play, and there’s hours worth of campaigns to dig into. Plus the price is more than acceptable, clocking in at under $15 – maybe even $10 if you can find it on sale. It’s a quest still worth enduring, even if it is a little familiar.
Shall You Conquer the Puzzle Quest?
For those unfamiliar with Puzzle Quest, think role-playing meets puzzle. You play a young hero working their way through a troubled land, facing off against adversaries and completing missions. The game includes all its introduced campaigns in one package, without the need for additional DLC, which is nice. And there’s a lot to do here.
The battle system is terrific, balancing match-3 gameplay with spell casting. You build up spell strength by gathering materials during fights, or you can simply go for the “quick hits” by matching up skulls. It’s up to you, but there’s a tactical style to learn with Puzzle Quest. Sometimes the tougher hits are the answer. How you learn makes the game addictive, as you develop new strategies and strengthen your character to new heights.
Which is great, because later battles in the game can be quite tough. But that’s okay, it’s part of the learning experience. And Puzzle Quest packs on a great experience with noteworthy battles and storytelling. Final Fantasy it isn’t, of course, but the devs at Infinity Plus 2 definitely know how to twist a tale.
I do wish the game contained some aspect of multiplayer, where you could challenge others for kingdom superiority. There’s also no brand new content, such as bonus missions or even stuff inspired by Puzzle Quest 2. But if you can accept the “classic” nature of the game and the great price tag (under $15), you’ll be right at home with this Quest.
So How Does Puzzle Quest Fare Visually?
Then we get to the presentation, and let’s just say that Infinity Plus 2 chose to keep things old-school. Which is fine. The game retains its classic Puzzle Quest appearance with static character images and a rock-solid structure for puzzle play. You can see everything on the screen, including stats and where you stand with executing spells, as well as enemy strength. It works just about right.
That said, some of the art does look a bit…odd with its refreshing. That’s not to say it’s a turnoff, but some characters should’ve kept their classic look. Still, not a deal breaker, and the game looks just fine running off a Steam Deck (for this review).
As for audio, the voice samples are brief but very well done, and the battle music is vintage Puzzle Quest. There are some good themes here, though they do tend to repeat. And the sound effects, while minimal, are good, especially explosions when you unleash devastating hits.
So, yeah, it doesn’t go the extra mile where it should, but Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition still looks and sounds as it should. Fans will have a lot to like here, even if it’s not a complete overhaul.
Journey Forward On Your Quest
If you’ve moved on to other games and got Puzzle Quest out of your system, Immortal Edition doesn’t have too much to entice you to return. However, it’s certainly got a strong legion of fans, and they’ll eat up what Infinity Plus 2 serves here. The gameplay is still as entertaining as ever, and the presentation has never looked better, even with some weird art choices.
Again, multiplayer would’ve been a huge draw factor, along with new missions. But as it stands, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition isn’t a bad game to return to in the least. And it leaves some hope that a refresh of Puzzle Quest 2 isn’t far behind. Maybe some new adventures after that too, perhaps? There’s always room for a new Quest.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Infinity Plus 2 for the review code! Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is available now for Xbox,PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC/Steam!
Want more adventure gaming for your day? Check out our review of Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening!
