VenusGaming

D3’s sequel to the original Puzzle Quest - with a science fiction twist - now has a playable demo here. Screenshots of the game have shown a very different game board, so here’s how the game plays out.

Like many other science fiction games, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix pits your space ship against your opponent’s. Each of you has a shield and ship health; you must damage the shield first in order to damage the health of the ship.

Here’s where things start to differ though: You must match three colored gems in order to build your weapons - these work much like skills did in Puzzle Quest. To do damage, you must match three mines. And to replenish your shield, you must match three blue gems. (I’ve yet to figure out what white and purple gems do, but I can only assume they function like extra gold and experience as in the previous Puzzle Quest.)

You’ll notice that the playing field is not square this time around. The hexagon interface makes the game more interesting, and not just because of the new ways one must think of to match gems. When gems are cleared off the board, existing gems are “pushed in” and new gems come in from one of the sides. As far as I can tell, which side isn’t completely predictable either - so you may end up pushing mine gems together, or apart.

You’ll also notice that mine gems have different numbers on them - I’ve seen 1, 3, 5, and 10 in the demo. These numbers add up to the total damage you’ll do when you match gems, or when the opponent matches them. Hints are also less obtrusive this time; a gem that can be moved flashes (it’s not always the gem in the matchup.) To be honest, I’m finding the game more challenging, and more inventive - in a good way.

Here’s looking forward to Puzzle Quest: Galactrix then - for PS3, XBox, PC, and Nintendo DS. It’s due out in spring of this year.