D3 brings Puzzle Quest and friends to XBLA

by Christopher Grant { May 1st 2007 at 11:15AM }

D3Publisher has announced their plans to bring three titles ("the first of many") to Microsoft's bit-flinging Xbox Live Arcade service: Mad Tracks, RocketBowl (XBLA's first bowling game, they coo), and the addictive matching game Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.

Of course, Puzzle Quest is what we're really interested in here. We can imagine the XBLA version's HD graphics undoing the cramped constraints of the Nintendo DS release, while the delivery mechanism should bypass the PSP version's awkward loading pauses, and then there's Xbox Live integration for a proper multiplayer experience. Match up these three improvements to form the ultimate (albeit decidedly non-portable) version of Puzzle Quest!

[Thanks, Sherveen]

Tags: D3, MadTracks, puzzlequest, Rocketbowl, XBLA

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

heyo007 @ May 1st 2007 11:20AM

*sniff*
I miss the orange Dreamcast Swirl.
Thanks for the reminder.

John @ May 1st 2007 11:19AM

wow. A full DS/PSP game on XBLA? If so, is that the first "full size" current-gen portable game on XBLA? I wonder what the price will be or if it'll be smaller in some way?

Brad @ May 1st 2007 11:20AM

Great news for the XBLA... but has there been any word on Puzzle Quest for the PC?

Alex @ May 1st 2007 11:30AM

The one genre I play the least is now available on XBLA, big whoop, is that the response to Calling all cars?

Matthew @ May 1st 2007 2:55PM

Bah, I'm still getting it for DS.

Jonah Falcon @ May 1st 2007 11:41AM

SCORE!

"The one genre I play the least is now available on XBLA, big whoop, is that the response to Calling all cars?"

It's called "getting the hottest, best puzzle game available right now on the DS and PSP".

This is a MAJOR COUP!

Joe Smith @ May 1st 2007 11:46AM

Maybe I will finally be able to check out PQ -- its not like you can find a copy anywhere.

Jonah Falcon @ May 1st 2007 11:48AM

@ Brad.

A PC version?

http://www.gamedaily.com/canvases/gd/_a/download-puzzle-quest-demo/20070315101009990002

Have fun.

Jdoki @ May 1st 2007 12:08PM

Great news. I'm currently really enjoying Puzzle Quest on the PSP - it's a perfect portable game.

I'd be tempted to pick this up again on XBLA just for the multiplayer modes.

Pace @ May 1st 2007 12:10PM

Now if only I could import my character from the DS version

billychaos @ May 1st 2007 12:19PM

@ 9 Pace
Yeah I wish i could do that too. My druid on my DS is so insane right now I whoop anythign that comes near me, and i own every city. I wonder if the xbla version will allow vs. others online. I know the pc version will.

Jonah Falcon @ May 1st 2007 12:20PM

By the way, don't overlook RocketBowl - you can give it a kick here:

http://www.largeanimal.com/games/deluxe/rocketbowl-plus

Brad @ May 1st 2007 12:31PM

@ #7

Yeah, I'm aware of the PC Demo and have played it to death. However there's no full PC version yet, and the demo is limited to lvl 5 or so.

It's odd because the demo is so well done, yet there's been no announcement of a full version of the game for the PC as far as I know.

TheLump @ May 1st 2007 12:35PM

@4
I'm pretty sure that Calling All Cars was more of a response to games already out on XBLA (i.e. Geometry Wars). So, your point is moot.

Not only this but in reality it isn't a "response" to anything. Now go QQ

aylera @ May 1st 2007 12:49PM

Yah it's too bad you can't import any characters, but the game is so fun anyhow, it doesn't really matter :P I'll play it again, and try a new class this time.

Wish we had a time table, though I'll assume it's going to be a long time.

Aberu @ May 1st 2007 1:55PM

HD graphics? You made me lol.

It will look just like the PC version.

In case you don't know joystiq, this game's graphics are overrated as hell. The game looks like some Windows 3.11 release to me. It's not about the graphics, it's about the fun for this game though. Awesome game, always happy to see them sharing it around of course, but don't start using buzz words like HD again and making me lol.

KilgoreTrout XL @ May 1st 2007 1:59PM

XBLA Arcade Puzzle Quest:

There should be a "The AI cheats like a bitch" achievement, and you should be awarded this achievement when you turn the game on.

It's still a freaking awesome game, it just that the AI cheats like a bitch sometimes, is all.

;)

Jonah Falcon @ May 1st 2007 2:12PM

Actually, the demo allows you to level 7 now. >:)

Jonah Falcon @ May 1st 2007 2:13PM

@13

Wanna bet a PSN version is coming anyway? It's on DS, PSP, (soon) PSP and (soon) XBLA. No big deal - I just want it because it's hot and I want the Achievements AND the multiplayer. :D

aylera @ May 1st 2007 2:18PM

"
There should be a "The AI cheats like a bitch" achievement, and you should be awarded this achievement when you turn the game on.

It's still a freaking awesome game, it just that the AI cheats like a bitch sometimes, is all. "

Well after a certain point, it stops being a factor in the game. After you start to get class defining spells, getting a few four-in-a-rows out of luck doesn't really matter. By the time you get to 40+, you can yawn at most of the enemies who get a few lucky breaks :P

The real cheese comes from the last boss, who can, for 5 mana of any color, destroy every of that mana color, on the board. Now THAT sets up some massive clears, none of which are "rigged", heh.

Vexorg @ May 1st 2007 2:26PM

Since I can't seem to find the DS version of this anywhere (I saw it once at Target, decided to pass it up at the time, and haven't seen it since) I guess I'll have to wait for the XBLA version.

CaptNink @ May 1st 2007 2:26PM

@ Kilgore Trout

AI doesn't cheat bud.

fragglefart @ May 1st 2007 3:13PM

Fantastic, the DS game looks sweet, in HD this will be an easy game to lose hours in.

Ken @ May 1st 2007 3:23PM

I don't see how its any fun playing without a touch screen or mouse.

But I've yet to try it, so I'll reserve my right to dislike it... when I play it.

AMartins529 @ May 1st 2007 4:12PM

Man, I must be the only one interested in Mad Tracks. I played a demo of that game and I think it's going to be the new Marble Blast Ultra.

I'm also pretty stoked about Puzzle Quest. My sister has it on the DS but I haven't had the chance to play it.

Dirk @ May 1st 2007 5:06PM

I had to drive a long distance to pick this up for my DS and it was worth every penny. The game is completely awesome if you like puzzle games like Bejeweled with a HUGE RPG element added to it. It is seriously addicting and you'll be playing for hours and hours.

Can't wait to play this in full HD with 5.1 sound.