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Joystiq

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix beams down to XBLA on April 8 [update]

by Justin McElroy on Apr 2nd 2009 10:14AM

We take no pleasure in admitting that Puzzle Quest: Galactrix on the DS was a poorly designed, loading-time-riddled heart breaker. So, it's with no small amount of trepidation and a modicum of hope that we report the XBLA version of the game will arrive on April 8 for ~~an undisclosed price~~. [Update: Just heard back from D3. Galactrix will run you 1600 points, or $20.]

Though its DS counterpart hurt us and hurt us badly, we're hoping that the XBLA version fares much, much better. We're not sure all the problems can be fixed by porting the game to a different box, but we'd love nothing more than to be proven wrong.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (XBLA/DS/PC)

Box art

Tags: d3, days-of-arcade, galactrix, Microsoft, puzzle-quest, puzzle-quest-galactrix, xbla, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (33)

That's on my birthday hope they have all the kinks worked out.

Man, I was really looking forward to this, but now I am trepidatious. I played the demo over and over, so hopefully the Xbox's speed will overcome the loading issues and make the game fun. Sounds like I'm waiting for some reviews though.

I wondered what happened to this. It didn't come out on XBL when everyone said it would and then I couldn't find anything saying it was delayed. I was beginning to think the XBL version was canceled.

There should be a PC demo version. That should be comparable to the XBLA version.

There is and I don't remember any slow down.

If I remember hearing right (Justin on the podcast and someone on the GWJ podcast) the DS load is 5-10 seconds and the PC load is 1-3 seconds.

To be fair, I should take time to actually finish Puzzle Quest before I go on and buy this.

They're not direct sequels.

Think System Shock and Bioshock.

Of course I know they are not sequels. But they offer about the same type of gameplay, so I might as well finish the game I paid for first before buying another similar game.

Dude I spent a million hours playing puzzle quest and never finished it. I love the game but I dont think I have the time for this.

Is there no PSP version?

Sounds like you could at least spare a cuppla hundred thousand hours on it. Don't have the time, pshhh.

Your right, and I probably could have spent the 114 years of time on something like curing cancer. Unless of course puzzle quest does cure cancer.

Jesus, slow down, pal, who the hell has time for curing cancer?

I will buy this on two conditions:

Give me a character-enhancing reward for hacking a Leapgate, and KEEP A LEAPGATE OPEN FOREVER ONCE I HACK IT.

Besides the loading times, the fucking Leapgates made me stop playing both the DS and the PC version before I got very far in either. Oh, and the touchscreen implementation on the DS is the worst I've ever encountered. I've never played a game with such unresponsive (or downright funky) touch controls.

/end rant

Yeah, those are both very true.

There's a nice mod for the PC version that multiplies the timer in the hacking mini game by 10. Made the game so much more enjoyable after that.

Thanks Bruce (and also oolz below) - I didn't know there was a mod for it. I guess that means I'll install the PC version again and give it another go.

Odd since the original Puzzle Quest on DS worked out great control-wise. I was planning on getting this for XBLA since I heard it was pretty borked on the DS, but how big of a deal is the leapgate thingy really? Haven't played the demo at all...

I totally agree - I think there's a different dev. team this time around, because the touch screen on functionality the original PQ worked just fine (also, you could use the d-pad and buttons with the original PQ, a feature sadly lacking from this one). I find myself having to press an item either really hard or twice to activate it (menus, game board, you name it), if it activates at all.

And the leapgate thing - that's just poor game design IMO. I hate to go into too much detail, but if someone made a patch for it on the PC version, I'm definitely not the only one who felt that the leapgates were a waste of time and totally sucked enjoyment out of the game.

I have the full version on the PC, couldn't wait for it to be released on XBL after playing the flash webdemo over and over and over...

Hacking the leapgates gets really tiresome, even when you're good at the game you need to have luck on your side to open the difficult ones, one time you run out of time with half of 24 to go and the next try you get lucky and have half the time left... So far I haven't noticed leapgates closing again though.

The game is not what I expected based on the flash webdemo, you really start from nothing and can hardly do any damage, there are way more bombs than in the webdemo... it's different and not for the better imho, but maybe some people will be into it anyway.

I returned to playing the webdemo on my linux laptop for instant gratification :)

not sure what problems they're talking about. I've played hours of this on PC and it runs fine, even on an old and busted laptop. No reason it won't run just as well on the xbox. I can see the DS having issues because..well...it's a DS.

What sucks about this version is you won't be able to hack the game to auto-hack leap gates... worst decision decision ever in a game.

DAY 1 BUY FOR ME, SWEET!!!!!!!!! And is there a demo on xbox live? If so I didn't see it.

Demo's usually come out the same day as the full product for arcade titles, don't they?

Demo are mendatory for XBLA games. They cannot release a game without having a trail version. Microsoft just won't allow it.

I'll almost certainly be getting this.

Doh! Was hoping for a simultaneous XBL / PSN release. Guess I'll have to wait for the PSN version. Big surprise.

I'll certainly try the demo for XBLA. I was disappointed with Justin's take on the game (well, on the game, not on Justin's impressions). Fond memories of the first PQ are still pushing me towards a purchase though.

20 dollars? =/

I _returned_ the DS version, it was so fucking bad. This is coming from someone who loved the original.

Hmm was thinking of picking this up, but it seems a bit pricey.

Although it is cheaper than the PC Version on Steam and shop prices

I'm looking forward to this one... based on reviews of the PC/DS version, it isn't an automatic buy. I'll have to wait and see how the trial plays out. I am very excited about this title and Magic the Gathering.

Isn't $20 a bit on the high side for an XBLA game? Wow.

$20? Really? Thank you Penny Arcade for setting a stupidly high precedent for arcade games.

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Breaking News

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix beams down to XBLA on April 8 [update]

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (XBLA/DS/PC)

Reader Comments (33)

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 10:21AM DawgOnU said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 10:21AM aristokrat said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 10:35AM Samutz said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 10:48AM Berzerk said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 11:07AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:02PM Berzerk said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 11:14AM Guibs said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 2:09PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 2:24PM Guibs said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 11:20AM Dirty said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 1:47PM MarkezJM said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 1:50PM Dirty said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 2:09PM MarkezJM said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 11:32AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:07PM Trojan said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:26PM Master Bruce said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:37PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 1:48PM MarkezJM said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 2:04PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 4:38PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 11:59AM oolz said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:25PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:39PM technoKyle said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 2:26PM Guibs said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:38PM technoKyle said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 12:39PM nandokun said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 2:48PM Courtney said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 4:02PM Crusty Magic said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 4:09PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 4:42PM HT UK said

Posted: Apr 2nd 2009 11:31PM OS Perry said

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Posted: Apr 6th 2009 3:59PM DashCat9 said

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