Quick Look: Puzzle Quest 2

Hope this one comes to PC. I have been wanting to give these things a go, but they never looked all that interesting until this one.

If only they could have a steamcloud style thing for the DS, xbox, and steam

Why does Brad think it's okay not to pay attention whenever he plays a game on camera?
 
Honestly this is the root of all Bradisms.

YUS so pumped

Love Puzzle Quest but my god is the art bad in this game. Now I know how people who hate anime feel when they look at an otherwise great looking game and hate the art style. I don't remember the first game looking that bad, is it just me?

Hey, Brad didn't die!
 
Clearly Brad is best at games where death is based solely on random chance!

How did you guys record a DS game? Mindblowing!

Screenshots for XBLA look very nice... I'll be picking this up, as I never did get to experience the first.  Looks like yet another time suck addictive ass game.

Doesn't do it for me like the first PQ did...

I played the original Puzzle Quest on the PSP and, glaring bugs aside (namely the Companion bug for me), found nothing wrong with the game. I enjoyed the art, the music was okay, the gameplay went by so much faster, and as I watch this, I feel this is a step down.
 
The art of this one I find horrendous. Terrible-looking characters with an overall ugly-feel to it. The art of the first one was fine, I found nothing wrong of it. Why they decided to make things ugly is beyond me.
 
The music and sounds I hear of this one is just painful. Yes, the original Puzzle Quest had nothing to boast about, but it didn't make me want to rip my ears out. What is up with the voice clips in this one? They seriously couldn't do any better? And the music. You think they would improve over time.
 
The gameplay just looks slow. Now I never played the DS one, so I can't really say if this actually is an improvement or not, but the PSP went by like nothing. We didn't have to wait for the icon to disappear completely. An action would be made and everything would cascade immediately while still showing exactly what happened. In twenty minutes, I'd be able to get at least seven battles done. And the hint system, that just seems distracting. Not to mention it led you directly into giving your opponent a 4-of-a-kind, and not just once, it tried to do it a second time. Just fuckin' appear when I actually need help, like if I take too long or if you could just be a button.
 
Obviously, I am disappointed. I never played the any of the expansions, spin-offs, and pseudo-sequels that came out after the first Puzzle Quest, so Puzzle Quest is still fresh in my mind as a terrific blend of puzzle gaming and RPGing. To see this, the namesake numbering sequel to it look, sound, and feel like this, well, that is simply a bummer.
 
Still, thanks for the quick look, Brad and Ryan! And Brad, you got to stop jumping the gun on those matches. Always be on the lookout for 4- and 5-of-a-kinds.

I see, hear, music is still awsome...

Yeah the art is pretty terrible... but I don't actually think the originals was *that* bad... 
I guess it is just become worse in the sequel.

This reminded me why did I never get a Might and Magic Clash of Heroes QL. I better get one when its released on XBLA/PSN. Its such a overlooked gem.

I know this is a DS game but man the sound is horrible like they said.

Demonic Bastard Sword?  Whoever came up with that gets a high-five.

Bought this yesterday, and I've already sunk about six or seven hours into it.
 
Seems a bit more balanced, with a greater variety of mini-games, but a bit too small in scope.

I don't know if it's just the laid back nature of this quick look but this game looks BOOOOOOOOOORING.

I played the shit outta some Puzzle Quest on XBLA. This looks really cool.

The third entry in the series, and it's called Puzzle Quest 2?  What is this, Grand Theft Auto?

Not really feeling this. The art looks really bad. I'll be much more interested to see the XBLA version.

I wonder how much the XBLA version will cost.

@JJOR64 800MS Points, or 10 dollars to you and me, like the others.

Never got into puzzle quest but this looks really cool, hope the XBLA version better cause I would totally cop that.

Man, this looks interesting. I'd probably get it if I had a DS. Good Quick Look.

Oh. man. Watching this was a mistake. I'm not sure if I'm going to have the willpower to resist buying this before the XBLA version comes out. Curse you, Giant Bomb!

No PSP version? They can get to fuck! 
It was OK on XBLA, but it just suits a portable so much better. 
 
Oh well, it looks like they've messed up anyway. They can keep it. 
I liked the bright, pseudo-anime style of the first game. The art here looks like garbage!

Man it's bullshit there's going to be no PSP version this time around. That was definitely the best version (before iPhone came out). The visuals on the DS suck, but it would be nice to have it portable.
 
Going to have to wait for the XBLA version I suppose.

Hope the superior PC version comes soon.

Brad sucks at matching.  His terrible choices look almost satirical.

The return! One more turn! Yes.

I'll save my money for the Xbox Live version. 
 
Hopefully the characters look better.

Yes! Nuff said.

Hopefully the 360 version will look and sound better than this crud.

This game will keep me company on my long flight to Europe. Or at least as long as the battery lasts. :)

I don't know what game you all were watching, because I see no such game worth buying.

Just saying 6>4 .. pleaase :p

But I already have Bejewelled on my ipod touch... 

I'm currently playing the first one on XBLA.  This looks fun, but a bit...slow.

I like to resolve my conflicts with coloured circles

The presentation is a lot better than PQ1 on the DS.  No more "4 of a Kind" messages blocking the play field. 
 
EDIT: Oh, is the game out now??

Got the XBLA version - it looks and sounds MUCH better, the puzzling seems to move more quickly, and the menus are much more usable than the ones seemed in this quick look.  It even has better looking icons for battling and looting.  AND it's cheaper! 
 
If portability isn't a premium, I highly recommend the XBLA version.

Been playing this on my iPad recently, really enjoying it so far.