Game Details

• Title: Puzzlequest Galactrix
• Developer: Infinite Interactive
• Publisher: Xbox Live Arcade
• Released (UK): 08/04/2009
• Current Price: 1600 MS Points
• Age Rating: E
• Game Type: Puzzle (Bejewelled/RPG Hybrid)
• Multi-player: Up to 2 players online and local

Background

The original Puzzlequest is a very successful Bejeweled/RPG hybrid and Galactrix is its follow up. The same elements that made the original game successful are still present just adapted into a space environment, with a bit of resource gathering included. The main difference is rather than using the standard square gems, hexagonal ones are used, with the grid being reminiscent of that found in hexic.

Game Modes

The main game mode is the single player campaign, and in addition to the battles, there are also several minigames using variants of the same system in order to either acquire information or resources or access new areas. There is also online multiplayer which typically has one of your single player characters facing off against someone elses, with the addition of a timer to ensure battles don’t last too long

Technical Stuff

The graphics are fairly basic, though they don’t need to be exceptional given the type of game it is, likewise the sound effects are nothing special either. The only technical feautre of Galactrix that stood out for me was the music. I found it quite difficult to find multiplayer games and when I did play games I found that the controls seemed slightly sluggish when compared to the single player game.

Difficulty/Acheivements

Galactrix’s difficulty is variable, with it sometimes being virtually impossible to win and other times easy. The main problem with Galactrix is that you are given little guidance on how to progress and it needs some grinding to get sufficient money to buy a decent ship as relying on the ones you gain in quests quickly leaves you outmatched. With the exception of the multiplayer achievements, none of them should cause too much trouble if the game is played to completion.

Positives

• Fun to play
• Highly Addictive
• Intriguing Plot
• Good Value for Money

Negatives

• The game mechanism can take a while to get used to
• Mini games can get tiresome as little to differentiate them from each other and the main game
• Can be quite difficult to begin with, and the difficulty level varies considerably from impossible to easy
• Not enough guidance in how to play given
• Need to grind to get decent equipment and levels
• Luck a much bigger factor than in the original Puzzlequest

My Recommendation

Buy – 8/10

Despite my long list of negatives, Puzzlequest Galactrix is a highly addictive and immersive game. The main problems with it are that some battles are decided more by luck than judgement, and it can get a bit repetitive at times. Despite this if you like this type of game it is well worth buying even given the high price point, which it warrants since it and it is still considerably cheaper than the Nintendo DS version.

Video Review