[CTIN482] Blog Assignment, Puzzle Quest
Blog about why this works or doesn't (What's compelling? What's particularly cool about it? Is it boring? Interesting? Addictive?
Puzzle Quest absolutely works, and I would argue that mixing the addictive mechanics commonly associated with RPGs (leveling up, getting new skills) with the Bejeweled mechanic is nothing short of brilliant. PQ proves my personal philosophy of game design - take a good game, change one mechanic and the dramatic elements and you have a another good game.
How does the theme pair with the game mechanic?
Like a hand to a glove. You choose a character class, each of which has a different set of spells that draws primarily on one color of mana. In turn, this shapes your play style as you choose which types of color matches to make in a Bejeweled clone. (With one notable difference, the dramatic tension between either getting experience or filling your mana bar).
Propose a different theme and how it would be implemented. (For instance, a speak-easy, 1920's flapper theme; how would the art assets be changed to fit that? What game mechanic elements would need to be changed? Could it merely be reskinned or would there need to be fundamental changes?)
Naturally, you could reskin PQ any number of ways. After all, haven't we already seen sci-fi RPGs? Steampunk RPGs? Cyberpunk RPGs? There are even Western RPGs, for goodness' sake! Fundamentally, I don't think you could meld another genre with puzzles quite as effectively as an RPG. The sense of achievement RPG gameplay gives you is intoxicating addictive, and although each encounter only lasts a few minutes, you find yourself playing for hours...