Matches, Missiles and Mayhem- Puzzlegeddon Review

Having played a multitude of ‘match-three’ puzzlers over the years, I decided to skip Puzzlegeddon’s tutorial and jump right into the action. I was sure that the title’s diminutive six-by-six grid held a minimum of complexity. Three disgraceful losses later, I regretfully headed into the game’s detailed tutorial. I quickly learned that each of title’s individual mechanics weren’t overly intricate. Yet, when combined in the full game, Puzzlegeddon requires players to multitask in an uncommon and innovative manner.

The game’s resource gathering element recalls Planet Puzzle League/Panel de Pon. Players move a cursor around a grid sliding each column or row of blocks. Unlike most similar puzzlers, groups of similar colored blocks don’t automatically disappear. Instead, players eliminate a group of five adjacent blocks with a press of the ‘X’ button. By not immediately removing the squares from the field, combinations can be formed, created an absorbing risk/reward dynamic.

Each successful removal of squares builds a gauge which corresponds to the block’s color. As the level in each meter rises, players have access to a variety of offensive and defensive measures. Each indicator has three levels, which reflects the strength of each ability. Power up the red gauge to its limit and you can launch a devastating attack on another player, while a level-one green defense offers relatively anemic protection against an incoming enemy missile. Additionally, blue resources allow users to increase the strength of their arsenal, and yellow disrupts a rival’s defense system. Attacking or defending requires players to pull either the left or right trigger, point to a player, and press the one of the four corresponding buttons on the controller.

During the first few games, having to simultaneously create combinations, balance resource levels, while launching and defending against attacks can be overwhelming. However, like many multilayered diversions, success arrives once players grasp each individual facet. Along with the title’s long learning curve comes an extended duration of enjoyment- fatigue won’t come quickly for Puzzlegeddon purchasers. With a wealth of options, the game offers plenty of diversity for its 800 point price of admission.

Solo players may participate in the point-driven, timed Deathmatch games or the last-man standing competitions found in the Battle Royale mode. Matches can be populated with A.I. bots of varying difficulty- although at the highest challenge levels your CPU opponents create resources at super-human speed. Additionally the game’s Poison Peril variation asks gamers to complete explicit tasks, from matching a specific type of block to creating an unbroken row or column.

Visually, Puzzlegeddon uses a vibrant palette to color its blocks, weaponry, and opponents, while the backdrops typically use muted hues to create a skillful contrast. The game’s planetary motif is skillfully incorporated, allowing for players to be positioned on small mountains, while the main sphere is located in a serene galactic setting. Although the title’s music is competent, its selection is a bit limited.