The Failings of Puzzle Quest
This game is great. This game is addictive. The story is pretty well written. The gameplay is compelling. The customization and replayability is high. Unfortunately, the game is badly balanced. There are some fairly easily achievable set-ups that trivialize the game completely. Now, I have played plenty of Final Fantasy games, and I have no problems with grinding out levels to make fights easier, or becoming powerful enough (through items or experience) that most enemies become ineffectual compared to your godly might, but this takes it to the next level of cheese.
Consider:
Matching 4 or 5 of a kind gets you an extra turn.
There are items available that refill mana when you cast spells.
There are spells available that randomly add gems of a certain type to the play field.
The cycle goes like this: Cast the spell, creating enough gems that a 4 or 5 of a kind is created. Gain mana from the gem matching, and items that restore mana on mana gain or on spell cast. Take another turn, because you matched 4 or 5 of a kind. Do it again.
Taken singly, any of these elements are a fine addition to the game. The problem, I think, lies in the power of the spells that add specific types of gems to the field. If casting that spell didn't result in a 4 or 5 of a kind on 80% of the casts, it would be a useful spell that added another strategy to the game. As is, it is an overpowered spell that completely invalidates all other strategies and bypasses any semblance of gameplay.
I was really liking the game until this happened. =(
Consider:
Matching 4 or 5 of a kind gets you an extra turn.
There are items available that refill mana when you cast spells.
There are spells available that randomly add gems of a certain type to the play field.
The cycle goes like this: Cast the spell, creating enough gems that a 4 or 5 of a kind is created. Gain mana from the gem matching, and items that restore mana on mana gain or on spell cast. Take another turn, because you matched 4 or 5 of a kind. Do it again.
Taken singly, any of these elements are a fine addition to the game. The problem, I think, lies in the power of the spells that add specific types of gems to the field. If casting that spell didn't result in a 4 or 5 of a kind on 80% of the casts, it would be a useful spell that added another strategy to the game. As is, it is an overpowered spell that completely invalidates all other strategies and bypasses any semblance of gameplay.
I was really liking the game until this happened. =(