Galactrix? I've never heard about it. I think it does not ever existed. I said: DOES... NOT... EV
Forgetting the space divagation we have today a direct sequel of PQ, named simply Puzzle Quest 2.
Probably wanting remove even the memory of the grubby Galactrix, D3Publisher backs to the medieval fantasy setting and overall to the mechanics of the original game.
First of all I must say that the RPG division was really simplified than the original Puzzle Quest. The first result is a main plot absolutely flat. Story in the first PQ surely was not exceptional, but was however pleasant, with some interesting ideas and, especially, a series of side characters really well designed. Nothing remained in the sequel: starting with a main character deprived of any characterization, a main plot negligible and side characters with personalities able to rival with a lambs flock.
And the game mechanics?
Fortunately, though the simplifications mentioned before, the main core of the game is playable and enjoyable. After chose our alter ego from a bunch of classes, each with specific features and battle techniques, we find ourselves in a troubled northern city menaced by the usual demonic invasion. While in the first Puzzle Quest we moved our character on a overall game map, here we have several different location, starting from the city, with several dungeons each with a different setting, graphical style and foes. Enemies and others elements (like treasure chests of traps) are now visible on the locations and, in some occasion, avoidable.
The fighting mechanics recall the original game with a board made up by polychromic runes and skulls.
Ultimate goal of the fight is to reduce to 0 the life points of the enemies principally gathering together three or more skulls. In the meantime is essential gather even the colourful runes and ability runes in order to use the exclusive spell each characters have and the equipped items.
Each fighting won ensures experience points and gold to spend in the city shops. About the equipment, besides protective armours like helmets or chestplates that raise only the possibility to half any type of damage received (valid for enemies too), really important are the weapons, able to deal heavy damage in exchange with ability point gained from the relative runes. Colourful runes give mana essential to use the spells each character have. Spells are obtained levelling the character and, if well implemented in an effective game strategy, result decisive in fighting winning. From this viewpoint the game excels. For each class is possible create, mixing equipment and spells, several types of templates all very effective while is surely less effective use spells without any strategy: a similar choice make the game not only more difficult, but even less enjoyable.
Since the game board is in common with the foes is essential not be rush with the move, in order to don't leave the enemies with runes and skull ready to be gathered. This enhances the strategic core of the game while you try to receive the maximum from the board avoiding in the meantime to take damage and to leave enemies gather mana for his spells.
Differently from the original game the board is larger and more reliable, with runes bigger and easily noticeable each others, while no more consequences are triggered for illegal moves, neither hp loss nor turn skipping.
Obviously the puzzles are required even for non fighting stuff like treasure looting, lockpicking, trap disarming, etc.
Unfortunately respect the original game this side event are not only abused, but really less uninteresting than fighting mechanics, breaking uselessly the pace of the game.
Strangely lacks totally the possibility to craft spell or items, though is possible to upgrade weapons and stuffs to the city smith paying the due and using materials acquired during your travels in dungeons. Upgrading items to the last grade will also unlock some pretty bonus like increased damage of improved critical hit rate with weapons.
Others problems are related to the poverty of the main plot and the uselessness of the side characters. In the original PQ we had several characters interesting not only in characterization, but still useful giving the hero some special features, other triggering some important side quests.
In PQ2 side characters are mere walk-on (sometimes irritating) simply adding a simple spell to the player's grimoire, almost always useless.
Last, probably you will reach the level cap for your character a couple of hours first of the game end forcing you to face several fighting without any real compensation.
Final Line
Puzzle quest 2 is a big step forward from the forgetful Galactrix and technically is better than its prequel, presenting a graphic of location and characters really improved; good even the various sprites and the relative portraits. More handling the board, larger and bigger with runes easier to recognize and to move avoiding field errors..
Unfortunately the franchise lost in pure charisma with a main plot absolutely risible while non fighting mechanics came soon to be boring, as well as the last hours of play level capped.
Overall Puzzle Quest 2 is not at all a bad game, the back to setting and mechanics similar to the original game was a winning move after the horrible Galactrix, while the technical side is appreciable and the fighting mechanics was finely refined. Unfortunately the simplifications to the RPG side of the product and the flatness of almost all elements unrelated to fighting will disappoint greatly old Puzzle Quest fans. However there's not enough to flunk this game, even thinking that who don't know the original game probably will not have any reason to complaint.
Old fans (like me) maybe will like the game though its simplifications, but was due expecting something more.
Final Score 7