TWiG 2009-04-05: Puzzle Quest Gone Hexic

Yes, it’s been out for a while on other platforms, and yes, it’s a sequel, but I have to admit that the one thing I am most looking forward to this week is Puzzle Quest: Galactrix‘s bow on the Xbox Live Arcade.

The first Puzzle Quest is one of the games I spent the most time admiring over the last year, for the ways in which it bucks traditional RPG and puzzle game design principles, combining them to create an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable experience. What looks interesting about Galactrix is that it’s changed the game that its puzzling is modeled after; where Challenge of the Warlords was all about putting Bejeweled in a big, fancy frame, Galactrix is more like Xbox Live Arcade’s own Hexic.

This is a scary thought.

While Hexic is certainly an excellent game, it’s a very difficult one as well, the sort of puzzle game that will chase away outsiders due to the high learning curve it presents when one pursues mastery of it. The question is whether having to think so hard about the puzzles during battles will take away from the enjoyment of the overall game. The question is also whether developer Vicious Cycle has addressed the long load times that have reportedly plagued the DS(!) version of the game. Regardless, giving it a spin is high on the priority list this week.

Elsewhere, Capcom is doing something different this week with its own downloadable offering, a little something called Flock. You’re a little spaceship flying around a beautifully-rendered isometric world trying to herd animals into a big spaceship. It sounds easy, but the obstacles that have shown up in even the short little trailers for the game look absolutely infuriating…which is perfect for this sort of “puzzle-action” (read: it’s sort of like Lemmings) game.

The big consoles have The Godfather II showing up alongside Riddick, the nintendo consoles have a possible sleeper in the form of Professor Heinz Wolff’s Gravity, and the PC is finally getting its version of Xbox Live Arcade discussion piece Braid. The oft-delayed Ninja Blade is finally seeing release on the Xbox 360 as well. For such a slow week, there’s a lot to look at – what will you be playing?

The full release list and a trailer for Puzzle Quest: Galactrix are after the break.

DS:

Professor Heinz Wolff’s Gravity (6 April)

Hannah Montana: The Movie (7 April)

PS3:

Hannah Montana: The Movie (7 April)

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (7 April)

The Godfather II (7 April)

Flock (9 April, PSN Download)

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic (9 April, PSN Download)

PSP:

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus (7 April)

Hammerin’ Hero (7 April)

Dragon Ball: Evolution (8 April)

Xbox 360:

Hannah Montana: The Movie (7 April)

Ninja Blade (7 April)

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

The Godfather II (7 April)

Flock (8 April, Xbox Live Arcade)

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (8 April, Xbox Live Arcade)

Wii:

Professor Heinz Wolff’s Gravity (6 April)

Escape The Museum (7 April)

Hannah Montana: The Movie (7 April)

Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals (12 April)

PS2:

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus (7 April)

PC:

Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor (7 April)

DCS: Black Shark (7 April)

Elven Legacy (7 April)

Flock (7 April)

OMG! High School Triple Play Pack (7 April)

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (7 April)

The Godfather II (7 April)

Helldorado (9 April)

Braid (10 April)