Yes, it is a robust design unifying two gaming traditions, the well tested casual games (Match 3 gems game) and the CRPG tradition, simplified, node based, but both make an addictive game that works as a whole. Basically it is the campaign concept of Warlords Battlecry III with their main quest, traditional pseudolinear gameplay, repetable random missions, sidequests etc. RPG progression and node based continent. The difference is the more casual approach of Puzzle Quest and the combat system, one uses a RTS long battle and the other one Match 3 minigame, faster, but surpringsinly and depending the Match 3 battle (the core of the design) longer and harder than expected. The game is fun and it is a remaster of the original. Aestetically and how the quest flow, dialogue based, it is also similar to how the classic SNES/GBA Fire Emblem kind of games work but without the wall of text or deep story, In Puzzle Quest all is more subtle and "Diablo" like. Indeed, addictive and fun game, interface wise it is very clear that it is designed for mobiles or little consoles, but control wise in PC it is perfectly confortable and playable with mouse or even a gamepad. I can see Warlords Battlecry III, Classic RPGs, Bejeweled, and some aestetics from the console SRPGs influences. No, I am not mad.
It is curious that the designer of this game, Sid Meier, known by the most iconic turn based game ever was really interested in what current computers could offer to the real time gameplay. Not metioning he was one of the inventers of the Flight simulation as we know. This game was part of a series of wargames with the personality that they were focused in real time gameplay, easy to use, the user has the essential information he needs, the operations are more focused in the whole picture than extreme micromanagement, and the controls are streamlined to around four keys the played must know. the only weird control I encountered was the "too intuitive" or contraintuitive way of moving and attack (M or A to move or attack, and press H to end, this is, "Move to Here") The units don't need to be babysitted necessarily. The AI is pretty decent for a such old game. This simplicity and well design ends up in surprinsingly fun gameplay without sacrificing accuracy and how things happen in the batleground. It is Deep without being owerhelming. In my opinion it is closer to a real big battle than other more complex wargames of the era. It reminds me to other game he designed later, Gettysburg!, were the well designed, and simply rules, ended up in battles being played and reacting like it was in the past. Never played the game before, so nostalgia is not a variable for me here, In my opinion the game has something to offer even today, afterall there are not too many examples with such approach. Imagine a traditional operational WWII tabletop wargame, mixed with concepts of "Command HQ" any "The Operational Art of War" scenario, Close combat series, and "Sid Meier Gettysburg!"
It was developed with the engine Legend used in games like Companions of Xanth or Death Gate. But this time the game is a peculiar mix of a first person point and click game and a RPG with combat in the vein of Might an Magic or Dragon Quest. The game is silly and it wants to be in that way. It is a pure parody that does not take itself too seriously but the result is a very well designed game, fun, lighthearted, smooth and a bit alien. The game is pretty US focused, US jokes, local pop culture. The interface is not as bad as it can be at first sight, just a bit outdated, all is pretty polished for those who already tried previous Legends graphic adventures. I like a lot the engine Legend used in those games. You have a lot of freedom to navigate at will in an open world postapocaliptic New York leading a band of absurd superheroes with absurd weapons and powers, fight random and fixed battles and choosing missions in the order you want. In some places the game is turned in a traditional Legend first person adventure game where you solve puzzles, use objects, seach for tools. And all is more familiar. This kind of mix was risky and it could have became a pure mess, and me, for years ignored this game not interested in those experiments. But the game is very good, fun and unique. Maybe later Shannara made something similar mixing a point and click adventure and light RPG.
