Square-Enix and PopCap's Gyromancer - FIRST Review IGN - 8.3

First review of Gyromancer:

I'm so glad for this review to come in just in time since it's coming out tomorrow! Basically, it's like Puzzle Quest but with Bejeweled mechanics. Also, it's not a character you level up like PQ but it's like Pokemon where you use monsters to do your bidding. And take all that with a Final Fantasy influence and then you have this game!

Anyway, IGN review!

IGN - 8.3

http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/104/1046583p1.html

Closing Comments
Gyromancer is a Puzzle Quest clone, but that doesn't keep it from being fun and addictive. There is plenty of gameplay here to keep you busy for a while, leveling up your monsters and increasing your stable. It brings its own ideas to the table and wraps the package in very attractive fantasy art. Gamers looking for fast-paced excitement and thrills might find themselves nodding off, but there is quite a bit of depth to be explored if puzzlers and dungeon crawling is your thing. Those of you who still have love for Puzzle Quest: take Gyromancer for a spin.

Presentation
Take Puzzle Quest, add a little bit of Pokemon, set it in the Final Fantasy universe, and voila! You get Gyromancer.

Graphics
Very nice fantasy art, but the monster portraits are recycled too often.

Sound
Rousing orchestral tunes, interrupted now and then by that cheesy Japanese videogame metal during boss battles.

Gameplay
Square Enix knows dungeon diving. PopCap knows Bejewelled. Put their expertise together and you get another addictive puzzle/RPG hybrid.

Lasting Appeal
The quest is lengthy and offers plenty to do, even outside of the main story. No multiplayer, though.

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Puzzle Quest was a great surprise. It was the perfect marraige between a RPG and a puzzler which worked quite well.

Now Square-Enix and PopCap games are about to take on this new hybrid genre with Gyromancer, which is basically like Puzzle Quest with Bejeweled gameplay and RPG elements. Actually though, Gyromancer looks more like Bejeweled Twist. But it still looks fun!

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3176818

PopCap and Square Enix have announced that Gyromancer, the result of their collaboration to make a game combining Bejeweled Twist and the general experience and level-gaining elements of a Final Fantasy, is set for release on Xbox Live Arcade and PC on November 18.

If "a cross between Bejeweled and Final Fantasy" sounds familiar to you, then you've probably heard of or played Puzzle Quest. PopCap and Square Enix don't really seem to be hiding the fact that Gyromancer will be a direct competitor to the popular puzzle/RPG hybrid, though, so it'll be interesting to see if the higher profile names attached to it help Gyromancer catch up to the surprising success of D3 Publisher's franchise.

If you're interested, the game will run you 1200 Microsoft points or $15 dollars.

Some screens:

Looks like Puzzle Quest on steriods with snazzy 3D graphics and artwork!

But to be honest, Bejeweled 2 puzzle mechanics is much better than Bejeweled Twist though. Oh well, I still want it!

I'm looking forward to this game! Can't believe it's coming out so soon!

Very nice art work

eh been there done that. Its just puzzle quest, but since you add square enix to mix it makes it look interesting? It will just be a bit flashier but thats it. Not impressed but I hope I am wrong.

Holy Jiminy Cricket! That looks even better than Puzzle Quest! A lot better..

I'm really loving the whole layout. All the colors look so vibrant and edible. Puzzle Quest was a surprisingly well-done game that was incredibly hard to put down, so picking this game up is a no-brainer. BladesOfAthena

I'm not familiar with the Bejeweled Twist mechanics, so I don't know what the problem is.The game looks good, at least. I have a few ideas on how I would have improved PQ (namely a loot system), so I wonder if this game will implement them.

I enjoyed Puzzle Quest with its mix of puzzle and RPG. I will have to look into this one.

Looks great. I totally loved Puzzle Quest and PopCap makes some great stuff so with them and Square-Enix behind this game I'm extremely interested in it. I can't wait to try it out tomorrow. Time to get some more points. :D

I downloaded the demo of this game and played it. It's definitely a Puzzle Quest clone, but it was really fun and addicting! I think I'll be picking this one up very soon. I liked the idea of sending out your monsters to do battle with the monster opponent. The music can get repetitive, but it's fine for what it is. I also cracked up at the dialogue and how they used it in the game - reminded me of the type of dialogue that Shakesphere himself used in his plays. Very unique.