by Sean O'Leary

Created on: July 06, 2008   Last Updated: February 04, 2011

Rating 5/5

In a word, wow! Puzzle Hero is a game well worth the money. Most casual games are either completely unique to themselves or an amalgamation of other games. While this falls into the latter category, it is easily one of the most well thought-out and well-built casual games of 2008.

The concept is simple, you start as a young hero in a fantasy world and journey on a quest to save her brother from the hands of a nefarious sorcerer. Along the way she encounters a multitude of villains that you battle through the puzzle. As you defeat your foes, you can purchase new gear, and customize your hero's look and abilities. It all plays out as part role playing game, part fighting game, part strategy game, and most of all part puzzle game.

The graphics are bright and colorful, very crisp and easy to see. They also manage to be very aesthetically pleasing, and you can really enjoy looking at Puzzle Hero beyond merely playing it. The 3D graphics run very smoothly, and should do so for a computer that's a few years old as well. The art and character design is very cute and original, and it can be appreciated by anyone of any age, although some adults may not be interested in it's cartoony look.

The sound is fairly good as well. The sound effects are varied enough that they don't become stale or annoying, yet they're also clear enough that you know what has just occurred in the game even if your eyes may have missed it. The music is also well done. Sure, it may not be Beethoven, but the game's pace cycles the music often enough that it always feels fresh, and it doesn't degrade into static background noise.

Learning to play the game is amazingly easy, and the tutorial assists you even as you begin to play Puzzle Hero. At no time did I need to question what I was doing as the rules of the game are immediately laid out for you, and not quickly forgotten. I can't count the number of "Game Over" screen I've seen because I forgot to do this or that essential action in a game, but Puzzle Hero pointed out all the relevant features right away, and they're simplistic enough to keep in mind at all times while playing.

Yet for all it's simplicity, Puzzle Hero manages to show real ingenuity in it's design. I learned very quickly that different strategies were required in different situations, and the advantage can quickly turn against you if you're not careful. The game's A.I. is clearly built to provide a decent challenge without becoming stressful or tiresome.

Puzzle Hero is definitely a game the whole family can enjoy. It is a true gem. The cartoon violence is minimal, and there's very little to find offensive about the game. It's fun-factor is amazingly high, and it's replay value is equally so. Would I buy this game or recommend it to my family? I already have. I'm already looking forward to a sequel!

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