Puzzle Quest was a brilliantly fun cross between an RPG and Bejeweled 2. It was as addictive as Bejeweled 2 but this time round, there was a purpose: to level up and complete the game by saving…well, I can’t remember the story but I know I wanted to keep playing. So it’s not very surprising that we now see RPG heavyweight Square Enix jump into the affair and, alongside casual games supremo PopCap, produce their own Puzzle Quest-esque game in the form of Gyromancer.
Gyromancer is more of a cross between an RPG and Bejeweled Twist, because rather than rotating one gem at a time, players rotate four gems in a square at each click of the button. This means that different strategies are required rather than simply having to consider moving one gem independently. The RPG element comes in the form of how you progress through the game. Gyromancer is a dungeon crawler at its heart, with each of its 12 stages being rather long and involving plenty of battles. The battles are conducted via the Bejeweled-esque screen and you’ll get used to seeing this very quickly as there are certainly plenty of fights ahead.
Starting out with a mere 3 beasts to use in your fights is a little dull at first, but the further you get in the game, the more your roster grows. It’s also rather annoying that at first it’s a bit confusing as to what you need to do to defeat the enemy. Each beast, both friendly and foe, has a predetermined gem type that once matched boosts their power and grants them various abilities which can be used to defeat the other. The problem is, this isn’t really explained very well at first so it takes a while to realise this, mostly through a process of elimination. Ironically, once you’ve figured out what helps and what hinders, it makes the game much easier, possibly too easy.
Unlike Puzzle Quest, there’s no turn taking here. It’s just you that can twist gems on the game board; the enemy AI can’t move gems. This is initially confusing but also what makes the game much easier than Puzzle Quest. Providing you continue to avoid the enemy’s assigned gem, you’re well onto the way to certain victory. Once I eventually realised this, it started making the game a little dull. I wanted tougher competition, but instead it felt like a grind.
That’s not to say that Gyromancer isn’t fun, it is fun in a predictable sort of way. Those used to the RPG grind of doggedly working your way through dungeons in order to gain precious experience will be in their element here. I certainly enjoyed it once I realised I could approach it in a leisurely manner and not have too much expected of me. It was disappointing to see a non-existent inventory system, but I suspect this a conscious decision to make Gyromancer more puzzler than RPG. It does make the game feel even simpler however and I found myself less keen to discover all the treasure chests than if they had provided equipment to boost my abilities. Potions can only go so far in terms of offering tactical options.
Gyromancer is an extremely lightweight RPG/puzzle crossover compared to Puzzle Quest, but that’s not to say it isn’t fun. It is enjoyable however it’s difficult to recommend over the cheaper and superior Puzzle Quest. As a supplement to those who are desperate for more Bejeweled/RPG goodness however, this is worth a look. The artistic style for Gyromancer is certainly better; it’s just a shame that it lacks real depth making it enjoyable but not great.
VideogameUK verdict: 6/10
