XBLA: TGS '09 - PopCap And Square Enix Team Up For Gyromancer
A couple of weeks ago we spoke of Gyromancer, an upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title being published by Square Enix. Now the game has been officially announced, but what surprises us is that PopCap are also involved.
Gyromancer mixes the world of Bejeweled, specifically Bejeweled Blitz, and has created a Puzzle RPG similar to Puzzle Quest. You rotate jewels within a square in order to connect 3 or more together, which allows you to cast spells against your rival.
It does look a lot like Puzzle Quest, but it has a gigantic slap of polish on top of it. It's got all the spectacle of a Final Fantasy game, but in a puzzle setting.
There is no current date set for the game, but I would expect it to come out sometime next year.
Comments
"Like" Puzzle Quest is an understatement.
From the looks of it, it IS Puzzle Quest, except you move four tiles at once, rather than two.
Still, it looks great. I can't wait.
Posted by: PostmanX3 | September 24, 2009 11:35 PM
I agree with PostmanX3. It doesn't just look like it. Seems as though Square Enix and PopCap decided to steal the Puzzle Quest idea completely and add what sheen their money can. If I were Infinite Interactive, I'd be angry.
But I'm not, so I'll at least download the demo. Could be fun, even if it's a direct rip-off. The first time a formula's copied, those responsible are thieves; but if it happens again, it's just called a new genre. Guess this could be it!
Posted by: Michael the little boot | September 25, 2009 12:50 AM
Blaming PopCap for stealing Puzzle Quest seems just a little ironic.
Because Puzzle Quest was just RPG Bejeweled.
Posted by: xiuxiu | September 25, 2009 9:28 AM
Combining elements can be creative and original. Ripping those elements off once they're combined is stealing. Rather than simply remake Bejeweled, Infinite Interactive did something fresh. Now PopCap and Square Enix have polished it up with their MILLION$.
Posted by: Michael the little boot | September 26, 2009 2:32 AM
and popcap invented bejeweled and match 3 games ?
popcap is known for taking old games and rebranding them
it looks great and could be fun but it's a puzzle quest ripoff
Posted by: mots | October 1, 2009 6:42 PM