The lack of gravity on the game board will challenge core puzzle fans to make strategic and comprehensive decisions.‚ When matching more than the required three pieces all hell can break loose with the game board seemingly exploding either greatly in your favor or much to your ships demise.‚ Early battles can be won with well thought out strategy, or sheer dumb luck, where matching the right pieces will lead to a cascade of match-making, ending the battle in one move.
In order to traverse the galaxy and stop the human genocide, you must travel through leapgates.‚ These gates have been suspiciously disabled and through the hacking mini-game, with the assistance of your engineer drone, you’ll unlock these vital portals.‚ The hacking mini-game is a timed affair in which you must match gems of the correct color before the clock runs out.‚ Matching clocks will grant you an extra ten seconds, pivotal when you are within one match to complete the hack.‚ The ticking clock will make your heart race as you desperately search for that final gem to complete the hack.‚ And when you complete a mid to high level hack later in the game, the feeling of accomplishment is astounding.‚ ‚ In the beginning I truly wondered how I would finish the game, given my perceived deficiency at hacking, I thought I lacked the brain capacity to make the right moves, but really I just had to practice, practice, practice and it eventually became still challenging, but approachable.
The role-playing aspects of Galactrix are wonderful given the technical and graphical limitations the DS inhibits.‚ Defeating opponents and completing quests able you to upgrade your ship and improve proficiency in a number of fields.‚ Up to three ships are attainable, through either purchase or crafting from blueprints, and can be tailored to specific needs to defeat specific foes.‚ Quests are assigned and completed in a dumbed down World of Warcraft fashion, in that the staple question and exclamation mark system is utilized with the help of a quest log in the user interface.‚ Galactrix even tracks allegiance to particular factions throughout the universe.‚ The safety of your journey will depend on who your enemies and friends are.
The very important element of pacing in Galactrix is set up so there is never a down moment; you are immersed in story, battle, and mini-game action the entire time.‚ The galaxy is at your finger tips and you are the only hope for human salvation.‚ Quite a lofty responsibility for a young space commander.
Galactrix is played solely using the stylus and at times the ability to guide your ship and navigate menus is hampered by less than perfect sensitivity and precision.‚ At times, multiple presses and frustrating jumps from one galaxy to another are the result of the somewhat cluttered system.‚ However, this would only be a major detractor if the same were true for the puzzle component, and thankfully it is not.‚ Swapping and matching gems is perfectly suited for use with the DS, and the execution is spot on.
Puzzle Quest is a franchise like no other out there today. Galactrix masterfully synthesizes two seemingly distinct and opposite genres, resulting in an experience that keeps the player interested and ultimately addicted until the universe is vanquished of the alien scourge.‚ Light and humorous dialogue, with an ominous threat behind it keeps the player interested while the foundation puzzle-solving aspect is what it always has been, very fun and challenging at higher levels.‚ I praise Infinite Interactive for adding new game-play elements that tie in directly with the story, but as a fan of the ubiquitous battles in the original, Galactrix levels out the experience to make battles seem more intense and meaningful, and will leave battle-hungry fans thirsting for more.‚ Galactrix is a deep, rich experience that holds more appeal for the seasoned puzzle-game fan, but is approachable to anyone.
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