I assume the 360 version is identical to the soon to be released PC version. I haven't put a ton of time into the game yet (maybe about 2-3 hours), but I've played enough to point out some differences with the previously released PSP version. The DS version was a piece of shit and it shall not be mentioned here.
Let's get the superficial shit out of the way. The excellent soundtrack is still in place. Probably one of the best soundtracks this year. There's not a whole lot to it (budget game and all), but what's there isn't of the lesser quality you'd expect from a ghetto game. The visuals have translated very well to the big screen. Earlier today I mistakenly said that the game had a sort of SOTN box around it, but I was incorrect, the game is all full screen, and it's very sharp looking.
The AI appears to have been tweaked. Even though the creator of the game insisted that the AI never cheated, and that its insane efficiency was a result of a smallish AI algorithm, it seems that he went back to the code and made it a smidgen dumber. It used to be that if there was a wildcard on the screen, AI would go for it 100% of the time, never miss it. If there was a skull combo, same behavior (though a wildcard would be taken over skulls if both were present on the board). Now, the AI, while still efficient, more often "misses" skulls and wildcards. It's enough of a change that veterans of the original will notice it. It's a welcome change. I could definitely not play the PSP version for 2 to 3 hours without snapping the system in half.
What HASN'T been tweaked is the sometimes frustrating gem falling behavior. It shows no sign of change at all, and it still seems to enjoy FUCKING THE PLAYER IN THE ASS. It's a good thing I can't snap my TV in two out of frustration in this case.
Some skills have a cooldown now. That sounds like it might alleviate some midgame issues, when the game gets pretty darned easy, but they sort of missed the mark here. The cooldown is only for a scant few skills, and none of the skills I have now that have a cooldown are particularly desirable skills. I can still quickly amass mana and repeatedly fireball cheese my opponent to death. In short, the cooldown (so far) is only for not very useful skills, whereas the skills that are abusable can still be abused like stupid bitch housewives.
Companions work now. I am pretty certain that I got a bonus quest because I had an active companion, a quest I don't think I got in the PSP version. I never heard that the companion bug in the PSP version locked out content, but I don't remember that one quest at all. Their powers, while clearly too "small" to be of use later in the game, are pretty helpful early on.
Haven't tried multi yet. Demi needs to get his cigarillo ass online.
Bitches need to be nabbin' this game. I have no problem paying for it twice, and I will probably pay for it a third time later this month, when it hits the PC. I want it on my laptop. It's one of the best games of the year, and I am glad it's become something of a sleeper hit, because there's plenty of room for improvement in the potential sequel. This version is superior to the PSP version; more playable due to the AI tweak. Better than any game Nintendo has ever made, to be sure.
