Author Topic: Pop Cap + Square Enix = Gyromancer (pronounced "not a PQ killer") (Read 5795 times)

Don Flamenco · « **on:** September 24, 2009, 11:56:35 PM »

Quote

September 24, 2009 - Two major, but perhaps unlikely, forces in gaming are teaming up to bring you another puzzle game with RPG elements. Square Enix has formed a giant Voltron robot with PopCap in order to create Gyromancer, a very Puzzle Questish game for Xbox Live Arcade and PC. It's on the show floor here at the Tokyo Game Show and we (literally) took it for a spin.

Just like in Puzzle Quest, players move about from location to location on an overworld map and get into battles with monsters that are settled in a Bejewelled-style match three game. PopCap steps in to handle the puzzle part and modeled it after Bejewelled Twist so that players rotate four gems clockwise instead of swapping two at a time (an item can be used to reverse the flow of your spinner). Exposition is delivered via still art in cut scenes.

"We've always enjoyed a strong partnership with PopCap Games and Gyromancer represents our goal of developing unique gaming experiences, "said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, in a statement released today. "We believe that Gyromancer will appeal not only to core gamers, but will further introduce the RPG genre to casual gamers as well."

Our hero, Rivel, has the ability to summon monsters. He can have three beasts with him at a time but can only take one into battle. Before hitting the gem field he'll have to choose the right monster for the job. The beasts aren't healed after a fight and they can perish, so managing your pack does take some strategy. There are over 50 monsters to be summoned, but only a few are available from the start. After a battle you'll gain experience which leads to new beasts. In the early stages of the game we fought enemies like Cait Sith with a Power Beetle.

Damage is dealt by matching gems that are the same color as your chosen monster. You can spin the dial without creating a match, but doing so will curse a gem on screen. If you don't clear the cursed gem within a handful of turns, you'll take damage.

Gyromancer seems like a lot of fun and it comes from two fantastic developers. Look for it on XBLA and PC soon.

as you can see, it's like Puzzle Quest but with moving 4 pieces in a square, a Puzzle Quest-esque progression screen, Cait Sith, and a scene where some chick bangs a unicorn.

Looks like it'll fill the hole that PQ2 left and possibly be better than PQ1.

also, good news, everyone! Now that I've put "yee-ro mancer" in the thread title you will always read it that way and in professor farnsworth's voice.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:02:25 AM »

What's up with the lustful stares between the reindeer and the chick?

demi · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:03:13 AM »

So it's Bejeweled Twist

MCD · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:04:29 AM »

Quote from: Smooth Groove on September 25, 2009, 12:02:25 AM

What's up with the lustful stares between the reindeer and the chick?

furfag detected

pilonv1 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:20:14 AM »

popcap

square $:-\$

animu puzzle quest

MCD · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:28:19 AM »

that's more western than animu though.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:31:03 AM »

Quote from: MCD on September 25, 2009, 12:28:19 AM

that's more western than animu though.

Yeah, the character/monster designs look a lot more like Western PC RPG than anything anime.

Raban · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:31:59 AM »

Hey look another puzzz...

tiesto · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:34:17 AM »

[youtube=560,345]StUfs6lHhUo[/youtube]

Nu-Skool Breaks

demi · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:37:32 AM »

I will of course buy this game.

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:38:43 AM »

Everything is animu now

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #11 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:41:07 AM »

puzzle quest was more animu than this (plus, it's a puzzle game, so who cares...unless it's furry loli strip tease 4)

i haven't bought a puzzle game in forever, but this is looking pretty day 1

pilonv1 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:42:03 AM »

Quote from: MCD on September 25, 2009, 12:28:19 AM

that's more western than animu though.

i meant more as a whole, not just artistically

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2009, 01:01:43 AM »

Quote from: Smooth Groove on September 25, 2009, 12:02:25 AM

What's up with the lustful stares between the reindeer and the chick?

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2009, 01:03:47 AM »

It'll probably be the best SE game in years. Besides Last Remnant, of course.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2009, 01:59:38 AM »

I still await the day where we get a Puzzle Quest game ala Puzzle Pirates. Multiple puzzles to do different tasks. I get so numb doing the same puzzle over and over ... and over...

BobFromPikeCreek · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2009, 02:07:01 AM »

Looks pretty sweet to me.

tiesto · « **Reply #17 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:58:59 AM »

Quote from: recursivelyenumerable on September 25, 2009, 12:38:43 AM

Everything is animu now

Yeah, if it's not super-realistic bald-space-marine with gravel faces, it's 'animu'.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #18 on:** September 25, 2009, 11:35:02 AM »

this isn't animu in the slightest. animu = generic moe or harem shit, like those c-list fighting games lyte edge buys

pilonv1 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:04:01 PM »

ok i get it im wrong

MCD · « **Reply #20 on:** September 25, 2009, 12:16:23 PM »

you are a good xfag, we will let that slide.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 25, 2009, 09:44:11 PM »

thanks

demi · « **Reply #22 on:** November 08, 2009, 06:32:13 PM »

Update: Gyromancer will sell for 1200 Microsoft Points / $15, a representative of publisher-developer Square Enix has confirmed with Shacknews.

Original: The downloadable collaboration between Bejeweled maker PopCap and Final Fantasy developer Square Enix will hit PC and Xbox 360 on November 18.

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #23 on:** November 08, 2009, 07:14:25 PM »

Fuck me, this is like 10 games in 2 weeks that I want but don't have time to play.

on top of that, I only have about 1500 left from the amazon glitch...

HyperZoneWasAwesome · « **Reply #24 on:** November 09, 2009, 12:54:59 AM »

so that's yet another Square Xbox exclusive.

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #25 on:** November 09, 2009, 01:01:43 AM »

archie4208 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 09, 2009, 01:09:12 AM »

Quote from: HyperZoneWasAwesome on November 09, 2009, 12:54:59 AM

so that's yet another Square Xbox exclusive.

Original: The downloadable collaboration between Bejeweled maker PopCap and Final Fantasy developer Square Enix will hit PC and Xbox 360 on November 18.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #27 on:** November 09, 2009, 01:19:07 PM »

[youtube=560,345]lYxcmUgY7ys[/youtube]

consider your face FUCKED CLEAN OFF

is this gunna be on steam? because all i care about is pc gaming now.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #28 on:** November 09, 2009, 01:20:08 PM »

i wish it came with a free souvlaka, though

archie4208 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 09, 2009, 01:43:24 PM »

It's not in the upcoming games section, but it could still show up soon.

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #30 on:** November 09, 2009, 03:38:37 PM »

music is kinda neat -- wanna guess a composer? Ryo Yamazaki?

demi · « **Reply #31 on:** November 09, 2009, 03:45:05 PM »

Sounds like the badass music from TLR

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #32 on:** November 09, 2009, 04:29:24 PM »

to me it kinda sorta sounds like Sekito but not really

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #33 on:** November 09, 2009, 04:31:53 PM »

Quote from: Professor Prole on November 09, 2009, 01:19:07 PM

[youtube=560,345]lYxcmUgY7ys[/youtube]

consider your face FUCKED CLEAN OFF

is this gunna be on steam? because all i care about is pc gaming now.

Looks sick, GOTFY.

They haven't announced it's coming to Steam, but I fully expect it to be a Day 1 release. All of Popcap's stuff is on Steam, and SE used Steamworks for The Last Remnant.

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #34 on:** November 09, 2009, 05:54:40 PM »

Quote from: Professor Prole on November 09, 2009, 01:19:07 PM

[youtube=560,345]lYxcmUgY7ys[/youtube]

consider your face FUCKED CLEAN OFF

is this gunna be on steam? because all i care about is pc gaming now.

FUCK ME. if the demo leaves as good of an impression as that trailer, i'm powerless against the buy button.

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #35 on:** November 14, 2009, 05:27:22 AM »

Apparently it is Sekito. Demi was right, I was wrong (though Sekito was my second guess).

BlueTsunami · « **Reply #36 on:** November 14, 2009, 06:27:37 AM »

Holy shit. It looks like a even more polished Puzzle Quest. I will get this.

demi · « **Reply #37 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:24:39 AM »

Bought this bitch.

It's completely different from Puzzle Quest. I might even prefer Puzzle Quest more. You dont take turns in this game, you simply keep spinnan the gems until you win. When an enemy fills up its bar, an attack appears on the map and you have to break it before the time runs out or you get hurt. Simple stuff.

The game is split into maps, rather than one giant map that you walk across in Puzzle Quest. There are little awards you can earn for doing stuff, no idea if they add any benefit.

GilloD · « **Reply #38 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:46:19 AM »

Quote from: recursivelyenumerable on November 14, 2009, 05:27:22 AM

Apparently it is Sekito. Demi was right, I was wrong (though Sekito was my second guess).

This is why you dont date women.

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #39 on:** November 18, 2009, 11:14:16 AM »

gonna try out the demo. I don't like the sound of it not being turn-based though...

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #40 on:** November 18, 2009, 03:31:24 PM »

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18525284&postcount=31

that's my dumb joke gahhhhh!

demi · « **Reply #41 on:** November 18, 2009, 03:53:01 PM »

This is more like Pokemon Puzzle Quest

originalz · « **Reply #42 on:** November 18, 2009, 06:54:40 PM »

I really liked what I played of this so far. It's essentially a more streamlined Puzzle Quest that's easier to get into and you don't have to worry about any AI lucky bullshit where they wipe you out before you even get a turn. I had no problems converting to the full version.

demi · « **Reply #43 on:** November 18, 2009, 06:58:07 PM »

Game is horribly broken though. I got all the awards in the very first level and now my monsters are like Level 11 and the enemies are only between 1 and 5

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #44 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:43:14 PM »

Damn, I'm getting raped by a freaking Cait Sith on the first stupid level, this can't be right.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #45 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:44:48 PM »

Oh, and now I finally get a good run going and the game crashes.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #46 on:** November 18, 2009, 08:11:27 PM »

Nevermind, I'm stupid. I thought the game was real-time so I was trying to hurry, not realizing that everything is turn-based, so it's better to take your time.

demi · « **Reply #47 on:** November 18, 2009, 08:29:20 PM »

Yeah I dont like this much. You have to basically grind if you want to reach 5000 points for the goal. Dont know how to do a Gyro Chain either. I got the meter up to 5.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #48 on:** November 18, 2009, 09:55:45 PM »

wow, this is basically bejeweled twist with fantasy art. still fun, but man. just man.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #49 on:** November 18, 2009, 10:25:45 PM »

I spent an hour clearing the first map and only got 3700. Yeah, I'm not going to hang out in front of monster dens all day trying to get 5000.

demi · « **Reply #50 on:** November 18, 2009, 10:31:01 PM »

haha. you have to get high scores by doing chains in battle without killing the enemy - which only takes 1 hit anyway.

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #51 on:** November 19, 2009, 12:05:27 AM »

boner lost before I even DLed the demo.

Akala · « **Reply #52 on:** November 19, 2009, 12:28:29 AM »

will prob be three bux black friday. wooooooooooo.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #53 on:** November 22, 2009, 05:30:30 PM »

will get during a steam sale.

originalz · « **Reply #54 on:** November 29, 2009, 08:20:23 PM »

This game starts to suck when they start penalizing you for an idle spin, makes it much harder to match chains up and counter attacks. I don't really regret buying it since I've gotten plenty of game out of it already and I'm sure I'll finish it off eventually, but this game really could have been a lot better.

There are some Popcap guys at SA that have been talking about this game. Apparently they had very little input, SE just took the Bejeweled Twist formula and did everything else, the Popcap people didn't even know the game was complete until SE released it on Partnernet. Heh, apparently they weren't very happy about that, and now regret putting their name on the product.

demi · « **Reply #55 on:** November 29, 2009, 08:21:32 PM »

Hey can you tell the PopCap guys to fix the fucking DLC? It doesnt work at all, and apparently there are some achievemnts with it. I want it but why buy broken GARBAGE.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #56 on:** November 29, 2009, 08:38:46 PM »

Quote from: originalz on November 29, 2009, 08:20:23 PM

This game starts to suck when they start penalizing you for an idle spin, makes it much harder to match chains up and counter attacks. I don't really regret buying it since I've gotten plenty of game out of it already and I'm sure I'll finish it off eventually, but this game really could have been a lot better.

There are some Popcap guys at SA that have been talking about this game. Apparently they had very little input, SE just took the Bejeweled Twist formula and did everything else, the Popcap people didn't even know the game was complete until SE released it on Partnernet. Heh, apparently they weren't very happy about that, and now regret putting their name on the product.

holy shit really?

I'd love a link to that.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #57 on:** November 29, 2009, 09:05:42 PM »

Quote from: originalz on November 29, 2009, 08:20:23 PM

There are some Popcap guys at SA that have been talking about this game. Apparently they had very little input, SE just took the Bejeweled Twist formula and did everything else, the Popcap people didn't even know the game was complete until SE released it on Partnernet. Heh, apparently they weren't very happy about that, and now regret putting their name on the product.

why doesn't that surprise me

originalz · « **Reply #58 on:** December 01, 2009, 05:29:18 AM »

Quote from: Sho Nuff on November 29, 2009, 08:38:46 PM

Quote from: originalz on November 29, 2009, 08:20:23 PM
This game starts to suck when they start penalizing you for an idle spin, makes it much harder to match chains up and counter attacks. I don't really regret buying it since I've gotten plenty of game out of it already and I'm sure I'll finish it off eventually, but this game really could have been a lot better.

There are some Popcap guys at SA that have been talking about this game. Apparently they had very little input, SE just took the Bejeweled Twist formula and did everything else, the Popcap people didn't even know the game was complete until SE released it on Partnernet. Heh, apparently they weren't very happy about that, and now regret putting their name on the product.

holy shit really? I'd love a link to that.

I'm not sure if you can view the thread if you're a member or not, but there's a Gyromancer thread with lot of...negative feedback. The guy gives the impression that they had very little input in the game. Here's a couple of choice quotes:

Quote

It [the game] probably sucks because none of us here ever played it [in the design phase]. We didn't even find out about it until about 2 months ago...when it went up on Partnernet. It caused a minor uproar.

Trust me, I wish we would have even known it existed. Would have saved us a buncha headaches.

I wish we would have left our logo off of there. The Steam version of it is crashing.

Quote

Yeah me too. I still don't know the whole story about how this all came about, but it was literally something that just sort of showed up.

If you want to think about it this way, it's SE's game with our mechanics.

Don Flamenco · « **Reply #59 on:** December 01, 2009, 09:45:32 AM »

bu bu bu the PR from popcap is all "we are so proud to work with SE" etc.

japanese companies do some of the most distinguished mentally-challenged stuff in this industry.

News:

Author Topic: Pop Cap + Square Enix = Gyromancer (pronounced "not a PQ killer") (Read 5795 times)