Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

 DS
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
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  1. Pocket Gamer UK
    70
    Galactrix reaches for the stars, but is grounded due to gameplay dominated by chance, minor control issues, and middling presentation.
  2. Thunderbolt
    70
    Puzzle Quest: Galactrix for DS has all the makings of a great new entry into this now hugely popular adventure series. The story is compelling and well paced, the presentation is strong, and most importantly, the gameplay here trumps its predecessor in just about every way. But the basic foundation of the game – touching – is almost broken. Galactrix is still playable and still very addictive, but endless flubs on the game’s part will inevitably cause your blood to boil.
  3. Edge Magazine
    70
    While the overall blandness means Galactrix is unlikely to truly thrill many people, it also means that it won’t exclude anyone either, and the ever-reliable pattern-spotting blends with the steady trickle of meaningless rewards to exert a pull on its audience that is truly Pavlovian. [Apr 2009, p.125]
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  5. Armchair Empire
    70
    If you like the match three concept and RPG’s too, there is no question you are going to love this game. If you’re a bit dicey on both then I’d suggest you try before you buy.
  6. GamingExcellence
    64
    A serious pat on the back for effort. There is a of content in that little cartridge, and a good portion of it is seriously addictive.
  7. Game Positive
    60
    Its serviceable but unremarkable combat, overhaul of familiar gameplay, and blacklisting of different character classes add little to the franchise.
  8. AceGamez
    60
    I'm a huge fan of the original Puzzle Quest and really wanted to like Galactrix, but sadly the new features introduced actually ruin a lot of what made the original so great.
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  9. RPGamer
    60
    Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is a game that improves in many areas upon the original Puzzle Quest, but simply doesn't do enough to make itself anything more than a spruced up casual adventure.
  10. Game Revolution
    58
    If the the old school Puzzle Quest is mega-addicting black tar heroin, then the new one is some brown weed that barely gets you high and leaves you with little more than a headache and a bad taste in your mouth.
  11. Kombo
    55
    With Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords being one of the best puzzle games ever, Galactrix isn't. The result is a game that is unique and interesting but leaves much to be desired for lasting appeal.

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best DS Game of 2009
48
#48 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
44
#44 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. aspentitan
    May 11, 2020
    6
    I really enjoy all the match 3 style games but this is actually the first one I've decided not to continue to the end. I would like to startI really enjoy all the match 3 style games but this is actually the first one I've decided not to continue to the end. I would like to start off with the good and that I feel the gameplay for the most part is actually improved from the original puzzle quest game. The upgrades you can make to your staff and ship actually feel more immersive. Unfortunately the game suffers by major repetitive gameplay annoyances such that you never really enjoy the upgrades. Not only do you have to hack a gate, which there are many, you further have to open it directly after as well. This quickly deflates all the excitement of battle that you are starting to become immersed in. To further the disappointment the navigation screen is not defined clearly and so to proceed I found myself just randomly clicking on areas to go and see if I could advance the game. It seemed a real chore to try to find where to go and get on with the fun battles. There is a mission tab to help navigate this problem but it is a chore really to use it. In addition I found the soundtrack and sound effects of the game not very immersive and all things considered I just became bored. Essentially I feel this game has a lot of potential as the gameplay has evolved on one end and beats its inspirational counterparts but yet it turns you off unlocking too many portals to persuade you it's worth the effort. Nonetheless puzzle games are puzzle games and if you play this one here and there maybe it's doable but I wouldn't recommend this highly ahead of other puzzling games.… Full Review »
  2. C.Todd
    Mar 19, 2009
    9
    I had a hard time initially with this game. I was not fully able to appreciate the added directions of the playing field, along with the newI had a hard time initially with this game. I was not fully able to appreciate the added directions of the playing field, along with the new space backdrop... then after about 5 hours, something strange happened in me and it all started to click. The factions became something worth being on their good side, the rumors and the mining (both of which use variants of the basic Bejeweled formula) became essential to the fighting and unlocking leapgates from area to area. There is very little random to this game, which is how a puzzle game should be! Once you learn to appreciate the way each move works (protip: all blocks from any direction on the board will move in the way you shift them!) a very enjoyable, timesucking and heavily addictive game emerges. Give it time, it's worth it!… Full Review »
  3. Z9000
    Mar 1, 2009
    7
    I have played about 20 hours of Galactrix and am a big fan of D3 after the last Puzzle Quest game. Think of this as a melding of the classic I have played about 20 hours of Galactrix and am a big fan of D3 after the last Puzzle Quest game. Think of this as a melding of the classic trappings of Trade Wars (or any space trading/combat game) and a hex based, 6 way sliding Bejeweled. It's an instant classic excepts for a very poor design decision... Time based puzzles being required to access any other area of the game. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is. The story (you find this out as soon as you start playing) is that the space gates between planetary systems have been attacked by a virus, therefore you must hack the gates. Your hack does not last long either, it fades over time and must be repeated. To hack the gate, you are given x amount of time to match a string of certain colored sets. If you do not do so, you must start over. You often will fail 5-10 times in a row just trying to get a stupid gate open to get to the next area of game play. Considering there are 40 or so areas, you start to understand the magnitude of this repetitive, frustrating, un-fun impediment to what the game really offers in all other areas. There is also a bug that if the next color set you needed gets cleared in a cascade of the previous move, it sometimes just ignores it and doesn't count. What's worse is after all the work of opening these gates, you get absolutely no reward other than being able to access the next area temporarily. As I said, this game would be an instant classic if not for this really poor design choice. You can forget about relaxing and enjoying the game as every gate you hack will only frustrate you and make you tense instead of letting you enjoy the experience. Just get used to "LeapGate Hack Failed!" now if you buy this. Here's hoping D3 patches this out on the PC, and makes this issue less relevant on the console versions (it's bad enough with a pointing device, just think how bad it would be without a mouse/stylus). A perferct 10 turned to a generous 7, due to what this company has done and is capable of.… Full Review »
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