PUZZLE & DRAGONS 0

I can totally see why old school PAD players would be disappointed by this iteration, but that’s why they still have the original to play. This version is the perfect entry point to people that want a puzzle RPG without the fuss of the original, which has become a bloated mess of power creep with way too many if/and systems to wrap your head around. Acquiring units is simpler, as they’re created instead of rolled for, and previously convoluted evolution and awakening systems are now handled automagically via leveling up your unit. Way less item and mechanic bloat, more focus on the original point of the puzzle RPG; the puzzle solving itself. The units feel now like an extension of your own abilities rather than the grindy roadblock they once were. If you want the added complexity definitely stick with the original, but if you’re new to the franchise, this is a great place to start.

I am a long-time fan of the original Puzzle and Dragons, both for it’s simple premise and vast array of unique character designs. The gameplay is simple; match three or more orbs of an attribute to build up an attack with said attribute. The more dungeons you beat, the more monsters, coins, and occasionally “magic stones” you earn, both to receive new monsters and to evolve your existing roster. I was never a huge fan of the micro transactions and the gambling aspects of the game, but the collabs with pop culture properties were fun and something to look forward to. This game takes all of the charm and effort of the original and flushes it down the toilet. The look of the game is sanitized and corporate, not nearly as visually exciting as its predecessor, and the tutorial treats its players as though they’re babies, despite no one but PAD Classic fans being the most willing to stick their necks out for this game. If you don’t like PAD Classic’s Story Mode, you will hate this game. The 3D rendered environments are rushed, low resolution, and lazy, and lack any and all charm the original had. The starter monster designs are pointlessly contrived. The only saving grace this game has is the “Monster Creation” evolution mechanic. That’s it. Just play the original.

For the experience PAD player wondering what the differences are like me: There is no Gatcha in this game. Instead you level up monsters and collect their gems to evolve up a splitting evolution tree. Monster get awakenings by leveling and there and monster leader skills have been replaced by a team skill that you can level up as you progress. It is still stamina based but you can watch an ad to refresh You can play ads to double drop rate and can play ads at the end to double the drops. 2 things can be purchased both for 9.99. One is unlimited mode that makes it so you don’t have to watch ads but get all the bonuses it basically unlocks it from F2P. The other is a speed up function that is supposed to make the dungeons faster but not sure of the specifics since I didn’t buy it. Overall very fun but runs the battery of my phone down pretty quick.