What is
practical intelligence? Is it the decisions we make in our everyday lives? Is
it the risks we take in Crazy Taxi or the chance we take in entering a taxi
whose driver might be crazy? Could it be the five-second rule, which leads us
to believe that food is only dirty after touching the ground for six seconds?
No matter
what practical intelligence is, I never thought it would have anything to do
with solving puzzles in a video game, not even after playing a game called
Practical Intelligence Quotient. That changed with the PQ2, a sequel that
replaces the insanity of the original with practical and intelligent puzzles
that might just be worthy of judging your intelligence.
In our
previous coverage of the game, we dove into the 100-stage mode that judges
your PIQ in no more than five hours. The white silhouette is back as the
playable character. Depending on your selected gender, it will don either a
suit or a dress. Movable, immovable, and breakable (glass) blocks are cleverly
used to make the player think before acting – and think again after acting
improperly. The puzzles created for this game are more interesting than any
character-based puzzle game before it.
Though it
can be a game of trial and error, its ideals and implementations have advanced
that concept. You are not merely running in circles, hoping that the solution
will eventually reveal itself. Rather, you hunt for the answer, try to
envision the pathway to the goal, and test your theory, leading to one of two
outcomes: jubilation or exasperation. No matter how long it takes to achieve
that jubilating essence, the player will come out the other side with one
certainty – that, once the goal had finally been reached, the puzzle’s
solution made perfect sense.
The downside
to most single-player puzzle games is that, once completed, they don’t have
the kind of replay value that’s found in multiplayer hits like the recently
released Planet Puzzle League. PQ2’s puzzles are fun to play through a second
time, especially if you’re like me and forget the solutions to some of them.
(What frustration!) But there’s a better way to continue being challenged and
entertained after the game has been finished: user-created puzzles. PQ2 offers
an excellent and near limitless creation tool that is powerful enough to
re-create the puzzles designed by the developers. No, there isn’t a reason to
do that. But think about it: if you can re-create what they did, what else
might be possible? How many minds could you boggle – could you boggle your
own?
The game
won’t let you throw something together for the heck of it since players have
to test out every puzzle they make. It’s the game’s way of saying, “Let’s see
if you’ve really done something or if you’re just trying to torture your
friends.” Puzzles are “complete” immediately after the goal is reached, which
proves that it is a valid challenge for others to solve. The time (how long
you took) and number of executed moves becomes the benchmark for all others
who attempt to solve the puzzle. It is then saved to your memory stick and may
be uploaded to PQ2’s server for anyone to access.
Good puzzles
don’t design themselves. But the creation tool is very user-friendly, much
like those featured in the Tony Hawk games. You begin by selecting a playing
field (called a prototype) and start with a max of 960 credits. Credits are
used to purchase blocks, switches, doors, door rails, detectives, police
officers, police boxes, and warp boxes. Floor blocks, the immovable objects
that make up the shape of each stage, range in price but are usually no more
than two credits.
Outside of
the cost, there is no limit to how many floor blocks can be laid. The lowest
quantity item is the warp box, which there can only be two of (to jump back
and forth between locations), and the most expensive item is the police
officer, who retails for 120 credits. Up to 20 red, blue, and yellow lifts
(blocks that rise up) may be planted in your stage. Add a footstep-tracking
detective to intensify the challenge of puzzles that don’t seem that
difficult.
I like to
place a detective right behind the last or second to last door that needs to
be opened before you can reach the exit. Unless you’ve been smart enough to
literally cover your tracks – which can be done by placing blocks over your
footprints or by waiting several seconds until they disappear – the detective
will begin his chase immediately. On their first time through, players are not
likely to notice the tracker until it’s too late. I’ve learned to watch for
detectives and time my moves correctly (and walk in circles) to avoid and
confuse them. But I still get caught and still walk into laser beams that I
know are there.
Players that
aren’t ready to create their own puzzles can enjoy quick tests that combine
five puzzles that must be solved in 10 minutes. Theme tests divide the game’s
puzzles into various categories, such as single move, reasoning, and trap
avoidance. There’s one set that challenges you to complete puzzles that have
several solutions – but do so with the least amount of moves. Weekly Test
allows you to go online for a test that’s made up of select user puzzles.
PSP owners
with a passion for unique and special puzzle games must make PQ2 their next
purchase. It is immensely deep and enjoyable, is fun to play through more than
once, offers multiple play modes to test your PIQ, and has an amazing puzzle
creation element that’ll extend the life of this game well into the fall
gaming season. And that’s without a multiplayer component! Most
impressive.
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Gameplay: 8.5
The most unusual
puzzle game since the first PQ and several times more practical. PQ2’s
controls, camera, and all other gameplay functions work very well. You’ll have
to come up with the best way to handle and release breakable glass. Lasers
will need to be repositioned around special colored blocks without being
touched. Many doors will have to be unlocked while avoiding rejects of The
Blue Man Group, as well as the orange, footstep-tracking detectives.
Graphics:
7.5
PQ2’s contrasting
colors look really good. The visuals are simple without being too simple.
Sound: 6.0
Most of PQ2’s
techno tracks are an annoyance. The ones that aren’t are just decent.
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
These puzzles are
very practical. But they will make you think, re-think, and then think
again.
Concept: 8.5
Practical
Intelligence Quotient 2 is a non-stop run of intelligent, thought-provoking
puzzles that take switch, block, and door adjustments to unseen places.
Overall: 8.5
Top-of-the-line
entertainment – a must for anyone who wants a deep, satisfying, and puzzling
challenge.
