Jade Order review – “An puzzling path of the warrior”

Though some of the flashiest and most popular games revolve around action and adventure, there’s something to be said for puzzlers. Many of them are low-pressure affairs that simply ask for your time and wit. As such, there are various takes on what a puzzle can be, introducing pieces in numerous ways. Tortuga Xel Studio has presented its take in the form of a warrior’s quest called Jade Order. As you lead the hero across different levels of combat and navigation, you’ll find yourself using your mind over brawn to get the most out of the warrior’s abilities and movements.

Following The Jade Order

While there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that the universe is a series of chaotic events, there are significant points of order to it. Jade Order brings that to light in its name and its gameplay. The game’s overall aesthetics are quite pleasing. It’s got some very sharp and detailed pixel art to bring both the hero and enemies to life. The predominantly green palette suits the theme and contrasts well with the other elements. As a setting for a puzzler, it works well.

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The gameplay itself is simple yet engaging. The goal of each level or “site” is to guide the warrior to adjacent spots and take out enough enemies to open up the beacon. You can only safely attack enemies from the sides or the back with more dynamic enemies being introduced as you progress. You also gain access to powers which affect how enemies move or how you can interact with your surroundings. With all this taken into account, the puzzles can look straightforward from the start but quickly prove to be more challenging than expected. You can get direct feedback for your skills by completing the three challenges that each puzzle offers.

A Chaotic Downfall

Chaos is an unstoppable force and no matter how you try to fight it, parts of it will always get through. Though you’re fighting it in Jade Order, the chaos has burrowed its way into parts of the game. The most noticeable part is the degree of challenge. As you progress, levels will get more and more complex with newer enemies and more mechanics. However, it doesn’t take long to master them and you’ll soon be seeing solutions instantly. Although the challenges give you something to shoot for, you can repeat the puzzle as many times as needed, going after a different challenge each time, which ironically makes it less difficult.

The only other issue is how stiff everything feels. Though the art and animation give life to the game, how it plays out works against it. It doesn’t feel like you’re leading a warrior against chaotic creatures, but rather you’re moving pixel figurines across different boards. Considering the epic story, this makes it hard to ignore.

Join The Jade Order

Jade Order is a 2D mobile puzzle game about moving a warrior across tiles to eliminate enemies so they can bring back the light. It’s got some nice pixel art, solid mechanics, and a diverse range of puzzles to master. It suffers from a bit of stiffness and a lack of consistent challenge that can be conquered on separate runs. Regardless, it’s a puzzling quest that’s worth your time to see if you can accomplish it.