Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6407 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: D3 Publisher
• Released on: 2006-06-23
• Rating: Universal, particularly children
• Platform: Sony PSP
• Number of items: 1

Manufacturer's Description
PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient is a three dimensional puzzle game that tests players' problem solving skills. PQ is perfect for the PSP system as it offers pick-up-and-play gaming without a significant time commitment.

Players can challenge 100 3D logic puzzles by moving blocks, avoiding walls and lasers, pulling switches and manoeuvring with maps to reach their goal and solve the puzzle. As players solve the puzzle within a shorter time frame and with fewer moves, their PQ scores improve. Players can then post their PQ score online using the PSP system's Infrastructure Mode to see how their performance rates against other players globally.

Developed by Nowproduction, Inc. of Osaka, Japan for D3PE, PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient uses a measuring system that was created under the guidance of Professor Masuo Koyasu of Kyoto University in Japan that determines players 'Practical Intelligence Quotient' or PQ.

Customer Reviews

PQ - Review
I was interested by the idea of a puzzle game to test your intelligence. I've like puzzles and I've always wanted to be presented with a challenge. I bought PQ, and what a challenge it is.

There are 10 stages split up in to 10 questions. You use your white man to move blocks, build stairs, get past guards, open doors and remember certain routes. The areas the game test are done extremely well. Memory tests are usually the easiest for me, and some of these puzzles have made me think more than I've needed to for a while. It's an entertaining puzzler, and if you do complete the whole PQ test, then you are able to compare yourself to the rest of the world. The music is the only annoying thing, apart from not being able to complete a puzzle!!

If you can't wait for Practical Intelligence (PQ2) which has an extra 220 puzzles, plus weekly updates, then you will be pleasantly satisfied with Practical Intelligence Quotient. A good game if you want to take the whole test in one go, or work one puzzle at a time, and taking break in between to do other things. All in all, a good purchase.

Surprisingly Good!
This was one of the first games I got for the PSP, as I recieved them as presents on the same birthday.
I'll admit that, at first, I was a little disappointed. I am just 13, and like the perpetually ungrateful teenager, I felt a little let down. Having done much research in eager anticipation of the PSP console, the games I had my eye on were far more exciting on the outside (GTA, to name but one). However, this game proved me so wrong.
From the outset, this looks a little strange. It is a brave step away from the basic puzzle game. It takes the form of 10 worlds, each with 10 levels to play. This, however, is where it differs from the basic puzzler. Rather than controlling 2D images, you take control of a white figure, who can only move one step at a time, and will follow the commands you give him. The goal in each level is the same - to get to the door at the end. This is a lot harder than it sounds. You have only a certain number of moves in each level. A move is a step, a push of a button, picking up or putting down an object, or numerous other things needed to do in order to complete the level.
It starts off in a simple manner. To win the first level, you will need to place boxes in order to climb up to a higher platform. However, soon the levels get progressively harder, and you can quickly find yourself meticulously planning a level before starting. The levels are brilliantly designed and clever - they vary wickedly. One level can see you sneaking past the torchlight of suspicious guards, whereas the next will require you to remember an arrow sequence to follow inside a maze where your figure cannot be seen, and on the next you wil need to put the right amount of weights on a platfom to open a door - the imagination is brilliant. You have different frienbds and enemies throughout the game. Escalators and revoloving doors can be used to your advantage, but laser boxes and guards will halt you in your tracks. It is a brilliantly thought out and well made game that will have yo scratching your head and trying to think 4 or 5 steps ahead.
If there is a single flaw, it is that the game can be frustrating to the extreme, but this just serves as an excuse to persevere and play on (there's also a chance to skip the level or world if it becomes a little too hard). This game is the best puzzler for the PSP (yes, even better than LUMINES) - easy to learn, difficult to master and a puzzle game that will really get you thinking.

Intelligence central...
To start off with, I'd just like to say one thing: the creators of this game should be very proud of themselves, they've succeeded in boggling my mind to breaking point! :)

As correctly stated by another reviewer, these puzzles start easy and get devilishly hard. I'm afraid to raise my hand and say there were some puzzles I couldn't do as they looked quite literally impossible to me! This game tests your skills of judgment, mathematics, memory, coordination... and indeed perseverance!!

Some puzzles will require you to move blocks in or out of the way to get to a hard-to-reach exit (for example 3D mazes), some will need you to open the right doors to access certain areas, some you will have to memorize a series of directions and then carry them out in an environment where you can't see where you're going, etc etc I could go on about all the different puzzles for a while, and not only this but in the harder more complex stages, you'll find some of the different puzzles combine together, needing you to perhaps open a certain set of doors to grab some boxes to stack somewhere to get up to a button to open another door to... oh man, these things are endlessly clever!

I think this game appeals to anyone looking for something to help them pass time in an engrossing way. Got a long flight (as with the other reviewer) coming up? Perhaps a lengthy journey? This is a game you really need to spend some time with to appreciate the complex puzzles in store. But it sure will help pass the time!

Now I'm 17 years old and I'd like to think I've got quite an able mind and plenty of logical puzzle-solving ability, but this game really tested it. If I were to make a recommendation on the sort of age group this game appeals to, I'd say over 16 years, easily. Those bright teens (sorry to say I haven't seen many lately!) can give it a go, although this is one the puzzle-solving parents will want a play with!

If you like your puzzles (some almost impossible ;) then you really will enjoy this, as have I. I have yet to submit my PQ score to the online database as I'm too busy trying to bump it up a bit first :)

The soundtrack I don't find distracting which is good, in fact I quite like the gentle electronic (yes you could call it techno, but it's not commercialized rave stuff) and original background music that well accompanies the different stages. It really adds to the 'virtual-reality' mood the game features.

Its simple and easy-to-use interface is brilliant in my view, as you only need to use the directional buttons and X to interact with everything you can. This lets the mind develop strategies and ways of working out the 100 complicated puzzles. Even my mother can play this game and she hasn't properly played a game in a good while.


In a nutshell:

Pros
-100 well thought out puzzles designed to put the mind through it's paces
-Nice background music that adds to the feel of the game
-Easy for anyone really to pick up and play
-Online uploading and viewing of scores, see how you stack up against other people around the world!

Cons
-I demand more puzzles!! :)

A fantastic game, worthy of being my favorite PSP game alongside GTA:VCS. Endlessly intelligent without ceasing to amaze me and I hope there's a second game to come! Buy it now and show how smart YOU are!