PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient cover

2005 · Now Production · Puzzle

PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient

PlayStation exclusive

Based upon psychological research, your PQ score will be determined by how quickly and effectively you solve each life-like situation. Test your wits, bend your brain, and match wits with the minds of users worldwide. A 3D puzzle game that tests players problem solving skills, PQ uses the PSP system's Infrastructure Mode and allows players to post their PQ score on the worldwide ranking site to see how they rank against other players around the world.

Released: 26 May 2005
Platforms: PlayStation Portable
Genres: Puzzle
Developers: Now Production
Publishers: D3 Publisher
Modes: Single-player
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E

About

PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient, also known as simply PQ, is a puzzle game for the PlayStation Portable. The game is known in Japan as Intelligent License (インテリジェント・ライセンス, Interijento Raisensu).

PQ is notable for being the first published game from D3 Publisher in North America.

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The game's framework is centered on discovering the player's "practical intelligence quotient," by completing a test consisting of 100 puzzles. The player controls a white, human-like avatar who can interact with the game world. The puzzles are all logic-based, and include a variety of tasks, from rearranging blocks to avoiding security guards to operating machinery. In most of the levels, an exit must be reached to complete that stage.

After clearing all 100 levels, the player's score is determined based on how long each stage took, among other variables. The player's PQ could be taken online and be compared with other players' scores (a high score table was also available online).

Reception

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN called PQ a "deep, involving puzzle game". GameSpot noted that while the game has some "deliberate and challenging puzzles", one has to be "willing to look past an interface that is occasionally awkward".