《龍族拼圖 X 龍之章》（日文全名：パズドラX（クロス） 龍の章，英文：Puzzle & Dragons X: Ryū no Shō / Dragon Chapter）是GungHo Online Entertainment於2016年在任天堂3DS平台推出的角色扮演遊戲，是繼《Puzzle & Dragons Z》後的正統續作。與前作相同，本作將原本手機上的經典消珠玩法，延伸至擁有完整劇情、世界觀與探索要素的RPG舞台，更在畫面、系統與劇情演出上全面升級。

《龍族拼圖 X》在日本發行時同時分為兩個版本：「神之章（Kami no Shō）」與「龍之章（Ryū no Shō）」，兩版本內容大致相同，但擁有不同的限定怪物、對手與部分劇情分歧。這樣的雙版本設計，讓遊戲更具收集性與再玩性。

在劇情方面，背景設定在「ドラクメシア（Dracomacia）」這個由人類、龍族與神族共存的奇幻世界。主角是剛入學的「龍之使者學院」學生，夢想成為傳說中的「龍馴導士（Dragon Caller）」。某天，天空降下一顆黑色隕石，導致名為「Drop Impacts」的災難開始在世界各地發生，怪物開始異變、自然失衡，甚至喚醒古老龍神的力量。為查明真相，與夥伴與導師一同踏上冒險旅程，展開一連串與龍、神、邪惡勢力之間的衝突。

劇情結構相較前作更為細膩，除主線劇情，還包含大量支線任務與個別角色發展。尤其與主角同行的夥伴們都有豐富的個人背景與情感描寫，讓整體故事不再僅是冒險旅程，更是關於成長、友情與責任的探索。

操作與玩法方面，核心依然是消珠系統，需在下畫面操作6x5珠盤，將珠子拖曳至適當位置，湊成三顆或以上同色消除以發動攻擊。與前作一樣，珠子的顏色對應怪物屬性（火、水、木、光、暗），同時可觸發連鎖反應提升傷害輸出。戰鬥中還引入了更豐富的技能系統，包括主角專屬技能「ソウルアーマー（Soul Armor）」，這是融合裝備與變身機制的系統，能根據裝備不同的靈魂護甲召喚對應傳說龍的力量，例如變身成「赤龍裝備」可強化火屬性與使用專屬必殺技，為戰鬥策略增添多樣性。

養成系統方面，《X》進一步擴展怪物與裝備的進化路線，不只是單純升級，還有「進化」、「超進化」、「合體進化」等多階段培育方式，讓隊伍配置更加自由與個性化。此外，還新增屬性選擇系統，能讓主角自身與龍族融合，提升特定屬性的能力，這在PVP與高難度挑戰中極具戰略價值。

地圖採用開放式區塊探索，需在各大地區進行探險，解開「Drop Impact」背後的原因。每個地區擁有獨立風格與環境特性，例如火山區、冰原、古代遺跡、天空島、深海洞窟等，不但敵人配置有別，還包含環境解謎與隱藏怪物捕捉。與前作相比，《X》在迷宮探索部分更強調互動與變化，例如利用夥伴能力解開機關、在地圖中跳躍、潛水、移動大型石柱等等，使遊戲不再只是「戰鬥與養成」，而是有著動態探索的樂趣。

在畫面表現方面，全面升級為更細膩的3D模組建模，角色與怪物表現更具立體感。動畫演出豐富，特別是戰鬥中的技能發動、變身演出與最終魔王戰鬥，視覺效果比起前作顯著進步。色彩繽紛且風格鮮明，保留系列一貫的Q版親切感，又帶有冒險RPG的史詩氣息。

音樂方面，由系列作配樂者再次操刀，曲風橫跨輕快的探索配樂、激烈的Boss戰主題與悠揚感人的劇情插曲。BGM配合場景與戰鬥轉折而變化，營造出強烈的沉浸感，與畫面與劇情三者融合得相當自然。

在市場評價方面，於發售初期便受到系列粉絲與3DS玩家的廣泛關注。玩家普遍認為它是系列中內容最完整、自由度與耐玩度最高的一作。特別受到好評的是：「Soul Armor」系統大幅增加戰略性；地圖探索要素讓RPG層面更豐富；而多線劇情與角色刻畫也讓整體冒險更具情感深度。不過也有部分批評指出遊戲初期教學稍嫌冗長，以及中後期養成需耗費大量時間與素材，有重複刷關的疲乏感。

總結來說，這是集成養成、策略、動作與冒險的多元素RPG作品，在3DS平台上展現消珠玩法的進化可能。無論是系列老玩家、喜歡怪物收集與育成，還是對JRPG與解謎冒險有興趣的玩家，都能在本作中找到豐富又具有挑戰性的樂趣。這不只是單純的系列續作，更是對整個《龍族拼圖》品牌在主機平台上的全面強化。

Puzzle & Dragons X: Dragon Chapter (Japanese title: パズドラX（クロス） 龍の章) is a role-playing game developed by GungHo Online Entertainment and released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016. It serves as the official sequel to Puzzle & Dragons Z, once again bringing the franchise’s signature orb-matching mechanics from mobile to a full-fledged RPG world, complete with an expansive story, rich world-building, and exploration elements — all presented with upgraded visuals, gameplay systems, and storytelling.

Dual Versions

Puzzle & Dragons X was released in two versions in Japan: Kami no Shō (God Chapter) and Ryū no Shō (Dragon Chapter). While both versions share the core story and gameplay, they feature exclusive monsters, rivals, and diverging story paths, adding a layer of replayability and collection value similar to the dual-version model used in other monster-collecting franchises.

Story and Setting

The story takes place in the fantasy world of Dracomacia, where humans, dragons, and gods coexist. Players take on the role of a young student newly enrolled at the Dragon Caller Academy, dreaming of becoming a legendary Dragon Caller. One day, a mysterious black meteorite crashes from the sky, triggering a global catastrophe known as the “Drop Impacts.” This event causes monsters to mutate, nature to fall into chaos, and even ancient dragon gods to awaken.

To uncover the truth, the protagonist embarks on a journey with companions and mentors, facing off against dragons, deities, and sinister forces. Compared to its predecessor, the narrative in X is more intricate, featuring numerous side quests and rich character development. The companions each have distinct backstories and emotional arcs, transforming the story from a simple adventure into a deeper exploration of growth, friendship, and responsibility.

Gameplay and Systems

At its core, the game retains the classic Puzzle & Dragons orb-matching battle system. Players use the 6x5 orb grid on the bottom screen to drag and align orbs of the same color (fire, water, wood, light, dark) to trigger combos and launch attacks. As with the previous title, matching more orbs and chaining combos increases damage output, with each color corresponding to a monster attribute.

A key innovation in X is the Soul Armor system, a unique feature that blends equipment and transformation mechanics. By equipping different Soul Armors, the protagonist can invoke the power of legendary dragons, such as transforming into the Red Dragon Armor to boost fire attributes and unleash exclusive special attacks. This system adds significant strategic depth and customization to battles.

The evolution and training systems have also been expanded. In addition to traditional leveling up, players can now perform Evolutions, Super Evolutions, and Fusion Evolutions, offering multiple paths to strengthen monsters and personalize teams. There’s also a main character elemental affinity system, which allows the protagonist to fuse with dragon attributes to gain bonus effects — especially useful in PvP battles and high-difficulty quests.

Exploration and World Design

The game features open-area exploration across diverse regions of Dracomacia, each with its own environmental theme, such as volcanoes, frozen tundras, ancient ruins, floating islands, and deep-sea caves. Every area includes unique monsters, environmental puzzles, and hidden creatures to capture. Exploration in X is more interactive than in its predecessor, with mechanics like using partner abilities to solve puzzles, jumping across platforms, diving underwater, or moving massive boulders — making gameplay more dynamic and engaging beyond combat and grinding.

Visuals and Presentation

The game features a fully-upgraded 3D visual presentation, with detailed models for both characters and monsters. Battle animations, especially transformation sequences and ultimate attacks, are visually impressive, surpassing the presentation of Z. The game strikes a balance between the franchise’s signature chibi aesthetic and the epic tone of a fantasy RPG, with vibrant colors and a clean visual style.

Audio and Music

The soundtrack, once again composed by the series’ veteran composer, spans a wide emotional range — from upbeat exploration tracks to intense boss battle themes and moving story sequences. The BGM dynamically shifts depending on the scene or gameplay situation, enhancing immersion and blending naturally with the game’s visuals and storytelling.

Reception and Legacy

Upon release, Puzzle & Dragons X garnered considerable attention from fans and 3DS players. It is widely regarded as one of the most content-rich and feature-complete entries in the franchise. Highlights praised by players include:

The Soul Armor system, which adds meaningful tactical variety.

The exploration mechanics, which bring new life to the RPG elements.

The multi-layered narrative, with well-developed characters and emotional depth.

However, some criticisms were noted:

The tutorial phase was considered overly long by some players.

The mid-to-late game progression required a significant time investment and resource grinding, which led to a sense of repetition for some.

Conclusion

Puzzle & Dragons X: Dragon Chapter is a multifaceted RPG that blends training, strategy, action, and adventure, showcasing how the franchise’s puzzle mechanics can evolve on a dedicated gaming console. Whether you're a longtime fan, a monster-collecting enthusiast, or an RPG lover with a taste for exploration and puzzle-solving, this title offers a deep and rewarding experience. It’s not just a sequel — it’s a major evolution of the Puzzle & Dragons brand on home consoles.