As you start Puzzle Quest, you are introduced to both the role-playing and puzzle elements of the game. The RPG is quite deep and the puzzle is how combat takes place.

The puzzle element is very similar to Bejeweled. You and your opponent take turns trying to make matches. Match three of a kind to have them removed, four of a kind additionally grants you an extra turn, and five of a kind gives you a wild card and an extra turn. Instead of making a match, you may choose to cast a spell instead. The spells have varied effects so you need to figure out which ones will suit your style of play and will work best against your enemies.

I play the battles very defensively, looking for which of the four mana types the enemy needs to cast its best spells and trying to prevent them from getting it. Players also need to be careful not give the opponent an easy set of skulls (those are the “gems” that damage you).

The AI of the Puzzle Quest opponents gets more difficult as you progress through the game. Even at the high levels, though, they don’t always do the smartest thing. There are three difficulty levels. I’ve played mostly on Normal and noticed that the enemy may end up with a ton of mana and still will refuse to cast some very damaging spell on me. Switching to Hard seems to make the enemies smarter in this regard.

These battles happen within a fairly deep role-playing game. First, you choose a class of characters to be and each has different attributes. I chose to be a wizard which gave me more fire and air mastery. Next, you start getting quests and exploring the map. These quests are varied and while mainly only resulting in gold and experience, you can also obtain items and companions. You also must choose which spells out of the many you can learn you will take into battle with you.

Each of these items, companions, spells, attributes and mounts alter how you play the puzzle battles. Through questing and even grinding you can level up which gives you new spells and points to increase your attributes.

The controls work efficiently letting you move about the map and the three sections of the battle screen with ease. Multiplayer also makes an appearance; you can battle other Puzzle Quest players through Xbox Live.

My only real complaint about the gameplay is the hint system. You have to be very wary when taking advantage of it. It is akin to the hints in Bejeweled but the best move in that game won’t necessarily be the best move in Puzzle Quest. By making the match it suggests, you may be setting yourself up for even more matches or setting your opponent up to do serious damage to you.