What do you get when you take a classic matching game and combine it with a story, character development and RPG elements? Puzzle Quest. I believe that is probably what the pitch was when this game was conceived.

Puzzle Quest is a graphically rich game for the mobile platform.  Additionally, there is a decent set of sounds to match.  In the game, you take on the role of a hero (there are several to choose from) and complete quests to save the world.  Of course, that's what heroes do, right?

For a puzzle game, it has a good mix of strategy elements.  Plus, you gain levels as you go allowing you to gain more hit points, collect more mana, learn spells and pick up runes to attune to your weapon.  These all allow you to take on higher level monsters and quests.

Every encounter is decided by the puzzle portion of the game where you must make rows or columns of three or more of the same type, like a hundred other games that are available.  Making a row of skulls does damage directly to your enemy.  Others allow you collect one of four mana (red, yellow, green or blue) that then allow you to cast spells.  A fair bit of strategy is required at times, but you could just as easily find the first move you see and do that as well though this guarantees less success of course.  The game will make a suggestion after a certain amount of time without a move in case you can't see one.

Surprisingly I thought it would be one of those situations where the computer never makes a mistake and perhaps it doesn't.  But what it does do is make a move that allows you to get a chain move that will collect several amounts of mana in one move or net you an extra turn etc.  Though it does seem like the computer is far more adept at getting 4 and 5 of a kind which also net special items and extra turns than I am.

In Puzzle Quest, you have the Weapon of the Elements which can hold several runes. The runes give you specific abilities like spell resistance to one type of spell, increased damage, etc.  As with all things in the game you must win a puzzle battle in order to attune a rune to the weapon.  But you're not actually fighting someone, you are collecting potions in these cases.  Not entirely logical, but at least it's not like you're fighting with the weapon for control.

The only real problem I have with the game, aside from the fact that it only has one thing to really do, win battles via the puzzle, is the puzzle itself.  Not that the puzzle is bad, but on the small screen of most mobile phones the 8x8 puzzle field lends itself to small icons.  That being said I believe it may be partly responsible for my headache the last couple days.  Staring at the screen long enough to play through several puzzles might be enough to give anyone a headache and if you are on something that is moving like a train, bus or car...you will definitely be uncomfortable while playing.

Overall though, it's a pretty good game. I was able to sit down and play through hours of it over the last several days and advanced my character to level 13.  What that really means is that I have some nifty spells and some extra strength that I hadn't started with. It also means I am more cunning so I can start most puzzles before my opponent.  This is an upgradable skill. However you cannot store mana.  All the mana you gain in one battle is lost at the end of it.  Not a major issues but it would have been nice to be able to store some for the next encounter.  Definitely a game worth checking out and if you like your puzzle games flavored with a hint of RPG/action then this is definitely a game for you.

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