Puzzle Quest 2

The Good

• Character Classes each have their own style of game play
• Action Gems add a new layer of strategy
• Excellent overall presentation

**The Bad**

• Unlucky games are still super frustrating
• New Mini Games aren't nearly as interesting or engaging
• Storyline is still painfully generic

**The Bottom Line**
Take Two Interactive's genre-busting Puzzle Quest series is almost as enigmatic as it is original -- the pilot game, subtitled "Challenge of the Warlords" was a fresh and addictive blend of gem matching gameplay and RPG-esque character customization. The follow-up, a Science Fiction themed entry called "Galactrix' changed some of the core mechanics of its predecessor, and was met largely with negative reviews as a result. Puzzle Quest 2 is Take Two's third swing at a gem-swapping RPG game, and I'm happy to report that despite a few minor speed bumps, the series has largely returned to form. PQ2 gives you the choice of four different character classes when you start the game. Each class has its own list of abilities that unlock as you level your character up through fighting monsters and completing quests. Though they possess different titles, the classes fill the staple RPG roles of fighter, wizard, healer and thief. The abilities work exactly how they did in previous entries in the series; collect a certain number of gems of a certain color, and then you can activate the ability. Each class's ability set is well thought out and different abilities within a class interact well with each other, giving you different tactical approaches to combat based on which class you choose. The most notable new addition to Puzzle Quest is the introduction of the action gem. These gems show up as little fist-shaped gauntlets on the game board. Matching them up will give you action points, which can be spent to use equippable items you find in the game -- things like swords, shields, staves and potions. This is a big improvement over the handling of items in previous Puzzle Quests -- before, items would simply give you passive abilities and static bonuses to your stats. Whereas the first two games had a large scope featuring substantial world maps, PQ2 keeps things pretty local. Your hero wanders into a troubled town, and proceeds to different districts within that urban center. Later, when your questing takes you outside the town gates, your screen will limit you to one room or hallway within a large, multi-tiered dungeon. The downside to this is the storyline. Stop me if you've heard this before: A troubled town sits near a ruined keep housing an unknown evil. Only you can venture into the dark depths and slay the creatures with -- all right, enough of that. This is about as vanilla as background plots get. Considering PQ2 does spend some time introducing recurring characters and even attempts to build some mystery and intrigue into the dungeons you explore, it's really disappointing to see all those set pieces devolve into the function of generic quest givers or things that fight you. Nothing much else happens in terms of the story. At least the game looks and sounds appealing. The hand-drawn artwork is really well done, and all the environments and characters you encounter are sharp and vibrantly colored. The monster portraits the prelude each battle are especially good. The sound effects during battle pack a nice punch, and though the music isn't particularly remarkable, it doesn't detract from the experience either. Battles in Puzzle Quest, as they always have been, are partially based on luck. Sometimes you'll be dropped into a game where you're opponent gets first move, makes five massive chains in a row, and cuts your life total in half all before you get a chance to play at all. The game mechanics are still solid, and this scenario doesn't present itself enough to ruin the game by any means, but nonetheless, be prepare to have Lady Luck punch you in the gut once in a while. Challenge of the Warlords had mini games based around item creation and learning new skills, but PQ2 has axed those in favor of completely new mini games based around generic tasks you perform in the dungeon, such as breaking down a door or opening a magical lock. The looting chests mini game is a neat idea -- the better you play, the better the spoils you'll find in the chest. The rest of them aren't particularly compelling, and only served to make me miss the old mini games that helped me advance and customize my character. Regardless of what few shortcomings it has, Puzzle Quest 2 still manages to be an engaging and addictive experience. If you have any love for the original game or just happen to have a puzzle-game itch that needs scratching, be sure to pick this one up.