The mix of puzzle combat and RPG leveling make this game one of the best deals on XBLA...
the main quest deals with you traveling around the world doing various quest for your queen and others of course. The traveling takes place in an overworld which you see your mini avatar peruse from one locale to the next. you don't really see any cities or towns per say which in a way is a detriment to the game. Some may feel it fits well with the whole style of the game being that it is an arcade title.
Combat ensues when you select a certain action during a quest or when you happen to bump along a creature on your path. Now this is where the puzzle element of the game comes in. To combat opponents you must play a puzzle game similar to that of Jewel Quest but much more complex and intuitive. Damage actually occurs when you match up three or more skull gems; there are also purple experience crystals which when matched up give you experience points (DUH). There are coins which can give you money as well as a colored assortment of gems which make up your magic reserves. These can be used in varying combinations in order to cast magic spells.
Other than the combat you can invest money in a citadel which can allow you to do things such as capture monsters, train mounts and research spells. You can also carry a total of 8 companions who can grant you various skills, abilities and bonuses.
The story while not nearly as complex and detailed as most conventional RPGs will have you thinking twice about making certain decisions. If you're into LOTR style RPGs such as Oblivion then Puzzle Quest's mood will catch your eye.
With an addicting mix of puzzle and RPG action Puzzle Quest is able to find the right mix of both categories as well as mixing it up with several unique ways of playing the game. For its price Puzzle Quest is a hell of a deal, a small game that can have you ignoring other big name titles.