Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords By Kilraven on Dec 16, 2007 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

To start things off, this game is addicting - insanely addicting. It's akin to Bejeweled meets RPG, smashed together and thrown into a blender. While the overall length of story is short and not quite fullfilling, the gameplay definately makes up for it and is where it shines. The controls are by far the best of the handhelds and consoles (PC, not being a console, has the best controls overall), the stylus allows for a more natural experience. You have the standard story mode, but you also get quick multiplayer matchups (via multi-card play) and single player battles - perfect for those who wish to just play a few rounds inbetween.

I won't bother will the storyline other than it's the standard "young man tries to save the world from evil bad guy with help from friends". The gameplay, however, is what makes it unique. You level up, as like all RPGs, from completion of quests and success in battle. The battles, though, take play in a Bejewel-like game. You match up 3 or more items, but these items either do damage, give experience, or add to a item pool that can be used for spells or skills. These spells or skills will either effect you positively (e.g. heals, shields, double damage dealt, etc.,) or harm your opponent. It's this that makes it more than just a Bejewel knockoff and its own game. You also can gain allies throughout the game, which do positive effects at the beginning of each battle, depending on the opponent. You also have the ability to seige castles or towns, which give bonuses as well as extra coin to spend on items.

I really can't sing enough praise for this game. Quite often I pop it in my DS and play for 15 minutes or so inbetween errands or before I go to bed at night. It truly is a must-have for any DS owner, and possibly for any console owner this may be released on.