Takes 10 seconds to learn but a lifetime to master.
Summing up some of the changes from the first game:
*Movement has changed a bit, from moving about on a large map, to move around in smaller compartments and segments of a outdoor map.
*Specific damage from weapons: You now have the possibility to select your weapon and use that for attack instead of only using skulls and skills.
*Adjustable game board: Fighting stronger opponents will result in a larger game board to battle on.
*More content: Mini games for small tasks, such as opening doors and looting and so on. More "gems" and such. Upgradable equipment using crafting materials.
The game rests comfortably upon the game board, where the player and opponent takes turns of connecting gems in series of 3 or more to retrieve the bonus in the form of color specific mana or dealing damage to the opponent. This board resembles a chess or checkers board in many ways. Connecting the gems is simple enough such as moving a pawn in chess, but it is very hard to master the game by forseing the enemys next move. Even forseing the consequences of a single move and how the gems will be affected by that particular move is harder than it looks. Thinking ahead is so essential in this game that it may be the difference between victory and defeat.
The player has the possibility of changing the game board by using skills. The skills can change the color of a specific gem or remove a specific color from the board. This may have very large consequences since the turn usually ends after this, giving the opponent the a better chance of winning. Therefore the game helps to educate the mind of the player since every move has consequences and must be thought through. The game board changes constantly and causes a change in strategy to accommodate the new gameboard.
Another thing about the game board is that the game suggests a connection of gems, but this is only a suggestion closest to the cursor. As a player these suggestions should either be reexamined with critical eyes or avoided, since the consequences of this often result in either "4 of a kind" or the possibility for the opponent to deal damage to the player.
During my first play through I am playing the role of the Templar Galad. The templar is not a high damage character but seems to have a good survivability, since the character has abilities to increase his blocking ability and heal himself. This makes him a solid fighter, a bit slow to kill opponents but with a higher survivability, and i like the combinations of skills he posses. The character can convert his defence rating to damage by using his skills.
This also requires the player to think ahead since the consequence to this is that the player is more vulnerable to attacks. I have not been playing other characters yet so I cannot say that the Templar is the best character but i can say it is fun for me to play.
I really like this game since it challenges the player in so many ways. The change of the changing gameboard, the combination of skills, the amount of mana to be used to carry out a perfect attack and the list is endless. Therefore my suggestion to everyone, who have the slightest interest in a challenging game, to buy this game and complete it.
The game is a very worthy sequel to the first "Puzzle Quest"-game