Have a look at the just-released screenshots for Puzzle Quest 2 (plus some concept art of a lighthouse). Do you see all the cool new stuff Infinite Interactive is doing in this sequel to the game that busted match-3s out of the match-3 ghetto?

Me either. But I suppose that's okay. Infinite Interactive monkeyed around with the basic forumula plenty in Puzzle Quest: Galactrix and Puzzle Kingdoms. I'm more than happy to let them get back to the basics. Check out the official announcement, which you could also use to announce the first Puzzle Quest.

Puzzle Quest 2 features its hallmark blend of match-3 gem matching and fantasy, with a simple but meaningful role playing experience where players can choose any of four character classes; War Mage, Inquisitor, Barbarian or Assassin. Each character class provides interesting twists during multiple play-throughs as players reclaim the once peaceful village of Verloren from the evil clutch of the demon Gorgon. Players will be able to level up each character to progress through the adventure in Story Mode or even dive into Instant Action, Tournament Mode, or Mutliplayer Mode for a rich and diverse experience. With the entire Puzzle Quest world accessible on your fingertips in real-time action, players will be able to get a more streamlined experience for instant gratification.

The only real differences are the proper nouns. New classes and monsters presumably promise new types of powers and abilities, but I can't imagine there are many new ways to muck with a match-3 playing field. Hopefully, there will be cool new minigames to flesh out the first game's cool crafting and mount training stuff. Also, a competitive AI that understands how the game works would be nice.