Gyromancer is the latest offering from casual gaming mogul PopCap Games, responsible for literally thousands of my work hours lost to Bejeweled, Zuma, Peggle and Plants Versus Zombies. But Gyromancer is a unique and different offering than every other PopCap endeavor as PC and XBox 360 owners will soon discover.

For their newest casual gaming experience, PopCap has teamed up with Square-Enix, the hardcore role-playing game company responsible for the Final Fantasy series, Dragon Quest series and a veritable plethora of other games cited as some of the most hardcore gaming experiences of all-time. As someone who enjoys both hardcore and casual games, I was curious to see if the experience of Gyromancer would elicit squeals of joy at what could only be called a super unicorn; or screams of horror at an abomination worthy of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

The answer is more complicated than you might think.

The name of the game for PopCap has always been to take a simple concept, like "Match 3 in-a-row," and add layers to the experience to keep players entertained and challenged. Gyromancer follows this formula to a T, with the puzzle element a variant of the largely overlooked but excellently designed Bejeweled: Twist - rotate a square of four gems to match three in a row. Like all PopCap offerings, it is elegant in its simplicity and challenging to completely master. This is not, however, what will keep players engaged with Gyromancer. It is the addition of Square-Enix that gives the game more depth this time around.

The union between Square-Enix and PopCap is not unprecedented. Square-Enix has combined their forces with Disney in the past to create the stunning Kingdom Hearts series, combining the best and brightest of Disney lore with the deep storytelling and character development of Final Fantasy, so Square is no stranger to combining the best of their world with the best of another.

Square has taken what PopCap does best (addictive puzzle games) and used it to create a battle system not unlike the Puzzle Quest series - but with better writing, more compelling characters and an incredible orchestral soundtrack. Players take control of Rivel Arday, a mage of legendary stature from the kingdom of Yshmea with the ability to control beasts of legend. Each beast battles for you, with every gem matched adding to a gauge that changes gems into attack gems when full. Matching these attack gems has a board-clearing effect and does damage to your opponent. When the battle is over, Rivel gains experience points to level up and make his beasts stronger and more effective. Occasionally, players will be able to use a special ability to change their basic beast into a stronger legendary beast for battle with increased strength and abilities.

Square-Enix and PopCap have also added traditional RPG items used to heal your beast, a money system to buy items and new beasts, a healthy helping of optional sidequests and the option to purchase new downloadable maps to expand the experience.

The deep story, incredible writing, experience points and maps is a welcome addition for players who want a little more from their games than the "Match 3" mechanic and opens new doors for casual gamers who are unfamiliar with games being used as a medium to tell a story of this size and scope - and there lies the genius of this puzzler. While the primary goal is fun in the form of Bejeweled: Twist, the satisfaction from this game comes when discovering new beasts and characters, leveling up Rivel, defeating insurmountable enemies and advancing the amazing story.

For casual players unused to experience this level of depth in their games, don't worry - the developers ease you into the world of RPGs slowly until you realize you're replaying stages to discover new beasts and increase your level for that next boss challenge. Square-Enix and PopCap have found a way to bring the casual player into the world of the hardcore, not kicking and screaming, but willingly.

Although it will inevitably be compared to the Puzzle Quest series, Gyromancer is far more accessible with a compelling story, higher production values and a finely polished final product that is sure to delight players on the entire spectrum of casual to hardcore. From the unique use of the core Bejeweled: Twist mechanic down to the catchy soundtrack, Gyromancer is one of the most compelling and unique experiences online.

Final Score: A