Genre: Match 3
Developer: PopCap
Publisher: PopCap
Download a trial version of Bejeweled 3 from Club Casual Games
by December M: 
Bejeweled 3 doesn’t just bedazzle and bewitch you – it really could be the be-all and end-all of Match 3 games! I have never played any of the Bejeweled games before (yes, my head is hung in shame) so I opened myself up to this game without any of the publicity, none of the hype and few expectations. I wasn’t even entirely sure what Genre the game was. And in many ways, the Bejeweled 3 hasn’t been heralded enough!
It has to be said – Bejeweled 3 is damn good value for money! It’s a game with almost unlimited potential to please all family members aged from 6 to 96. Also, I can’t imagine there are many games that can boast as much undeniable replayability as this game. The game has 4 standard modes (Classic, Zen, Lightning and Quest) plus four more unlockable games making Bejeweled 3 seem like those Russian dolls – every time you unwrap one section, another is waiting for discovery.
On top of all this, Bejeweled 3 is visual eye candy. The graphics really are spectacular and the use of sound effects and voice encouragement really add to the game-play. One aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was the ‘instant replay’ feature where you could see your awesome movies replayed back to you. It reminded me of watching those incredible tennis slow-motion replays during Wimbeldon. All of these elements create a quality and well rounded game that makes it a definite must-buy title.
It isn’t without some issues, however. The tutorial is only shown on the Classic mode which is a disadvantage to any player that decides to play the game in a different order to the standard route. And the explanation or instruction for the other modes isn’t exactly verbose and can often leaving you understanding the goal through trial and error.
In Zen mode, you can add in all sorts of mantras to quit smoking, think positively or lose weight (plus others) but I didn’t see much of that on screen. There are also subliminal messages designed to help you relax and find your inner Zen but honestly, if you need to give up smoking or lose weight, playing a Match 3 game won’t help you. You should be just playing it because you love it!
Lightning mode was fun and fast – with you needing to create matches that give you more time. Once the timer runs out, your game is up and it was interesting trying to find different strategies to play all the different modes of play available. However, Quest mode really delighted me, with a series of requirements to be fulfilled each level to progress. It really did feel like a different game entirely and required a completely alternate plan of action to complete. Classic mode is untimed, adding to the expansiveness and flexibility of the game.
Help is available if you wait long enough – a gem will glow with arrows to guide you if you are completely lost, but it does take a long time for this to occur. You will naturally find that some of the game styles will suit you more than others and there are plenty of trophies to aim for.
The unlockable games include Poker (a personal favourite), Butteflies, Diamond Mine and Ice Storm and when you add these together with the fun game-play and exquisite graphics, you’ll will see how this game could be a winner well into the future.
i playd bejeweled 20 hours and its the best!