This may come to a shock to many but I had never played Bejeweled before. Being a big RPG and action gamer I never really had time for simple puzzle games, so the idea of sitting matching 3 or more coloured gems never appealed to me. So don't expect any comparisons to previous Bejeweled titles here (though to be fair were you expecting an overhauled game play mechanic!!), just a frank review of this current incarnation.

As I've just mentioned the whole principle of Bejeweled is to match three or more coloured gems in either horizontal or vertical lines. Every time you complete a match more gems drop down to fill the space. The one catch is you can only swap two adjacent gems and then only if they create a match by doing so. A simple idea which as with all the best casual games is very addictive, I didn't realise quite how addictive until I'd spent an entire morning getting a score of almost 1.75 million!



Apart from the “Classic” version of the game, in which you keeping making matches until all possible matches are made, there are three other modes available at the start with other modes available after reaching certain requirements in the first set of modes. First up is Lightning mode in which you are given a time limit in which to make as many matches as possible with special gems giving extra time. A quite fun little mode but it can be frustrating as you desperately try to spot a match among all the colours. Next up is Quest mode where you have to unlock relics by completing various challenges based around the other game modes as well as unique challenges to this mode itself.

The last of the opening modes is Zen mode. This is an interesting mode in which it is impossible to lose, the game just goes on and on - never ending (even if you quit out you continue from your last place). What makes it a little different is the extra Zen options available to you during play. The first is a breathing guide to help slow your breathing down, while a second option plays ambient sounds in the background such as ocean waves and crickets. How relaxing this actually is I'm unable to say (kids mean relaxing is always impossible), but in theory this could be a great way to chill out.



As you meet certain requirements in these first four modes you will unlock new modes to play. These new modes are Butterflies - where you have to match gem butterflies with like coloured gems before they reach the top of the board, Diamond Mine - where you have to make matches at the bottom of the board to dig through the ground revealing gold and artefacts, Ice Storm - which is an even more frustrating version of Lightning mode where you have to make matches to destroy columns of ice which rapidly creep up your board and finally Poker. Poker is an interesting little mode where you have to create five matches to make your hand and then score accordingly to the hand you produce. However if you do too many of one particular hand you'll earn a skull against that hand and if you produce that type of hand again you have a 50/50 chance of Game Over.

As you can imagine unless your a huge fan of this game its going to be difficult to entice you into keep dipping back into the game and so Pop Cap have taken a leaf out of Gears book it seems and introduced badges to earn for achieving various goals in each mode as well as unique legendary badges for more complicated goals. Unsurprisingly there is an achievement tied in with this too.



Graphically, like most Pop Cap games its bright and colourful with some nice effects between levels and when larger matches are produced. The music can sometimes get a little repetitive on longer sessions but never to the point of annoyance. In fact the one off putting part of the game is the voice over. Sounding like the announcer from Mortal Kombat it seems strangely out of place in what is quite a relaxed affair. Achievement wise like many Pop Cap games its a mix of easy achievements and some real skill related achievements, probably the most time consuming being the getting every common badge to Gold rank.

Overall though, this is a great little game. Although its not my usual game type I can see me dipping into this every now and then to relax much like I do with Peggle and Plants Vs. Zombies (unsurprisingly also Pop Cap games). However I do think that some of the extra modes feel a little like padding and don’t feel as polished as they could be (Ice Storm is definitely the worst culprit). If your a fan of the Bejeweled series and you need your fix then this is a must buy, everyone else I'd say try the demo first and see what you think, though I feel many will follow the demo with a purchase as this is truly a great game to relax with.

Overall 8/10