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Spin, match, explode… WOW! It’s a brilliant new way to play Bejeweled, from PopCap. Spin and match explosive gems for shockwaves of fun. Rotate jewels to set up electrifying combos, outwit surprising obstacles like Locks and Bombs, and create high-voltage Flame and Lightning gems.When you want to dial up the intensity, go for Challenge mode or five-minute Blitz. And if relaxing is more your style, kick up your feet with stress-free Zen. No matter the mode, you’ll discover new strategies, improve your moves, and find endless ways to win!
REVIEW
With more than 350 million copies downloaded and more than 25 million units sold, PopCap's Bejeweled games are without question the most popular casual game franchise of our time. Little did the developers know in 2000, when Diamond Mine launched (later to be renamed Bejeweled), this simple yet addictive puzzler would spawn countless clones, sequels and spin-offs for multiple platforms.
As you probably heard by now, PopCap is back with its most ambitious follow-up to date: Bejeweled Twist. Nearly four years in the making, this game attempts to reinvent the “match-3” genre. Did PopCap succeed? Yes and no. The core game-play isn’t as radically different from its predecessors as the Seattle-based company makes it out to be, but it’s also much more than just a cosmetic makeover. Fans of the franchise won’t be disappointed with this highly-polished game, but be forewarned it takes some time to appreciate all the depth and detail.
Rather than dragging adjacent gems on a board vertically or horizontally in order to make a match of at least three identical ones, Bejeweled Twist has players rotate a group of four gems (a 2x2 square), in a clockwise fashion, in order to create a line of three or more identical jewels. As with past Bejeweled games, do so causes those gems to disappear and new ones cascade down the board to fill its place.
Another difference is players do not need to make a match with every move as you did with its predecessors, though you’ll get a multiplier bonus if you can. Casual gamers might remember a very similar 4-gem clockwise spin mechanic in a game called Spacebound by Gamenauts, so this isn’t an original idea. This game also reminds me of Hexic (but with hexagonal tiles).
Depending on your mood, time or skill level, Bejeweled Twist offers four unique game modes to choose from the main menu (two of which need to be unlocked by playing well). The Classic mode is the main game, where you’ll progress through increasingly tough levels and frantically attempt to create a chain when you see a bomb countdown; if it reaches zero before you can use it in a group of three or more gems, you’ll see the gem spin around a wheel and hope it doesn’t land on a detonator icon, which means it’s game over. Read more...
