A Princely Take on Match Three

The match-three genre of casual games has to be all-time favorite about puzzle game enthusiasts. We have already enjoyed countless hours playing such classics as Zuma, Jewel Quest, and Bejeweled and now it's time for a new adventure that offers an interesting spin on the tried and true formula.

In Jewel Quest, you were given the task of swapping neighboring gems in order to make matching sets of three or more. Upon doing so, the underlying tiles would turn gold and your goal was to turn the entire field into gold. With Jewel Match 2, the task is almost reversed. Select tiles in the grid are already gold before you begin and your objective is to target these specific tiles, clearing gems above them (three or more at a time) until they are all gone.

After being introduced to this core gameplay mechanic, Jewel Match 2 throws in an extra wrench into the machinery. Upon clearing all the gold tiles, a special amulet will appear on the screen. Eliminate the jewels laying beneath it until the amulet can "fall" out of the bottom of the layout. Only then can you proceed to the next stage and tackle the next challenge. There are well over 100 stages in all to enjoy and enrapture you.

Building From the Ground Up

It costs money to build a glorious castle, you know. When you start each stage, you'll have an empty treasure chest to fill. It can only contain so many jewels, so be wary of the first batches of jewels that you clear from the field. These gems serve as currency to buy components to your castle. Upon clearing a stage, you will be offered the opportunity to purchase a new addition, each of which comes at a specific price with specific gems.

For example, to add the first tower to your castle, you may need to provide 50 blue, 50 green, and 30 red gems. Each segment along the way will require a certain combination, but it really is amazing to watch your monumental building get erected one section at a time. This is the rich reward that awaits all your jewel-matching hard work, aside from all the thrilling puzzle-minded fun that you'll have along the way.

Shopping for Upgrades

When you clear certain batches of gems from the provided grid, you are occasionally treated to coins and potions. The coins, of varying denominations, are used in the shop between stages to buy various upgrades and items. For example, you can upgrade the size of your treasure chest so that you can collect more gems with each stage. Also, there are several magical spells available for purchase.

These spells exert a powerful effect on your gameplay, shattering gems and clearing rows of blockades. Each has a different effect and you'll need to buy them all to experience them all.

The potions that pop up from time to time are used to power these magical spells. Collect enough "mana" to cast a spell, helping you along in your mission to collect gems, clear gold tiles, and retrieve precious amulets. Just be sure to keep a close eye on the hourglass along the right side of the screen, because when time runs out, your game is over!

No Nonsense, Tons of Addictive Fun

If you're looking for a highly addictive puzzle game that is simultaneously novel and familiar, this is definitely a title you should consider. The graphics are splendid and the action is incredibly intense. Build that castle!