WP App Review : Jewel 3

Jewel 3 (Version 2.9.9.2)

Stormtek Games

Free

There are multitudes of match-three type of games in the marketplace, all of which pretty much have the same game concept. I've always enjoyed Bejeweled but with the absurd price of $6.99, I searched for an alternative and have come to enjoy Jewel 3 the most.

The game play is exactly the same as other match-three games. You tap and slide a jewel into a position so that you match three or more jewels of the same color to clear them from the board. The more you match in one move, the more points and special effects you achieve. Matching four jewels creates a special jewel which when matched up later on will create a small explosion, clearing out adjacent jewels. Matching five or more creates a hyper jewel which will eliminate all colors of that whichever jewel you make contact with.

The game features two modes; a Normal mode which can pretty much be played endlessly, as well as a Time Driven mode where the progress bar will slowly decrease unless you keep on matching jewels. You also have a choice of three graphics set for the jewels. Background music and sound effects are decent and you can always turn them off if you'd like.

The game play experience is solid and graphics are clean and not overly flashy. There are no real issues with controls and the game plays nice and quick, although it does lack a bit of flair to the movement. It's a quick-playing game that's great in short bursts but can easily be played in longer runs as well. If you're looking for a Bejeweled style game for free, Jewel 3 is definitely worth trying out.

Pros : Smooth play, good controls, addictive

Cons : Lacks a bit of flair