Bejeweled Stars is one of those match-three puzzle titles that threaten the dominance of established titles such as Candy Crush.
PopCap recently released Bejeweled Stars, and even if the semblance with Candy Crush is there, the game has a lot of unique features that make it engaging.
Bejeweled works in a straightforward way: you have to match three or more gems, which get destroyed, scoring points. Larger groups of matching jewels will result in chain reactions, providing even more points.
The game features a mix of wacky visuals and supportive audio announcements that encourage users when they get a combo right. By crafting a number of gem combinations, players get access to power-up items. As you can imagine, their effects are powerful and spectacular.
Bejeweled already has two installments, the initial Bejeweled Classic and the accelerated Bejeweled Blitz.
So how did the developers at PopCap put a new spin on Bejeweled Stars? To summarize, they merged the franchise with the level-based structure, limited lives and moves allowed in Candy Crush.
This means that every Bejeweled Stars level comes with a particular goal. For example, you may have to match a quantity of a specific type of gem or to clear every crystal panel in sight or to create and use power-up gems. Keep in mind that all these goals have to be met within a limited number of moves.
Each time you fail to meet the target, you lose a life.
Once you finish a level, the game uses the number of moves you have left to calculate your score. More moves, higher score.
Thanks to the Facebook leaderboard from each level, competition with friends is strongly encouraged. As you rank up levels, you earn stars, which can be used to complete Constellations. Once you manage to fill one, various rewards such as Skygems are added to your inventory.
Skygems are a new addition to the game, and they have identical colors with original gems. They are different because they have unique Lucky Charms-like shapes. Skygems are very useful in Laboratory section, where you can craft special power-ups with the right combination.
With the levels having increased difficulty as you progress, power-ups are a treasured resource. The coders allowed gamers to go back and replay levels in order to stack up on Skygems. Another way to get the precious jewels is by spending the gold won while clearing levels.
As most free-to-play games, Bejeweled Stars features in-app purchases. You can spend real money on extra lives or gold.
The title is available for mobile devices running Android or iOS.
Bejeweled Stars was commended by reviewers who pointed out that the game "looks and sounds great." However, it should be noted that some mobile devices could stagger during the flashy effects.
A humorous note comes from a less likely reward that players will get.
"After completing a level, players are serenaded by a 'cat choir' meowing in harmony," Seattle Times reports.
PopCap promises to boost Bejeweled Stars with new content on a daily basis, and a myriad of various levels await for gamers to embark in living the shiny experience.
It is not the first game that PopCap and Electronic Arts has lthis year either. In January, the duo released the open beta for Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2.
