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GAME REVIEW: Evolver

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April 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

How’s your theory of evolution?

I’m here to tell you how you can help the evolution of 30 early animal species in this addictive Match 3 game from Big Fish Games.

Evolver consists of 3 worlds, Water, Land and Air which is to be expected as that’s the way we evolved. Each time you match your quota you unlock a new species. In World 1 you start with Air and Weeds, then you unlock an amoeba and each species gets a little more sophisticated… remind you of anything.

This game is addictive, it will suck you in and keep you going, eating away at your hours. One really good thing about this game is that it doesn’t seem to have time limits, it just keeps going so if Master 3 has a massive tantrum and you have to go calm him down you can come back and your game is still going, screen is full though.

The design is very simple, the graphics are very simple and compared to most of the games around these days this one looks like it’s much older than it is, and the customisable options are limited and not necessarily where you would expect them to be.

evolver

Unlike most match 3 games this one doesn’t have a gameboard grid, it’s direct onto the background. This can make it difficult to focus on the game pieces you need to match. It also makes it harder to line up what pieces you need, and as new pieces drop into the board they didn’t seem to drop where I expected them too, the drop was a little random to my eyes.

As you match species the pieces move so they collect in the bottom left corner, this can mess with your plans to match a sequence as they all move.

This game isn’t going to be for everyone, if you enjoy a match 3 game with an involved story and a measurable goal this probably isn’t going to retain your attention. But if you just want a simple, fun match 3 game that offers no more than the match then this will be a good way to fill an afternoon.

I actually think this is going to be one that my Miss 8 will love.

To download your free trial: Evolver

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Zuma’s Revenge

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April 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

PopCap Games is a world leader in casual gaming, and I can see why. Zuma’s Revenge is a Match-3 game that has me hooked. I go to play one level just so that I have it all fresh in my head when I come to talk about it and next thing you know hours have passed and I completely forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

Zuma’s Revenge is a shoot-em-up Match-3 game that has a freaky looking frog shooting balls to break the chain and please the Tiki Gods. There are 4 different modes of play, though two of them can’t be played until they are unlocked by completing Adventure mode.

The soundtrack is not something that really does it for me, which isn’t really an issue because it’s easy to switch the music off, or just your speakers.

There are 6 islands to work through, stopping the balls getting sucked into the skull at the end of the wire. There are times the balls seem to be neverending and once the skull gets them you lose a life. Fortunately there are checkpoints every 5 levels that allow you to restart your game from if you lose all your lives, which is something I am going to love because the idea of having to start from scratch every time gives me the shivers.

zumas revenge

Capture powerups and bonuses of all types by destroying the ball they’ve been attached to and you can change the direction of the balls, remove all of that colour from the gameboard, pick up an accuracy aimer and a laser to destroy single balls. All of which make clearing the board a great deal simpler.

The important trick to get the hang of is to destroy a string of balls and shoot through the gap you created to captures the bonus fruit or, more importantly the further you get, destroy chains further back along the wire.

Game play is fluid as it grows more complex and the balls roll much quicker the further you get but it never loses it’s appeal.

PopCap games has also developed new level layouts  for Zuma’s Revenge which have your frog hopping between two lily pads or rolling on a horizontal track at the bottom or screen as opposed to always sitting in the middle spinning in a circle.

Challenge mode gives you 3 minutes to collect as many points as you can, shooting as many strings of balls as possible. To advance through this mode it’s about beating the challenge score and unlocking new challenge levels.

For fast paced fun in bright colours with a freaky frog and Tiki gods to defeat this is a great way to spend some downtime.

For your FREE 60-min trial head over to: Zuma’s Revenge – Adventure

Filed Under: ADVENTURE, MATCH 3, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Alice and the Magic Garden

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April 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Alawar is one of the world’s leading casual game developers and their new game is a double edged Match-3 that is as addictive as it is gorgeous.

This Match -3 game has you matching coloured blocks in 3′s to open the locker and reveal fruit – which you then need to match to achieve your goals for the level. All sounds pretty simple until you add the worms, spiders and consider the fact that you can’t switch open lockers with unopened lockers.

The gameboard is full colour complete with fairies, trees and butterflies to capture the attention of even the youngest of gamers.

Match-3 really is a game of strategy, it has a very random look to it but if you treat this one randomly you are sure to get caught with unlocked lockers in the most inconvenient positions.

Alice is a servant in the castle of a king, leading an uninteresting life until the day a fairy called Luna pops in to ask for Alice’s assistance in freeing all the fairies fruit that has been locked up by an evil sorceress, in return Alice will be awarded a beautiful garden of her own that she can decorate however she pleases.

alice garden

Spiders will weave their web over your locker which will trap the fruit until you unlock the brooms with which to brush away the web. There are keys you can collect to unlock those pesky lockers that remain closed in the middle of a sea of fruit, and bug spray… ahh the joys of bug spray – be sure to use it wisely to get rid of the annoying spiders and worms.

The worms, I didn’t tell you about the wiggly worms, they will eat your fruit and you can’t make a match with an apple core or a banana peel. The worms will sneak in from the sides and you can spray them, or you can make a match behind them and the shaking of the lockers sometimes shakes them free.

Bug Spray can be really useful if you time it right! A well aimed spray can knock off multiple pests if they are in range.

Each level will see you unlock a new item for Alice’s Garden so in between levels if you would like a break from the action of matching vibrant fruits you can go shopping to beautify Alice’s garden and create a perfect little sanctuary to share with young Alice.

To assist with clearing out the gameboard and achieving the current levels goals you can also utilise the hammer and the fruit blaster. The fruit blaster is AMAZING for creating chain reactions and you can just sit back and watch as fruit matches fruit matches fruit creating chain reactions and explosions to get you through the level before you know it.

This is an eye-catching, brain-engaging match-3 game that is all about the strategy because you need to make sure that the match you make isn’t going to catch you in a trap that stops you making other matches.

This gorgeous game contains 100 levels over 5 different stages and fighting 5 bosses all as you decorate Alice’s very own fairy garden.

To download your FREE 60 minute trial: www.alawar.com/game/alice-and-the-magic-gardens

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Bejeweled 3

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March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This past weekend I got to spend some time playing PopCap games for something different and what a blast I had.

Time just ran away with me, what was supposed to be a quick couple of round time-out became two hours lost in the jeweled world of Bejeweled 3.

Lovers of Match 3 games will not be disappointed. This classic Match 3 game is bright, vivid and packed with plenty of ways to play.

There are eight game play modes, four of which you need to unlock by playing the other game modes. This means that whatever your mood there is a Bejeweled to suit.

I like Zen, the endless game means there’s no pressure and you don’t have to rush your way through. You can watch for the perfect move and perfect your strategy without worrying about the clock. The levels still progress.

There are also Classic, Lightning and Quest modes. Quest sees you fulfilling particular missions in each level as you progress, Lightning is a timed mode that allows you to collect time bonus gems to increase your round timer. Classic is exactly what it says, an untimed mode that sees you moving up through the rounds.

bejeweled 3

As you reach a certain point of these modes you will unlock Poker, Butterflies, Ice Storm and Diamond Mine. These will add variety and excitement to your Match 3 experience, offering ways to play that are new and have your mind working in different ways.

Butterflies sees you trying to free the trapped butterflies before the spiders have a chance to eat them. Ice Storm will have you racing the pillars of ice to match gems and drop the pillars. In Diamond Mine you need to match gems to dig through the dirt and unearth buried treasure.

Poker, now that was fun. You need to match your gems in poker hands which will see you trying desperately to keep at the fore front of your mind two different sets of instructions. You aren’t just matching your colours anymore, now you need to make sure you get your hand filled too otherwise the skulls will decide your fate with the flip of a coin.

This is a game that is extremely easy to become addicted to and all lovers of Match 3 entertainment need to check this out. Compete for achievement badges and see if you can collect them all!

Head on over to PopCap Games at  to download your FREE 60-minute Trial of Bejeweled 3

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Enchanted Cavern 2

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November 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Alawar Games is at it again and I’m hooked. I have always said I’m not really a gamer but it turns out that I’m just not into console games very much. Give me a PC game, especially a Match 3 and I’m hooked. Just one more level. Just let me get through this one level and I’ll go do something productive. Next thing you know it’s been 3 hours and nothing’s been done.

I am seriously considering grounding myself from PC games!

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But first let me tell you about Enchanted Cavern 2. The graphics are vivid and stunning with lots of bright colours and eerie backgrounds.

The levels are challenging and as you progress the challenge becomes greater, and sometimes the game changes. Some levels will have you breaking blocks, clearing coloured tiles or dropping items off the gameboard and then they’ll throw you one that has you doing all of the above and I almost failed the level thinking it was finished but I was only concentrating on one aspect and missed a tile.

The soundtrack was quite fun yet still eerie, yes I went and played it some more just so I could come tell you about the soundtrack because I never have the sound on. It’s quite light and playful and the sound effects are resounding. The big BOOM of a bomb blast, the beep beep of a stopwatch when you add more time. It’s lots of fun, but I will always prefer to play without sound regardless I think. And it helps with multi-tasking.

enchanted cavern

There are 110 levels, 3 different modes that you can play – Adventure, Endless and Puzzle. I am playing Adventure at the moment and I can’t seem to get into the other 2 modes, possibly only after you get through Adventure. There are also 4 types of bonuses and 21 trophies (of which I’ve collected quite a few).

This game captures the attention of my kids every time they walk past and it’s only a matter of time before they are bugging me to let them play too, I’m sure of it.

There is also a relaxed mode that you can play, taking out the time limit so you don’t need to beat the clock. I didn’t even try that one this time and I am having a ball. This is a great game that will entertain the whole family for hours.

Regardless of time or other things to do I just want to see what challenges are waiting for me in the next level! Play this game, you’ll be glad you did. I love it so if you like Match 3 definitely give it a go.

You can download this game, and many others, at: www.alawar.com

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Heroes of Hellas 3: Athens

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October 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Heroes of Hellas is a fun game suitable for all the family that reminded me of why I don’t play computer games! They are addictive and the hours just disappear as I sit and rebuild Athens.

Match-three games are fun and stimulating because you need to use your observation skills and reflexes but you also need to try and look one step ahead, the fall of the tiles is important because if you match them in the wrong order you can mess up all the moves that follow.

heroes of hellas

I started playing this game for review purposes so I went in and turned the timer off. That way I knew I could take my time and plod through, seeing lots of levels without having to keep redoing them.  This meant that as a busy mum who doesn’t get much time without interruption I could divert my attention without risking losing any levels.

It also meant that I could let Miss 7 sit and have a go, her slower reflexes didn’t hinder her as she wasn’t playing against the clock. Mr 3 also decided he needed to help so we played a level together and no clock meant that he could win.

I have since turned the timer on and it is quite a good limit, it is challenging yet not unbeatable.

The graphics are vivid, bright and colourful. The characters are engaging as you navigate around the home screen to see what you are rebuilding and how the city has fallen.

An ancient civilisation once known for its grandeur has been forsaken and left in ruins, its populace struggling to survive as the city is rocked by repeated disasters. You become the saviour of the city as with the help of the Heroes of Olympus you rebuild and restore the city to its former stature.

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In Heroes of Hellas 3: Athens you will collect bonuses by eliminating chains of identical tiles and coins, as you please the gods they will help you in your tasks. The score you accrue within these levels is then used to pay for the rebuild of the city.

This game consists of 90 levels and 30 bonus levels, I haven’t played them all yet but I am certainly looking forward to the rest of them. There are four match-three modes and 12 trophies to be earned.

The soundtrack is made up of 10 original songs that serve to heighten the mood, highlight the desperation of the people and create a sense of urgency – according to the media release. To be totally honest I can’t concentrate with sound on for any game so I have the speakers turned off and can’t testify to the truth of that bit.

What I can say is that this game will bring hours of entertainment and fun to all the family. My kids are intrigued and want to be involved and I get caught up in the addiction extremely quickly. Definitely one worth playing!

Download the FREE trial: Heroes of Hellas 2: Athens

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Farmscapes

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February 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Help Joe restore his ranch! Breathe in new life into a formerly prosperous farm in Farmscapes, a fun Match 3 game!

Earn money by selling fresh veggies, juicy fruits, eggs, flowers, and honey from his old farm to the townspeople, and spend it on restoring the landholding back to its grandeur and beauty.

farmscapes

No need to make this lawn story short – indulge yourself in sun, color and blue summer skies!

  • Fantastic gameplay
  • Exciting action
  • Help Joe restore his ranch!

Download the FREE trial: Farmscapes Game

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Cradle of Rome 2

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December 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Welcome back to the city on the seven hills! Rome was one of the most powerful and beautiful capitals of all time. Write your own history of the Roman Empire in the engaging Match 3 game, Cradle of Rome 2.

cradle of rome 2

Journey through incredible matching fun and the exhilarating process of building the city. Experience the new world of Rome from the cradle to the glory! Solve challenging minigames and draw blueprints to turn your small settlement into the flourishing empire.

* Exciting gameplay
* Intense action
* Become the Emperor!

Download the FREE trial: Cradle of Rome 2

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Pizza Chef 2

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June 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment


I vaguely remember playing the first Pizza Chef, but I think it was around the time when I was getting a bit overwhelmed with the food genre so didn’t really appreciate it. The Pizza Chef 2 game has recently been released and while it could be described as a Match 3 game, it does have a little more to it than simply switching tiles.

pizza chef 2

You run a pizza shop and customers come in and place their orders. You grab these and put them on the game board, but the shapes can only be placed on highlighted tiles which is where your match 3 skills come in. Customers can lose the love when they become impatient but there are restaurant upgrades you can purchase to combat this.

pizza chef 2

There are combo bonuses, special coins and power ups which will help your gameplay, and there are a few hidden object levels thrown in for added variety.

Pizza Chef 2 does get quite fast paced making it a fun little time waster.

Download the FREE trial: Pizza Chef 2

Filed Under: MATCH 3, TIME MANAGEMENT Tagged With: ,

Inner Quest

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May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Created by family friendly game company, South Winds Games releases new game Inner Quest, which can truly be played by the whole family no matter age or skill level.

This puzzle game sees you move different symbols to connect three, you can move symbols horizontally or vertically but not diagonally, which can prove a tad frustrating at times.

South Winds Games summed up the game “Inner Quest is packed full of happy emotions and good feelings. It exists specifically to make your day! An amazing experience that will help you decrease the wear and tear on your mind from the challenges and hassles of daily life.”

inner quest

The colourful game with upbeat music features over 100 levels and offers the option to play in either arcade or relaxed modes, so if you feel the game is getting too easy you can simply swap modes.  It is a cheerful game that takes your mind off your current situation, just be careful as the simple puzzle game proves surprisingly addictive.

Download the FREE trial: Inner Quest

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