Jewels

Title screen

After reviewing the semi-original "Tank Hero" earlier we are now back to clones. This time we'll be looking at "Jewels" by MHGames which one of the most downloaded Android games and which is a directly clone of the ultra-popular "Bejeweled". The original "Bejeweled" has now been around for a decade and if you've not played a version of it yet, you're in the minority.

If you are one of the minority here's a really quick synopsis of what you do. You are given a grid of jewels and you need to move them to make a line of 3 (or more) to delete them, if you delete a set amount you move onto the next level and continue until you have no available moves (or have been timed out, depending on the game mode). The concept is incredibly simple and as a result the game has become a monster hit with gamers...as well as developers who have been happy to copy the concept with only minute difference, which is what Jewels has done.

In game screenshot

 With that out of the way we can actually start to look at "Jewels" which, if you look to the side, you can see a screen shot of. On the original PC version of the game the controls were done all through the mouse with dragging a gem where you wanted to move it. With this version however you simply use the touch screen to drag the gems with your finger which is simple and really effective. Although it doesn't make the game any more playable than the original it is a neat control idea that works really well.

Where Bejeweled really managed to storm away from the rest of the market was the game was ridiculously addictive, it was, to excuse the crude expression, gaming crack. Again this version manages to replicate, not only the style and concept of the original but also the addictiveness and you will find yourself wasting away hours of time without even realising it. Though this doesn't quite have all the whistles and bells that perhaps you would hope to find in a game like this.

The game modes

The sound is the big issue, they are very minimalistic and are simple. The game features no background music at all and it means it feels a little bit...empty and hollow. Whilst you do get a sound when you move the jewels it would have been nice to have had some music. Also despite having 4 "modes" they don't really have a lot of differences. "Normal" and "Infinite" modes seem almost identical to each other and "Timed" and "Quick" have a similar feeling. The game could have perhaps added a harder mode where you'd have had to connect 4 at a time or something just to add some extra depth. Whilst the game is addictive,and will keep you hooked, you can't but feel they could have tried something more with it rather than just make it a clone of a well known game.



Whilst you will find yourself hooked almost instantly due to the simplicity of the game it doesn't do anything special. Yes it's addictive, yes it looks nice and yes it plays well. Don't get me wrong it's not "bad" in any shape, in fact it is really enjoyable, if just feels a little flat for some reason.

Addictiveness-10/10. Warning-You will be an an addict.
Controls-10/10. Simple, straightforward and exactly what you'd expect.
Graphics-7/10 Bright and clear. There isn't really much you can do graphically with the concept though.
Sounds-2/10 The lack of music is the the games big downfall, whilst it has sound effects they are limited and relatively poor.
Originality-0/10 What originality? It's a flat out clone that doesn't try to hide anything

Total score
29/50

Overall it's what you expect of a clone. It's very much identical to the game it's based off, it adds nothing at all and yet it retains the originals playability and addictiveness. Whilst it's not the best clone of Bejeweled (now that Jewels Deluxe has hit the market) it's very much what you expect. It controls as well as you can expect, it will hook you and you will lose part of your life to it.

Game mark B

If you enjoy this game also try out:
Jewels Deluxe

Note-A number of games share the same name, this is for the MHGames version of Jewels.