Video Game Review: Bejeweled 3

Sometimes, the simplest of games are the best.  Bejeweled is a very basic series of games, running along similar lines to such games as Tetris or Columns; in this case, you get a large grid of gems, and you're allowed to swap two adjacent ones around.  If you match up three or more, you clear them out, and score points.  It's very basic, but it's also strangely addicting and very relaxing at times.  This game has become a perfect de-stressing tool for me, for it is so short and simple that I can start it up and play a few rounds whenever I want, and it's consistently satisfying.

The game can get really thrilling when you line up four or five or more gems in a row, causing them to explode brilliantly.  If you line up gems in an L-shape, you'll create a special gem that will zap everything vertically and horizontally.  The combination of special gems will make the whole board explode in color and flying points, and that's when the game gets really fun.  It's not all just one game though; you can unlock and play through several different minigames for more interesting challenges.  The Zen mode is especially valuable, for it is basically a never-ending game that you can just casually play through and relax with.  There's also a poker mode, a quest mode, a butterfly mode, diamond mining, and some kind of ice mode, all of which offer challenges and satisfying variants.

As the third game in the series, this one retains the same basic gameplay of its predecessors, but with good-looking graphics and smooth interfaces.  Controls are easy; playing this game on a console (such as a PS3) can be challenging with the paddles, but using a mouse on the PC version is most ideal.  Sound and music is great.

Overall, the game is a great, easy, and fun puzzle game for all ages and all occasions.  Recommended!

5/5 (Entertainment:  Perfect | Content:  Good | Game:  Perfect)