Jewel Craft - PC Game - Reflexive Arcade

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Reviews 1 to 3 of 7

shaz68's Review - October 16, 2007 - View all my reviews (6)

Demo Version (PC)

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When is a Match-3 not a Match-3?

When you're playing Jewelcraft!

When I saw "Match-3" I was going to bypass this game - I don't dislike the style, but I have a few favourites and the rest are poor imitations. But the screenshots drew me in with their shine and sparkles, and the promise that this wasn't just another matching game.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Jewelcraft is quite different to the regular match-3 games I've seen. I played in story mode, and while the story didn't really do much for me, the illustrations were very detailed, and the level goals presented a nice, fun challenge.

Gone are the columns of tiles that cascade down to fill the empty spaces. Gone is the goal of making matches simply to clear the board. Instead, you match gems by turning them in different directions. When they are removed from the board, their replacements do not automatically form matches and disappear, which allows you to create even more, larger, jewels. The more gems you match, the more quickly you create spots that stay vacant, making further matches a greater challenge. And the matches you make have a purpose - you have to plan the number and colours of gems to create just the right jewels to adorn the item you are making. Poor planning can leave you without enough stones to create the jewels you need. Rather than matching as quickly as possible to cover the board, you will find yourself avoiding certain matches and setting others up, as you execute a grander plan. And you can do it at your own pace, as story mode does not have any timer counting down the seconds until you lose.

The screenshots here do not do justice to the beautiful artwork and effects. You really need to play it to appreciate them fully.

I briefly tried the challenge/timed mode but I thought the story mode was more interesting. This game will be the next one I purchase.

This review has an average score of 4 - Based on 6 ratings
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hpotternut's Review - October 15, 2007 - View all my reviews (2)

Demo Version (PC)

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very fun and different

a very fun match 3 or more type game. Its none like I've seen before anyway. you have to flip blocks to make a certain color gem. you also have to match a certain amount of the same color depending on the size of the gem that is needed for what the King or Queen wants. You make small, large, and other sizes to complete the peice you are making. there are also power ups to help you along the way. I really enjoyed this one. It is worth the download and purchase. :)

This review has an average score of 3.6 - Based on 9 ratings
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bigpixels' Review - October 16, 2007 - View all my reviews (100)

Demo Version (PC)

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A shining game where BLING is KING

It's getting pretty crowded in the Jewelery department of match-3 games, but Jewelcraft brings in a fresh new approach, with balanced gameplay and no-nonsense objectives.

There have been many attempts at breathing new life into the match-3 genre, not that anyone would stop playing them, but taking it up a notch is a delicate task best left in the hands of Merscom craftsmen.

Many have thrown burgers, animals, physics, fairies, bricks, candy, pirates and other things at match-3, but it's the gameplay that needed a refresh.

The single tile cell has been re-thought as a rotating cube, offering 6 colors possibilities of for each tile/cell. From there, the size of your match will not only grant you the proverbial "bonus points", but be integrated directly into the gameplay: by being converted into a jewel of proportional size. The size of the colored jewels required will be dictated by the piece of jewelry on which you are currently working, which you can consult with a magnifying glass with no screen change.

It's quite clever, as everything has been thought out: any excess jewel matches will go towards your available power-ups to take you out of a possible jam. Best of all, the story mode is not timed.

I've often had the attitude about match-3 that when you've played one, you've played most -- is a great download, I just hope that there's more levels than what was displayed on the progress screen.

This review has an average score of 3.3 - Based on 7 ratings
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