Luxor 3 Review

It just goes to show you can't keep a good game down... Three episodes deep into the world's most popular hieroglyphic-themed puzzler and we're still head over heels in love with Luxor 3's action-packed, color-matching formula. But to be frank, with graphics, sound effects and gameplay this good, well... it's no wonder the multimillion-selling franchise has practically got the entire world walking like an Egyptian.

The current story begins with the death of a young pharaoh, who can't ascend to the afterlife until his pyramid is complete. But first, his ka, or spirit, must help the gods of the realm defend against evil deity Set's minions, bent on stealing their essences. Throwaway plot aside though, all you really need to know is that you're in for a real treat here, with innovations offered aplenty in terms of mid-mission options and general play modes. Then again, we do also have to point out... solid as these bonuses are, one shouldn't expect as much in terms of sweeping enhancements when it comes to basic game fundamentals, stage designs or power-ups.

But first, allow us to summarize the experience for the uninitiated. Once again, you'll slide your mouse left/right to move a winged shooter, located at the bottom of the screen, in horizontal fashion. Your goal, of course, being to prevent onrushing hordes of colored spheres, pushed by evil scarabs around circuitous levels, from reaching a set end-level point. The secret to doing so: Left-clicking (or right-clicking to change the color of ammo being used first) to shoot colored balls upwards, with groups of similarly-hued spheres disappearing when three or more come into contact. Also worth noting: If you destroy a sequence that's bookended by balls of the same color, these remaining objects will be magnetically drawn together, instantly closing the gap and letting you create potentially huge combos.

Audio-visually, little's changed conceptually from the last installment, with brilliant 3D backdrops based on sea serpents, starry constellations and shattered ruins complemented by a sweeping orchestral soundtrack all proving attention-getting as ever. However, several fun new added touches really help flesh out the action, like canopic jars you can collect for access to bonus stages or reflectors off of which balls can be bounced.

Likewise, while gems again fall from the sky for you to collect, they're also accompanied by coins that can be spent between stages upgrading power-ups' effectiveness, or purchasing new ball sets (wood, glass, energy) and snazzier shooters. What's more, a few extra power-ups also join the usual mix of slow, reverse and color cloud-style options, including a sandstorm that destroys tons of spheres and scorpion that skitters along stage pathways annihilating anything it touches.

By far the biggest change in store for series vets, however, is the inclusion of multiple game modes. Playing the campaign-style Adventure, throughout which you'll slowly watch your pyramid grow, expect to encounter various original challenge types. For example, Onslaught mode forces you to destroy randomly re-spawning statues that speed balls' progress through given levels.

On the flip side, puzzle mode gives you all the time you need to clear a stage, but only a set number of spheres with which to do so (although you can always skip these scenarios as desired). Crossing the Nile, conversely, demands that you finish off a scarab at the top of the screen, with several of his buddies running defense by constantly rolling shot-impeding chains of spheres across the landscape below. Survival requires you to stay alive until a set timer runs down. And Treasure Hunter just awards bonus points (required for unlocking certain store-based rewards) by blasting as many scarabs as humanly possible.

Nonetheless, most impressive is the title's overall improved polish and hands-on flow. Suffice it to say that the game looks, handles and moves much slicker than in previous editions, with the designers even going so far as to listen to constructive criticism and fix past complaints, such as issues with the timing when new chains of balls appear.

Granted, these gains are strictly incremental, and hardly the revolution longtime fans had hoped for. And certainly, the difficulty level, even when set to Medium, as most will likely opt for, is taxing to say the least. But honestly, who are we kidding? Suave, sophisticated and sweet a way to kill 15 minutes here and there as Luxor 3 really is, heck... There's no sense wasting time complaining when you could instead be experiencing how addictively engaging the title is for yourself. Sequel, anyone?

absolutely brilliant.all levels really good,1 hour not long enough.will be considering buying luxor 3

Hi ,after too long time I found NEW CHEAT FOR Luxor 3
{in the full game} if you go to
{C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MumboJumbo\Luxor 3\Profiles}
in your pc , you will find there your profile of luxor 3
you can open the profile with Notepad tool , you will
find in the 5th line the AnkhCoin {gold rings} number
you can change them ,example: 5555, you can buy all the store .
{if you but too high number maybe the game not works so save a copy to this file before doing any thing}
other thing , in this file at 38th line you will find your score , you can put there 20,000,000.
last thing if you go to the game files to {PowerupRules}
you can change little things about the Power up tools
example the {cost,duration,Weight,speed modifier,etc}

I have the {PowerupRules} file with nice changes if any body need it please write your e-mail in review or send your e-mail to me :rashad0007@hotmail.com

LUXOR 3 IS FANTASTIC
sound:5 stars :perfect(the effects are brilliant)
graphics:5 stars(just look on the screenshots)
gameplay:5 stars(verry addictive,so many game mode)
just perfect game

It seems much much easier than Luxor 2. Enjoyable.

I really like this game. The Puzzle levels are my Favorite! I wish there would be another sequel to the game. The first Luxor was great, Luxor AR, was even better, Luxor 2 was amazing, but LUXOR 3, that is the kicker. Every time I come from work and come from school I sit on my computer and play for hours. I sometimes even play against my own sister to see who gets the highest score. The game is so sweet, they really pulled it off!

Solutions for levels 10,28.38,40 and 42 plus a powerup guide can be found at http://luxor3.casualgameguides.com.

I love this game, and am now working my way through the Insane level. I LOVE the look and feel of this game, I love the power ups and the puzzles, it is really a great game and am totally hooked.

However, the new game seems to be easier than Luxor 2. I am not a gamer but a middle-aged Mom, and I've only gotten stumped on three levels (meaning, I didn't win them the first time). I wish the game was a tad more difficult. The other complaint I have is that they need to have more levels of power ups to purchase. Once you've bought them all, you simply rack up coins but have nothing to do with them.

Also, the puzzle mode is a bit uneven -- some are really, really easy, and of course there is one that is so hard that someone posted the cheat on YouTube (thank you, kind sir!).

All in all, I totally love this game -- it's keeping me from doing my work, but oh well!

WAAAAAAAAA... exelente juego, es adictivo tanto en el trabajo como en la casa, hasta mi esposa le encanta... y ahora con la lineas modificadas (5-38) uuuf ni te cuento...
Simplemente Fabuloso!!!! =) .

English version: great game!!

an visto o conosen otro idioma menos expresivo que el ingles??? juajajajajaja!!

Enjoying the demo But I can't solve Puzzle Level 26 Luxor3.
Can someone give me the solution?

PLEASE???

hey
im stuck at level 34 on puzzle mode
anyone HELPPP

maybe could that help you : if you lose in any puzzle mode , will appears a window have three choices the third one is {skip level} you can pass it with out the solution

I went to the luxor3 casualgamesguides.com and tried to use the solution for 10-2. I can not get it to work. I've tried variations of what they suggested also.

Hi rachad0007, try replacen step 5 with step 6....i tried and it worked!!!
Im happy!! at last the only level that had me banging my brains out!!

sorry the tip was for James B Pace....i made a mistake!

I need the solution to puzzle level 35 please.....I have been on it for days and just can't seem to figure it out!

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