BEJEWELED 2 (PS3)

BEJEWELED 2 (PS3-PSN)
PopCap Games/Sony Online Entertainment
PEGI Rating: 3+
Out Now

IF you’re into the phenomenon that is ‘Bejeweled’ – then this port of the sequel available at Playstation Network should be right up your street.
Even if you’ve played previous versions of the game to death, the addiction still quickly takes hold – complimented by the PS3’s razor-sharp but simple graphics – and you’ll soon find yourself hooked on one of casual gaming’s finest ambassadors for hours to come.
For those of you who have been living in a hole for the past eight years since the inaugural game was released, the former Puzzle Game of Year winner embellishes on other classic puzzlers such as ‘Tetris’ and ‘Columns’ by swapping gems to complete a chain and make them disappear.
Whilst the Classic (or Original) version of the game has proved to be popular the sequel introduces expansions on the normal themes by adding different gaming scenarios with bombs and rocks, along with a never-ending version which is perfect for beginners.
From the get-go ‘Bejeweled 2’ boasts four gameplay modes – Classic, Action, Puzzle and Endless – with four more secret modes that can be unlocked by veterans of the game – Twilight, Hyper, Cognito and Finity.
The 1080i hi-def capabilities of the PS3 aren’t obviously going to be stretched by this type of game – and therefore the scenic, mostly planetary-esque, backgrounds are simply generic, if a little uninspiring.
After being around for nearly a decade the premise may now seem a bit dated – and its golden years maybe have just passed by – but I’ll be surprised at any gamer out there who can’t have some fun by shape-shifting to developer PopCap’s mind-boggling work of genius.
So it simply comes down to how much of a ‘Bejeweled’ fan you are – if you’re a beginner give it a try, if you’re hardcore it’s a must. And if you are feel free to add an extra mark.

ESP rating: 3/5

Gavin Miller