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This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime.

Review: Bejeweled 2 Deluxe

At a Glance

ESRB Rating: E - Everyone
My Rating: Everyone
Genre: Match 3
License: Commercial
Fun-O-Meter:
Release Year: 2006
Reviewed Version: 1.1
Review Published On: August 27th, 2016
Played on: Martha

Available on:

Windows
MacOS

Available from:

Steam

Areas of Concern:
  • Nothing of note


How to Save and Pause:

Each player has their progress stored in their own profile. To be more specific, Classic Mode remembers where you left off automatically, but can only remember one game at a time. Thus, starting a new game erases your previous game.

Puzzle Mode also records your progress automatically, though it only remembers which puzzles youve completed. Partially solved puzzles are forgotten the moment you leave the level.

Time needed per session:

As this edition of the series takes a bit longer to load than the original game, Id suggest giving yourself a minimum of 10 minutes per session.

Does this game pose issues for Christian players?

No - this is a great game for Christians
Even though the original formula has been expanded upon, theres still nothing offensive in this game.

Screenshots

[view screenshot]
Warping to a new level

[view screenshot]
More classic Match 3 gameplay

[view screenshot]
A puzzling situation



Game Overview

The first Bejeweled set the ball rolling, and now the sequel improves on the popular Match 3 style gameplay by adding the ability to create powerups. There are several different powerups, each of which are made by matching large groups of gems in a single swap. By using these items carefully, you can clear levels in a much flashier and awesome way.

Another interesting development is the addition of a puzzle mode. In this part of the game, you travel from planet to planet, solving puzzles created from carefully arranged groups of gems. From there, the gameplay is roughly the same as your the classic game: match gems of the same type, and clear the grid. There is a limit to how many swaps you can do per level, but you dont need to worry about being stuck for long. There are plenty of hints available to guide you to the solution for each puzzle. Once youve solved enough puzzles on a planet, you can engage the warp drive and continue on to another planet in the galaxy. Additionally, this mode features an actual ending, though you dont need to complete every puzzle in order to view it.

However, while this might sound like a fun little game, Id still suggest skipping this one in favor of Bejeweled 3, as I feel its the best game of the series.

Points of Interest

Just as easy to learn and play as ever

One of the strong points about this series is that the games rules can be learned within a few minutes. Each of the games three modes follow the same basic rules, so you dont have to worry about learning anything more.

Puzzles to tease your brain

The puzzle mode features a total of 80 puzzles. This provides plenty of challenge for players that want one. Of course, the hints and ability to skip to another level ensure that youll never be stuck too long on any one level. Finishing the puzzle mode earns you a little ending cutscene, and to be honest, its sort of a mindscrew.

Groovy level transitions

One of Bejeweled 2s new features is a fancy level transition. Instead of clearing the grid and presenting you with another, youll go from one level to another by flying through a colorful rainbow wormhole. This will be elaborated on in the Puzzle mode, and Bejeweled 3 improves on it.

It plugs its own sequel

Once the credits are done rolling, theres a line telling the player to watch out for Bejeweled 3, which is said to be coming soon. Its strange for a game to plug its own sequel. Now that the sequel has been out for almost a decade, youd think this message wouldve been patched out. On the plus side, the next game came out four years after this one was released, so its not like they both came out at the same time.

Concerns and Issues

You still cant get cleaner than this

Even if you counting the weird ending to the Puzzle Mode, there simply isnt anything offensive to be found in this game.