Developer: PopCap
Price: FREE
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4
Bejeweled games have always been very simple affairs. It’s difficult for them not to be really. The core concept is simple: match gems together in order to gain a high score. One sentence, one perfect explanation of what’s involved. Sure, there’s the addition of power ups, puzzle modes and time trials but the basic idea is the same throughout the titles. Bejeweled Blitz distills that down to the most basic point behind the concept: quick bursts of gameplay in order to achieve the best score possible.
The blitz in the title concerns the one minute in which players get to play the game. There’s no sign of any other mode. It’s all about those 60 seconds. It’s a format that’s gradually grown with PopCap Games, thanks to the Facebook and console versions of the same name. Zuma has had a similar concept change via Facebook and it’s been immensely successful.
In the case of Bejeweled Blitz, it works pretty well. Taking seconds to set up, it’s the ideal game for those with limited time. I was pleasantly surprised at how many times I returned to play just one more game. There are power ups available that can be used by spending coins. These provide boosts such as starting with a 2x multiplier or by adding five seconds to the clock. Coins is where the freemium element comes into play as, while they can be earned slowly, they can also be bought with real money. It’s not essential though so for those who just want the free version, there’s no need to stump up any cash.
Tying into the Facebook game, Bejeweled Blitz uses the player’s Facebook friends to compare scores but there is a way to play offline for those who don’t use the social network. It has the added bonus of ensuring that it’s a seamless service for those who regularly play the Facebook game.
At the grand price of nothing, match three fans would be silly not to download Bejeweled Blitz. It’s understandably simple but fun nonetheless and there’s no real need to purchase anything to enhance that. Bejeweled Blitz is simple but to the point which is just what anyone needs for bite sized gaming.