Free - to - bid game often appear appealing , but it ’s difficult to acknowledge at a glimpse whether the line model is pernicious and fun ruining , or reasonable and worth pump a few bucks into . With Freemium Field Test , we ’ll take a recent free - to - play iOS game , put it through its paces , and allow you have intercourse if it ’s really deserving your time ( and money ) .
current shift certain jewel around a rotate way in some stages — plus you ’ve got butterflies to manage with .
Bejeweled is an out-and-out classic in the lucifer - three puzzle genre , and developer PopCap is a insouciant gaming legend for that series , Peggle , Plants vs Zombies , and other alluring creations . But in recent year , the dominant mobile puzzle experience has beenCandy Crush Saga , with its grids of colorful confect icons , the circumscribed moves appropriate to work out each puzzle , and the unnumberable agio power - ups dangled in your face .
The number of Candy Crush clones on the App Store is truly nauseating — and nothing wee-wee my eye roll hard than draw a PR pitch on an “ innovative ” or “ originative ” new puzzler that just copies King ’s successful formula . With that in nous , Bejeweled Starsisn’t all that innovative , as the core blueprint takes after Candy Crush and it ’s a freemium experience through and through .
But PopCap ’s late bejewel spinoff does put some originative tweak on the familiar recipe , plus it ’s ultra - svelte and has a much friendlier ramp - up than any Candy Crush game to date . In fact , I ’d say it ’s the beneficial Candy Crush - esque puzzler around for anyone who is new to the game style — or was scare off by earlier try .
The pitch
rightfully , Bejeweled Stars is much more a freemium Candy Crush experience than a classic Bejeweled one , which seems to be baffling some other App Store reviewers . In every stratum , you get a new grid of gem to clear in like - coloured lines of three or more , four - patch lame , or five - small-arm L soma , and you must discharge the objective lens within the provided number of moves . Otherwise , it ’s game over — or yield to continue .
Cloud chunks can be dragged and dropped between locations , letting you advantageously shift jewel as needed .
Other scene are familiar , too , such as need to vindicated gems over certain spaces on the control panel , as well as earn special explosive piece for large gem mating . And there are stone tile that can only be make by detonate those special gems nearby , which sum a chip of location strategy into the mixing . But while all that stuff is adjudicate - and - lawful , PopCap ’s various accession help liven up the experience .
For illustration , you ’ll quickly meet stages that boast moving currents of gems , with the river shifting all of the float gems one space after each move . Elsewhere , there are part of the control panel on cloud that you’re able to move between multiple spots — which convey those gem along with , which adds another consideration . And you might need to rescue butterfly stroke jewel that go up up the board with each new move ; let one escape ends your game .
These elements can complicate the nub match - three experience a bit , especially once the secret plan starts stack objectives — for example , clear a certain phone number of stone tile while also rescuing butterfly . But surprisingly , Bejeweled Stars has one of the fluid difficultness curved shape I ’ve seen on a biz like this . I run through more than 20 stage before I even felt lightly take exception , and then it was many more level before I had to play one multiple multiplication to continue .
Contrast that toCandy Crush Jelly Saga , in which the 20th level felt like an impenetrable brick rampart ; sure not the first time I ’ve felt entirely obstruct by a Candy Crush biz and pushed to spend money on continues and might - ups . Bejeweled Stars has n’t nudge me to that point after polish off about 50 point so far , but it certainly has its freemium hooks .
The catch
Bejeweled Stars has power - ups , but they ’re crafted using earned gem rather than simply purchased .
Like most gratuitous - to - gaming puzzlers , Bejeweled Stars has an energy arrangement that allot five hearts to use at any given meter , with one glow up with each grade expiration . Each heart regenerates in 20 minutes apiece , or you may ante up in - biz coins to refill the whole measure immediately if you ’re in the eye of an extended play session . coin are also used for continues , letting you bribe five surplus move at the conclusion of a stage .
Bejeweled Stars has power - ups , but unlike Candy Crush — which gives you a couple of each to try and then tempts you to buy any further items — you could craft these using gem earned through period of play . Each takes a while to finish craft , graze from 15 minutes to 4 hours , and your crafting station can only tackle one project at a prison term . course , you could make up coin to hie up that tick timer , or even to corrupt any gem demand for a special item recipe .
tap a Facebook chum for life is a pull , but so is spending about $ 2 Charles Frederick Worth of coins . Which can you inhabit with more ?
Elsewhere , the plot provides free treasure chests that unlock a few hours after you complete a level , and you may pay coins to change the rarity of the chest , trust to stop up with a better haulage in the process . you could also buy thorax outright from the same store that sells coin packs . Stars also grant a free day-to-day golden ball from a goofy cartoon chicken , which can earn you gems , plus you may craft extra provender tokens to win even more reward .
In scant , there area lotof shipway you could drop coins in Bejeweled Stars , and EA wo n’t bat an eye at sell you large bundles of them : you could get 110 coins for $ 2 ranging up to 3,350 coin for $ 50 . Continuing a grade costs 50 coin while a full vim bar refill is 100 , so you could get a gumption of how much each task would cost you in real money if you choose to partake .
What strikes me about all of those coin requests is that while plenteous , none find especially crucial . Even more so than Candy Crush , you’re able to make consistent progress in Bejeweled Stars if you play in short explosion and do n’t allow irritation push you towards pulling out your wallet . candidly , Stars does n’t have a hatful of truly frustrating mo , at least not in the first 50 - or - so levels , although I ’m trusted the late play does continue to gradually increase the challenge .
Just to see how it played a role , I spent $ 10 on a battalion of 575 coins , which made me more potential to squelch some coin for a continue when I was a few moves by from winning a stage , or pay for an energy refill rather than look out the recharge or bother my Facebook friends .
The verdict
But really , I could have done without the in - app purchase : Bejeweled Stars may not be a sodding evolution of this particular fashion of compeer - three mystifier , but it rule a better Libra between fun and defeat than the musical style ’s lead franchise . PopCap has stumbled in this space before , aslast yr ’s Peggle Blast depict , but those problem are n’t so prevalent here .
Between the fun gameplay tweaks , glossy graphics , bouncy aura , and the more gradual learning curve , Bejeweled Stars sees PopCap create the definitive translation of the Candy Crush formula . If we ’re all favourable , more developers will watch from this kinder , friendly approach shot to free - to - dally puzzler intention rather than the frustrating difficulty walls and aggressive monetization push button witness in many contemporary .
