Bejeweled 2

Bejeweled 2
Developer(s)	PopCap Games, Astraware (ports)
Publisher(s)	PopCap Games, Sony Online Entertainment (PSN)
Designer(s)	Jason Kapalka
Series	Bejeweled
Engine	PopCap Games Framework
Version	1.1 (2007)
Platform(s)	PC (Windows, Mac OS X), Browser (Flash), PDA (Palm OS, Windows Mobile, iPhone OS), Xbox 360 (XBLA), iPod, PlayStation 3 (PSN)
Release date(s)	1.0 (November 5, 2004; PC, Browser) (November 22, 2005; Xbox Live Arcade) (September 12, 2006; iPod classic) (July 3, 2008; iPhone, iPod touch) (January 29, 2009; PlayStation 3)
Genre(s)	Puzzle game
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone (E)
System requirements	OS: Win 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista. Memory: 128 MB RAM. DirectX: 7.0. Processor: Pentium II, 350MHz or faster. Mac OS X 10.2.8
Input methods	Keyboard, Mouse, Gamepad, Stylus, Click wheel, Touch screen

Bejeweled 2 is a free web-based game, sequel to Bejeweled, developed and published by PopCap Games. In 2004 Bejeweled 2 Deluxe was released. They both add extra game modes and features to the game. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, like all PopCap titles, is available on a "try before you buy" basis. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe was released for the Xbox 360 as a downloadable Xbox Live Arcade game on November 22, 2005 for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD). Popcap also released a version for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch in 2008, which is available from the App Store. Bejeweled 2 was also released on the PlayStation Network on January 29, 2009.

Bejeweled 2 also features various secret gameplay modes that can be accessed by beating levels of Classic, Puzzle, Endless and Action modes. The game was named the 2001 Puzzle Game of the Year by Computer Gaming World^[1]

Gameplay

The objective of the game is to swap one gem with an adjacent one to form a chain of three or more gems. When such a chain is created, the gems disappear, causing randomly generated gems to fall from the top to take the gem's place. Sometimes, falling gems automatically line up, causing chain reactions. This is called a cascade. There are several different modes of gameplay available.

Classic

The player tries to match gems together, and the resulting matches contribute to a level up bar at the bottom of the page. When the bar is filled, the player is warped onward to the next level. The game ends when the player runs out of moves.

Action

Action is the new name for the original Bejeweled game's timed mode. The level begins with the level up bar halfway filled, which slowly depletes, giving the player limited time to complete the level. In action, the point values for matches are much higher. There is always at least one move that can be made and the game ends when the level up bar is empty.

Puzzle

Puzzle Mode is made up of several different scenarios. Each scenario can be solved, by clearing the level of gems, by a certain combination of moves. There are also several unique gems. These include Bombs, and Rocks.

Endless

Endless is an untimed, unscored, and never ending version of Bejeweled 2. The player can make moves at whatever pace they wish, without the worry of running out of moves. This game is intended to be relaxing or for beginners. At game level 280, Endless offers up an additional new game called "Finity."

Secret modes

In Bejeweled 2, several secret game modes can be unlocked.

• By reaching Level 18 in Classic Mode, a game mode called Twilight is unlocked. In this mode, the gravity changes with each move, alternating between gems falling from the top, and then from the bottom.
• By reaching Level 9 in the Action Mode, a game mode called Hyper is unlocked. Hyper is like Action, but much faster paced, being 4 times faster. However; the cascade continues if a legal move is found within half-a-second of the previous cascade; even if the gems have settled.
• By completing puzzle mode, the game mode Cognito is unlocked. Cognito is like puzzle mode, but there are points and a separate high scores list, and you are unable to use hints without getting penalized 0 points for one level.
• By completing level 280 in Endless Mode, a game mode called Finity is unlocked. It is like Action except that there are rocks and bombs incorporated into the game field and points are awarded only for gems that are destroyed by an explosion or Hyper Cube reaction.
• When you select all of the game modes (Classic, Action, Endless, and Puzzle) with your pointer in a circle about 6-9 times, you automatically start the hidden "Original Mode". This is the same as Classic, however you do not have hyper cubes or power gems.

Gems

Normal gems come in several different colors and shapes. Like a square and sideways squares. There are also several other different types of gems. These include gems only available in puzzle, and gems caused by matches of more than three gems:

• Power gems - These gems appear to be glowing brightly. When matched, they explode, causing massive point gain. They are formed by matching either four gems in a line, or five gems in two intersecting lines of three (i.e. a cross, a T, or an L).
• Hyper cubes - These appear as colorful vortices. When swapped with a gem, all the gems of that color on the board are destroyed. Hyper cubes are formed when a match of five gems in a line is made.
• Bombs - Bombs are exclusive to Puzzle Mode. These have the appearance of underwater mines with timers on them. When the timer gets down to zero, an explosion occurs, shattering all the gems around it.
• Rocks - Rocks are exclusive to Puzzle Mode. These appear as miniature boulders, and can only be cleared off the board by hyper cubes or explosions caused by power cubes or bombs.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to the game is composed by Finnish musician Peter Hajba, known by his demoscene nickname Skaven.

References

External links

• Official Bejeweled 2 Homepage
• Online Flash version
• Reflexive Bejeweled Reviews
• www.personal-games.de | German Version