Review: Restaurant Rush

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

After gaining success in cooking burgers, Heidi want to open a cooking school. But to do that, she will have to prove that she can also cook other cuisines besides burgers.

Gameplay
You serve dishes by matching the ingredients on the board. Each dish needs different types and different amount of ingredients. Once you've cooked a dish, you have to serve it to the customers and collect the money. The faster you serve a dish, the more money you make. You can also add a soup or drink to the dish for more money. If you serve a few customers at the same time, you will get a chain bonus which means more money.

Every once in a while, you will get a chance to enter a cooking competition. In the competition, you have to serve dishes a few times before the end of the timer.

After each level, you can choose to buy upgrades with the money you have earned. You can buy recipes for new dishes, new music or better ingredients. The pricer dishes will need more ingredients to complete but they also earn you more money while improving the quality of ingredients will earn you more money when you serve a dish that uses the improved ingredient.

Thoughts
This is a fast paced game that's really fun. The tutorial does a good job of of teaching me about the game. It's fun to see all sorts of wacky characters come to the restaurant. There's also lots of sound effects in the game which not only makes it fun but it also helps me in playing the game. I can depend on the audio cues to know when the dish is ready to serve. I also like that there are many different types of upgrade options for me to choose.

Verdict ★★★★★
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Review: Season Match: Curse of the Witch Crow

Type: Match 3, Hidden Object
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

The months have been captured by the evil Witch Crow to stop the coming of the new year. It is up to you to free them so spring can arrive.

Gameplay
The aim of the match 3 games are often to break the big block of ice at the bottom of the screen. To get to the ice, you have to break other barriers around it. Depending on the stage, you may or may not need to break all the barriers. Each month that you have rescued will have their own unique powers up to help you in the game. You will also play a mini hidden object game where you have to find a number of a certain object hidden in the picture.

Thoughts
Playing the match 3 games is fun. It is satisfying to set off the power ups and see them blast, destroy or blow away the gems. The hidden object game is easy and I do not have problems with it. While this is a pretty good match 3 game, what I like most about it is the artwork. The months are pretty funky dressers and I like looking at the surreal backgrounds.

Verdict ★★★★★
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Review: Woodville Chronicles

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Build up a town in this match 3 game.

Gameplay
Play the match 3 games to earn money to build up the town. You have a choice between timed or untimed game. At any time, you can choose between 3 types of gameplay - group, chain or swap. After each game, you can choose to play a bonus game to earn more money or continue on with another match 3 game. The aim of the bonus game is to move the key to the keyhole along a determined path. You cannot move the key directly so the only way to move it is to destory the stones beneath so that the key will drop downwards.

Thoughts
Woodville Chronicles is a bright, cheery game. What is most interesting is that I can select from the three different types of gameplay at any time I wish, even in the middle of a game. Doing so resets the whole board but not the score so I can still continue on with the game. Building up the town is quite boring though. Apart for earning enough money to buy the buildings offered, there is not much else to do.

Verdict ★★★
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Review: The Legend of the Golden Tome

Type: Match 3, Hidden Object
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

The Golden Tome of Knowledge contains all the knowledge of the druids and is kept hidden. Guided by an old druid, you the chosen one, has to find the tome.

Gameplay
This is mainly a match 3 game but there is also quite a bit of hidden object games as well. In the story mode, you are guided by an old druid who will act as a narrator. You have to match three or more of the same color. Match four and you will be given extra points while matching five buys you extra time. The goal of each match 3 game varies a little. Sometimes you have to clear all the blocked up areas while sometimes you have to fill up the pots of paints, each representing a particular color. Power ups will appear on the board but you can't use until you have collected them. To collect them, you have to get them to the bottom of the board.

You have to play some hidden object games along the way. In fact when you start up the game, you are presented with a hidden object game before the match 3 game. You will play each background a few times before moving on to a new location.

Thoughts
I really like the old druid that accompanies me throughout the game. In the beginning, he helps me get a hang of the basics. He is helpful and encouraging, praising me after I passed each level. I know that it's all voice acting but it is nice when he sounds like he really means it.

The match 3 boards come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes I get one big board and it's usually the easiest to play. Other times, I get strangely shaped boards or mini little boards which is harder. That's when the power ups come into use.

The hidden object games are a mixture of easy and hard. It can be easy because the picture is not crowded with other hidden items that is not necessary. Each time only the items that need to be found are hidden in the picture. So sometimes I just need to look for what is new. However, they can also be hard because the items can be hidden behind other objects in the picture and only a small portion can be seen.

Verdict ★★★
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Review : Deepica

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Clear the living coral to reach the sunken treasure.

Gameplay
The colorful corals are clustered around a pendant-like object in the center of the screen. You can shoot a coral from the bar at the bottom of the screen to make matches of three and above. You can also bounce the coral off the top of the screen. However the coral you shoot out has a very short time limit. If it doesn't make a match of three and above in the first few seconds, it will become inert and won't create any reaction. You win the level when you have cleared all the corals.

Thoughts
The living corals are quite cute and looked similar to Chuzzle from PopCap Games and I can't shake the feeling that I've played similar games before. What was unique was that the corals are not fixed in position but move when they are hit by another object. Sometimes I hit them so hard that the force caused them to break off from the rest and rotate around the center for a while before reattaching themselves back.

There is not much of a storyline and no cut scenes in between stages. After a while it can get repetitive as I am just doing the same thing over and over again. Even though there are slight variations in each level, it does not quite get rid of the repetitious feeling.

Verdict ★★★
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Review: Cursed House

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Charge an ancient amulet to clear a house of evil spirits.

Gameplay
Each stage of the game has its own goal eg. getting a key to fall from the top to open a chest, breaking runes or killing bug-like demons by getting them to fall into the fire.All these are achieved by matching three or more of the same type on the board. Match four of the same type and you will fill up the magic bonus while five of the same type will fill up the super bonus. The magic bonus will destroy what is on the board while the super bonus will deal directly with the goals. There will also be obstacles like blocks of ice or stone which you will need to break.

Thoughts
Don't be fooled by the name, this is not a spooky or scary game. Although this game will make you keeping doing the same thing i.e. match three or more of the same type, the many different goals keeps the game interesting. I find that I have to apply slightly different strategies when I am trying to kill the bug-like demons in comparison to destroying the runes. The game quality is good but there's no story or explanation about the house or why the amulet is the solution, so it can feel a bit dull and repetitive.

Verdict ★★★★
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Review: Paradise Quest

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Dr Evan Finch is tasked to restore the wildlife of the Isabela island in Galapagos archipelago following drastic climate changes.

Gameplay
To restore the island, you have to collect resources by matching relevant items in a match 3 game. In each match 3 level, you have to break the seals surrounding artifacts to end the level. You can obtain power ups by clearing the sandy areas. After each match 3 level, the artifacts will turn into parts of a jigsaw puzzle showing an area on the island. Complete the jigsaw to open a new habitat and the opportunity to photo returning animals. Once you have gathered enough resources, you can choose to buy or upgrade certain areas, which in turn will attract the wildlife back to the island.

Thoughts
I found this to be a fun and educational game. There are beautiful pictures of Isabela and each animal has a short writeup which can be accessed anything in the journal. One thing I find really cool is that the pictures of the animals in the journal are using the photos that I have taken instead of just a generic picture of the animal. I am also shown various types of plants and what animals the plant would attract if I restore it. There is also a bit of story where Dr Finch finds strange pieces of artifacts during his task to restore the island.

I can chose between having a timed or untimed game. It is good that the developers included this option for people who like to play it at a more relaxed pace. But I found the time limit to be quite generous. The main goal of each level is to obtain the artifacts but there are also optional targets which I can meet to earn more points.

The game is mainly a match 3 game with some additional elements that keeps it fun. Unlike many match 3 games, only a portion of the board is shown and I move along the board by matching items in the direction I want to go. If I want to go up, I will have to match items in top portion of the screen. Each match will move the board a little. There are also other challenges like a board that is shrouded in darkness and as I move along, I have to keep lighting lamps to unveil the board. All this challenges adds a little bit of difficulty to the game but none is too frustrating.

Verdict ★★★★★
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Review: Burger Battle

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Follow the blue-eyed burger cook as he defeats rivals and save the princess.

Gameplay
Strictly speaking, this isn't a match 3 game as you have to match at least four of the same color. Unlike many of the match 3 games where you click on two different colors to swap them, you have to highlight connecting colors. The connecting color can be either above, below, left, right or diagonal. Every time you get four of the same colors, you get an ingredient that corresponds to the color. For example, matching brown would give you one meat while matching orange would give you an egg. To defeat an opponent, you have to feed him with burgers made from the ingredients you have gathered until he topples over from too much food. There is a bar beside the characters which acts like a life bar except in this case, it shows how much more you have to go before you faint from overeating.

Thoughts
This game has big cute graphics and is suitable for young children as well. Everything is cute, from the opponents to the colors you have to match. There is no violence in this game as you don't fight your opponents, you overfeed them instead! You will see your opponents getting fatter and fatter until they finally topple over.

I find that this game lacks a bit of polish although none is serious enough to break the game. There are some slight grammatical errors and the tutorial is a bit boring as you have to do a lot of reading before you can start to play the game. You are not introduced to the shop function until you actually click on the shop button which is easily missed by someone (like me) who just wants to get on with the game.

Verdict ★★★
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Review: Puzzle Quest 2

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Puzzle Quest 2 takes the winning formula of the first Puzzle Quest game and improves on it. The hero has to travel into the depths on a tower buried in the ice to investigate an ancient evil.

Gameplay
Choose from 4 hero types - Assassin, Barbarian, Sorcerer and Templar. Each Hero type has a male and female version. As far as I can tell, it is only the appearance that are different, there are no differences in the stats between male and female. Each hero class has their own strengths and limitations eg. Barbarian can wield the strongest two-handed weapons while Assassins can use the strongest poisons. What you choose will depend on your playing style.

Your characters walks around the Verloren village near the tower and accepts quests. You can also buy, sell and upgrade equipment in Verloren. There is an overview map of whole level in the bottom-right corner. Each level is divided in to rooms or areas, to exit a room or go to a different area, you have to click on the arrows on the ground. Most areas have a few enemies which block your way or are guarding a treasure chest. You will have to fight them to progress on, you can't avoid them.

Fighting is done in match 3 style. You and your opponent take turns to match a gem on the board. Matched colored gems contributed to your mana for your to cast spells. Hands represent action points which are for using the items equipped in your hero's hands. Match skulls and you will cause damage to your opponent.

Thoughts
Puzzle Quest 2 takes place in a smaller area. Instead of a whole country to explore, the only civilization is the village of Verloren which is located near an ancient tower buried underneath the ice. These are the only two accessible areas in the game. Instead of exploring horizontally across a huge map in Puzzle Quest, I am now exploring vertically into the depths of the tower. There are many levels in the tower, housing a variety of creatures so there is always something at each level. I met a lot of enemies and some friends while exploring the tower, and not all of them are human.

There are many rooms on each level of the tower so even with the mini map, it is not always easy to figure out where to go. Luckily, the developers have made it easy by having arrows to guide me to my active quest. I really like this feature because I don't not have waste time wandering around. Portals at various locations allows speedy teleportation back to the village or other parts of the tower so I don't have to trek all the way back up the tower just to go back to the village to sell/buy equipment.

I find that the RPG elements are more tightly integrated into the game this time. I love the improvements the developers had done to the graphics and sound effects. The characters look better and the backgrounds are more detailed. There are also voices for various characters and most of the time they sounded like they should. I always get a chuckle whenever I hear the grunting sounds made by an orc. The only voice I didn't quite like was the narrator's voice which sounded like an old, old man.

Overall, Puzzle Quest 2 is a very addictive game, perhaps even more than its predecessor because I find the game more enjoyable this time round.

Verdict ★★★★★

Review: Jewels

Type: Match 3
Platform: Android phone
Price: Free

Jewels is a free match 3 game on Android. It reminds me of the popular PopCap game Bejeweled. There are many Bejeweled clones on the market but most of them are not as polished as Jewels. The developer obviously put some thought into making this game. There are three modes of play - normal, timed and infinite. You can save the scores locally on your phone or submit it to the global scoreboard, but you can't do both. I liked the clean graphics and sounds, especially the sound effects of gems dropping down and when I matched three gems.

Verdict ★★★★★

Review: Puzzle Quest

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

Puzzle Quest is a fun game where you defeat monsters by matching similar color gems.

Gameplay
You start by choosing a hero. Each character class will have their own specific strength and weakness as well as the spells or abilities available. After playing for a while, you will chose which house you are affiliated to. This will also give you additional bonus. Like in a RPG, there is a main quest and various side quests. You can also recruit sidekicks and mounts, which will give you extra bonuses.

The story is told through cut scenes like this

As the story progresses, more locations will appear on the map. You may encounter enemies while on the way to the next location or at the location itself. Battles are fought using by matching similar color gems and are turn-based. Matching the skulls will damage your opponent while gems will give you mana for casting spells. Each spell will need different amounts of colored mana to cast. Match coins to get money to buy better equipment or build up your fortress.

Thoughts
The mix of RPG elements and match 3 gameplay is refreshing. It is no wonder that when this game came out three years ago, it quickly became a hit. It is very addictive and I often played until the early hours of the morning. It is satisfying to see lightning bolts shoot out and hit my opponent whenever I matched a skull. For those who just want to battle monsters, you can do so. For those who prefer a little extra, there are many other things to do. You can train your mount, collect money from your territories or forge better equipments.

I played through the main quest and all the side quests until the very last boss. I find him too difficult to beat and after fighting him a few times, I gave up. It was as if there is a sudden jump in difficulty at the very end. Or maybe it means that I have to train up my character more. But grinding in any form is seldom fun so I stopped in the end. Maybe I'll replay it someday.

Verdict ★★★★
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Review: Fill Up 2

Type: Match 3
Platform: PC
Price: USD 6.99 from Big Fish Games

I'm puzzled by Fill Up 2. Judging from the name, the first game must have been popular enough for the developers to create a sequel. Yet from what little I've played of the game, I found it quite boring.

Gameplay
The player matches up vehicles to the vehicles already in the lots. Get three of the same type and color and they will disappear. A few vehicles will wait near the lots for the player to move them. The player only need to move one vehicle and the game will automatically assign the rest. The money earned can be used to built up a town and unlock later stages.

Thoughts
As I've said earlier, I found the game quite boring. It wasn't very fun and I was just mechanically moving the vehicles to match them. The game wasn't good at automatically assigning vehicles into their lots and it often screwed up. I supposed it could be that the developers wanted to add some difficulty to the game by having some elements which the player cannot control, but it was just frustrating in the end. I keep wishing that I could disable this feature as it just wasn't doing a good job. Finally I quit the game well under the one hour limit for the free trial. I was also irritated by the annoying "boing" sound whenever I matched three or more vehicles. It was grating on the ears after a while.

Building up a town with money that the player had earned in the game was supposed to be a satisfying experience. It a reward for the effort the player had put in playing the game. But sadly it was just as boring and mechanical as the rest of the game. The game had already decided what building should be placed at which location and everything was arranged neatly in a boring grid pattern. The player has no say apart from deciding when to build them.

Verdict ★★
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