Archive for February, 2009

 
I’m one of those casual gamers who is always engaged by the Bejeweled experience. When I thought the iPhone version of Bejeweled was the greatest thing since sliced bread and it couldn’t get any better, PopCap Games continued to richen the Bejeweled experience by releasing a Facebook version of the game, Bejeweled Blitz.

Bejeweled Blitz takes the Bejeweled 2 formula and allows Facebook users to play through a timed (1:00 minute) round. After a minute, your round ends and your score is updated on your high score table (along with the scores of your Facebook friends who are also playing).

From playing quite a few rounds of Bejeweled Blitz, I have come up with a few tips and observations that help me accumulate my high scores.

1. Play often and play quickly:

Bejeweled Blitz adds the Speed score feature that is vital if you wish to increase your overall score. For ever successful match of 3 of more gems that you make, the Speed score will increase in increments of 100, until it reaches 1000. For your first successful matching, you’ll get 100 extra points. If you’re quick enough to make another matching right after, you’ll get 200 extra points. When you reach 1000 points, you will be awarded 1000 extra points for every successful QUICK match that you make.

Be warned: if you wait too long and don’t make a successful match, you’ll lose the Speed score multiplier and you’ll have to play quickly to rebuild it.

2. Get those Bonus Multipliers:

Bejeweled Blitz also adds the Multiplier feature that adds a multiplier gem to the game-board if you manage to cascade 4 gem matching in a row. For your first successful cascade, you’ll get a 2x multiplier that doubles the amount of points you gain after you clear the multiplier off the board. The next successful cascade will get you a 3x multiplier and so on. These multipliers are critical for accumulating a high score in one minute.

From observation, if the multiplier is near the top of the game-board and there are no similar gems near it to eliminate it from the board, try the following. Removes gems near the multiplier and the new gems that fall down onto the game-board (more often than not) will yield a gem or two that will help you eliminate the multiplier.

Also, if you have a power gem on the screen near the multiplier, just blow it up. That will save you having to match the multiplier with gems of the same color if none are available.

3. Turn the Sound Off:
The sound effects that play when you’re only left with a few seconds of time can easily break your concentration. I usually play with the sound off and don’t worry about the audio time warnings at the end of the round.

4. Don’t Look at Your Score:

This only distracts you when you’re playing. You’ll know your score after the minute passes, so concentrate on matching gems.

5. Have Fun:

Why overthink it? I just did that for you. Enjoy your Bejeweled Blitz experience !