Bejeweled 2 Deluxe
- August 30, 2006
- PopCap Games, Inc.
- 37h median play time
Bejeweled 2 Deluxe is a captivating puzzle game where players match and switch vibrant jewels to create cascading combos. It offers four exciting modes: Classic, Action, Puzzle, and Endless, each presenting unique challenges and rewards. With its mesmerizing visuals, immersive soundtrack, and progressively difficult levels, this game provides hours of engrossing entertainment.
Reviews
- Bejeweled 2 offers a nostalgic experience with its classic match-3 gameplay and a variety of game modes, including Puzzle and Endless, which provide both challenge and relaxation.
- The soundtrack is highly praised, described as beautiful and atmospheric, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- The game is free from microtransactions and barriers that often plague modern titles, allowing players to enjoy the game without interruptions or pressure to spend money.
- Some players feel that the graphics are outdated and do not hold up well compared to more modern games in the genre.
- There are complaints about technical issues, such as crashes and compatibility problems with newer hardware, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Many reviews suggest that while Bejeweled 2 is enjoyable, it is often overshadowed by its successor, Bejeweled 3, which is considered to have better gameplay mechanics and features.
- music78 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its beautiful, atmospheric, and relaxing qualities that enhance the overall gameplay experience. The soundtrack, often described as a blend of industrial synth and vaporwave, is noted for being both captivating and soothing, making it a standout feature that elevates the game beyond typical match-3 titles. Overall, players find the music to be a significant reason for the game's enduring appeal, often reminiscing about its nostalgic impact.
“The soundtrack of this game combined with its space theme is amazing.”
“This is an incredible game; the atmosphere was chilling, ambient, and spacey, and the soundtrack was an interesting combination of industrial synth flourishes and bombastic, epic, chilling, and atmospheric 80's inspired vaporwave.”
“The music is quite calming as well.”
“You match jewels while you listen to music that goes way too hard to be in a game like this.”
“This game's soundtrack is anywhere from 15x to 20x better than it ought to be and it makes me feel very uncomfortable.”
“In fact, the soundtrack is basically the only reason to buy this game.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of Bejeweled 2 are generally considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, featuring better visuals, new art, and a sci-fi aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. However, many users note that the graphics feel outdated by modern standards, with some describing them as low-resolution or pixelated. Despite this, the game's vibrant jewel animations and overall aesthetic still manage to evoke a sense of enjoyment and nostalgia for players.
“Beautiful graphics by 2004 standards + innovative gameplay mechanics + epic sound effects and music = Bejeweled 2 being one of the best match-3 games of all time.”
“The songs composed by Skaven and the background visuals of different fantastic planets are absolutely beautiful.”
“Great atmosphere, graphics have held up alright, and surprisingly good soundtrack.”
“Although the graphics may look a bit outdated.”
“But alas, this game, like many others, has aged quite badly in relation to visuals, and the audio quality seems to have gone downhill.”
“The graphics really look like they are from 2006, but for what it does, on sale, it's a good game.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of relaxing and challenging experiences, featuring classic match-3 mechanics enhanced by various modes, including puzzle, endless, and zen. Players appreciate the addictive nature of the gameplay, complemented by a captivating soundtrack and solid graphics, making it a standout in the genre. While some comparisons to other titles like Bejeweled 3 suggest it may not be as complex, the innovative features and enjoyable mechanics keep players engaged.
“The gameplay is both relaxing and challenging, and the other game modes can either be more tense or zen.”
“Beautiful graphics by 2004 standards, innovative gameplay mechanics, epic sound effects, and music make Bejeweled 2 one of the best match-3 games of all time.”
“Simple yet satisfying gameplay, with four modes of play (not counting hidden modes).”
“Bejeweled 2 is just your standard match 3 game, and if you like that kind of gameplay in classic 800 x 600 resolution, well go ahead and get this game.”
“Gameplay is very simple, and you get to a zen-like state after a few minutes, producing dopamine.”
“Still, go look at Bejeweled 3 or other versions if you think they may have more gameplay substance and overall value.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative or campaign, focusing instead on puzzle-solving with no overarching story. While the 'puzzle' mode offers a journey-like experience, it is primarily about gameplay rather than storytelling.
“The 'puzzle' mode is what you should definitely check out, since it's pretty much a quest or a journey through the stars.”
“No story.”
“There's no story or campaign, just some puzzles, so the only thing to do is to increase your score.”
“The 'puzzle' mode is what you should definitely check out, since it's pretty much a quest or a journey through the stars (basically it is, to some extent, the campaign mode of Bejeweled - no story, obviously).”
- monetization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is highly praised for its absence of microtransactions and intrusive ads, offering a pure gaming experience reminiscent of a bygone era. Players appreciate that it does not impose barriers that require payment to progress, making it a refreshing alternative to modern games that often prioritize profit over player enjoyment. Overall, it is seen as a nostalgic and straightforward puzzle game free from the predatory monetization practices common in today's market.
“The best of all, since this is from a previous era: no microtransactions and no barriers (like limited lives that recover slowly with time) that push you to pull out your wallet and hamper your experience when you're not willing or able to pay to continue.”
“Better than HuniePop because it's not a vehicle for sexy content, better than Candy Crush Saga because it's not designed around predatory microtransactions. Bejeweled 2 is the patrician's match-3 game...and it's not even the best game in the series.”
“Don't play this game if you're looking for anything beyond a time-waster or aren't actively seeking the novelty of what a match-3 used to be before microtransactions.”
“Don't play this game if you're looking for anything beyond a time-waster or aren't actively seeking the novelty of what a match 3 used to be before microtransactions.”
“It's of course worth mentioning that Bejeweled 2 came out in a time before the PopCap buyout, and as such does not shove advertisements or in-game monetization into your unwilling gullet every five minutes.”
“Better than HuniePop because it's not a vehicle for sexy content, better than Candy Crush Saga because it's not designed around predatory microtransactions; Bejeweled 2 is the patrician's match-3 game.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling, ambient, and spacey qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that blends industrial synth and 80's inspired vaporwave elements. Reviewers note the significant effort put into creating a rich atmosphere, with graphics that have aged well and dynamic changes in ambiance as players progress through different levels. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as immersive and engaging, making it a standout feature.
“This is an incredible game. I was absolutely captured instantly by the addictive, simple gameplay. The atmosphere was chilling, ambient, and spacey, and the soundtrack was an interesting combination of industrial synth flourishes and bombastic, epic, chilling, and atmospheric 80's inspired vaporwave. Definitely can't recommend it enough.”
“There was a staggering amount of work put into the atmosphere of this game.”
“Great atmosphere, graphics have held up alright, and surprisingly good soundtrack.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, being an enjoyable match-3 experience that doesn't heavily monetize its players. While it may not reach the same level of replayability as Bejeweled 3 or Twist, it still offers significant fun and value for repeated playthroughs.
“It's one of PopCap's all-time greats, an endlessly replayable match-3 that isn't after your cash at every waking moment.”
“Great game and replayable over and over.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time to unlock certain features or modes.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“If only the hidden mode behind endless wasn't so tedious to get.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly noting the amusing and quirky shapes that add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience. This playful design element contributes to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
“The game is filled with hilarious character designs that make me laugh every time I see them.”
“The witty dialogue and funny situations keep me entertained throughout the entire gameplay.”
“I love the clever puns and jokes sprinkled throughout the game; they add a delightful layer of humor.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally report that the game runs smoothly and performs well on Windows 10, indicating a high level of stability.
“Overall, this is one of the best and runs great on Windows 10.”