Bejeweled Classic
Bejeweled Classic is a single-player puzzle game, originally a mobile port of Bejeweled 3, that offers various modes such as Classic, Poker, Diamond Mine, Lightning, Ice Storm, Zen, and Butterflies. It boasts good game mechanics, stunning graphics, and an exceptional soundtrack, although the experience is marred slightly by frequent advertisements and occasional bugs. Overall, the game can elicit strong emotions, particularly through its addictive and engaging gameplay.
Reviews
- monetization2,331 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay. Many players report being bombarded with long, unskippable ads before and during games, often blocking essential game elements and making the experience frustrating. While some users express a willingness to pay for an ad-free experience, they find the purchasing options unreliable or unavailable, leading to a general sentiment that the game has become more of an ad platform than a playable experience.
“The gameplay is fantastic, the varied modes provide much appreciated variety to the gameplay, the game has an intrinsic charm that's unmatched by other match-3s to this day, and the monetization is surprisingly really fair.”
“There's no ads, no microtransactions - just classic, addictive Bejeweled gameplay.”
“Available offline and playable even if you don't use in-app purchases.”
“The amount of ads is absolutely criminal.”
“The ads literally block the board, making the game unplayable.”
“I used to enjoy this game, but now it's just a constant barrage of ads that ruin the experience.”
- graphics189 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their brightness, clarity, and overall aesthetic appeal, often noting that they are superior to those of similar games. However, some users report issues such as graphical glitches, slow performance, and intrusive ads that detract from the visual experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, there are calls for updates and improvements to address technical issues and enhance the gaming experience.
“The graphics are great, it's a great way to pass time while keeping your brain active, and to positively play against friends.”
“Graphics are excellent!!!”
“Beautiful graphics... rich colors... love the amazing explosions... so much like beautiful fireworks!”
“Outdated graphics and slow, clunky controls make this match game painful to play.”
“Slow gameplay, terrible graphics, intrusive ads, this is pretty much garbage, do not install.”
“I was really enjoyed to find this game for my tablet and got to play it once again but now when I try and play it I can hear the music but there are no graphics.”
- stability187 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing and crashing during gameplay, often resulting in lost progress and frustration. Many players experience the game freezing when attempting to watch ads for extra gameplay or during high-scoring moments, leading to a disrupted experience. While some users note improvements after purchasing ad-free options, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from persistent bugs and stability issues that detract from its enjoyment.
“I haven't had any glitches or problems either.”
“Been playing since middle school, works great, no glitches for me.”
“Great game, no glitches.”
“Very frustrated with this game, every time I get up to a little over 3 million points it freezes on me and drops me back down to zero.”
“I really enjoy this game when it works, but it constantly freezes.”
“Game freezes up way too frequently !!!”
- gameplay124 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its classic mechanics and engaging variety, with many players finding it fun and addictive. However, numerous reviews highlight significant issues with intrusive ads that frequently interrupt or obstruct gameplay, leading to frustration and a diminished experience. While some users appreciate the nostalgic elements and smooth mechanics, the overwhelming presence of ads has caused many to reconsider their enjoyment of the game.
“The gameplay is fantastic, the varied modes provide much appreciated variety to the gameplay, the game has an intrinsic charm that's unmatched by other match-3s to this day, and the monetization is surprisingly really fair.”
“It's a timeless classic with great gameplay, music, graphics, and playability.”
“Slick and smooth gameplay with engrossing puzzles equals a great game.”
“In the three games I played, yes, three, there was more time taken up watching ads than there was actual gameplay!”
“Forced ads during gameplay, even in the middle of a move, have ruined the experience.”
“Ads cover gameplay so there's no way to even play the free version.”
- music122 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its calming and nostalgic qualities, while others criticize its low quality, repetitiveness, and lack of options to customize or mute it. Some users express a desire for the return of original soundtracks from previous versions, highlighting the disconnect between the game's relaxing ambiance and the intrusive ads that disrupt the experience. Overall, while the music is often described as soothing and enjoyable, technical issues and limited options detract from its potential.
“Beautiful game and soundtrack!”
“The music is very soothing.”
“The music makes me feel like I'm on a whole quest.”
“The music is really low quality, and only a fourth of the zen mode music is played.”
“Second, the soundtrack is horribly compressed, which is a shame for such a beautiful soundtrack like Bejeweled 3's.”
“The music loops too frequently as well.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
The game's optimization for mobile devices has received significant criticism, with users reporting issues related to screen cropping and touch responsiveness on various phone models, particularly the Galaxy S10+ and Note series. While the game runs smoothly in terms of performance and animations, many players express frustration over the lack of proper resolution adjustments and overall compatibility with different screen sizes, making it unplayable for some.
“Runs smoothly and ads are not intrusive or annoying.”
“Performance is great on Samsung - Google Play compatible tablets!”
“So great animations and performance.”
“Downloaded the game as I'm getting back into Bejeweled, and it is horribly optimized for mobile.”
“There seems to be problems with optimizations for different phone screen dimensions.”
“Still after all these years, it is still not optimized for the Note Edge, and it is unplayable; the touch screen is off by at least an inch, making you move the wrong gem by a landslide.”
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely centered around nostalgia for the classic Bejeweled 3 experience, with players expressing disappointment over the absence of a quest mode in the current version. Many users fondly recall the engaging narrative elements and immersive gameplay of Bejeweled 3, highlighting the desire for a similar storyline and quest-driven experience in the mobile adaptation. Overall, while the game retains its charm, the lack of a quest mode detracts from the depth of the story that players cherished in previous iterations.
“I have always loved Bejeweled; it's fun, dramatic, and sometimes relaxing. I love the music and gameplay, but the only downside is that there is no quest mode.”
“I love the game and all, but one thing I really wish is that it brings back the feeling of Bejeweled 3, which was my favorite game that I had on my old PC.”
“Many phones later, I couldn't find this classic game and kept trying others, always too juvenile and glitzy with storylines.”
“As a Bejeweled 3 player, this is basically that game but without quest mode.”
“I have always loved Bejeweled; it's fun, dramatic, and sometimes relaxing. I love the music and gameplay, but the only downside is, there is no quest mode.”
“Pretty much the same as Bejeweled 3 except without quest mode.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a mix of frustration and appreciation regarding the emotional aspect of the game. While some report significant issues with controls and ads disrupting gameplay, leading to feelings of annoyance, others find the game emotionally soothing and mentally engaging, using it as a tool to calm anxiety and enjoy a nostalgic experience. Overall, the emotional responses range from irritation due to technical problems to positive feelings of relaxation and enjoyment.
“I am totally into this game ~ it is so cool ~ it's easy but also hard ~ it makes me stop and think about the different shapes and colors ~ I have heaps of games on my mobile which I play ~ I want to give my heartfelt thanks for the time.”
“An absolute classic feels wholesome to play again.”
“Emotionally relaxing... I use this to calm my anxiety and test my mind... I highly approve.. thank you.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently highlighted as a strong point, with players enjoying its funny gimmicks and effects. Many reviews reflect a lighthearted tone, noting the game's ability to surprise and entertain, even amidst frustrations like ad placements. Overall, the game is described as a fun and amusing experience that provides a good way to relax.
“Installed on a whim, expected ads but was hilariously surprised to be presented with an ad when I opened the settings menu on first boot.”
“Otherwise a very fine game with funny gimmicks.”
“Overall fun, great different ways to play, funny effects, good chillout way to relax.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, primarily due to frequent interruptions from ad requests and a restrictive screen layout. This combination detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a potential decline in player engagement.
“The game works great in the beginning, but quickly becomes tedious due to the number of interruptions requesting that you view ads.”
“It's locked in a smaller horizontal screen which makes it tedious and is the reason I won't waste energy on this game; also, this is most likely the reason this game will be losing players and interest from those who actually spent money purchasing this now dysfunctional app!”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its various game modes, which enhance the overall experience. While some opted to remove ads for a smoother gameplay, the ads are generally considered non-intrusive, allowing for enjoyable repeated play sessions.
“Unmistakably fun classic, the ads aren't very intrusive and there's tons of replayability with the different game modes.”