Bejeweled Stars
- May 10, 2016
- ELECTRONIC ARTS
- 19h median play time
Bejeweled Stars is a match-3 puzzle game with over 1500 levels, set on jewel-encrusted islands. It boasts splendid gameplay, masterful visuals, and an exceptional soundtrack, but is held back by annoying ads and frequent bugs. Overall, it provides an addictive and hilarious experience, perfect for puzzle fans.
Reviews
- graphics230 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive a mixed response from users, with many praising their beauty, vibrancy, and attention to detail, often highlighting them as a standout feature alongside the sound effects. However, some players find the graphics overly fussy or laggy, detracting from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are calls for improvements in performance and clarity.
“The graphics are awesome, and the challenges are real but not insurmountable.”
“The graphics are beautiful, and I love butterflies.”
“Absolutely the most excellent graphics in a match 3 game I've played.”
“The graphics are slow and the river that flows the gems after each move is actually irritating.”
“A classic game spoiled by endless add-ons, power-ups, cartoon characters and fiddly graphics.”
“The graphics were a disappointment.”
- monetization201 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay and require multiple interactions to close. Many players express frustration over the frequency and length of ads, which often lead to crashes and audio issues, making the game nearly unplayable. While some users appreciate the option to watch ads for rewards, the overall sentiment leans towards a negative experience, with calls for a return to a more balanced approach or a paid version to eliminate ads entirely.
“There are no ads, there's a lot of different things to collect and you can make your own power gems.”
“Regardless of a bit of microtransactions, it's one of the best puzzle games on mobile.”
“Fun, free game with no ads!”
“Now the game is nearly unplayable, due to 5 second ads before a level, after a level, checking a menu, making a powerup.”
“The best is the 20+ seconds of advertising between games that takes 4 clicks to close.”
“Far too many ads, little respect for user experience, and an over the top reliance on luck makes an otherwise solid game just another EA cash grab.”
- stability126 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing, crashing, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players express frustration over losing progress and lives due to these issues, particularly after updates, and note that the game often fails to load or becomes unresponsive. While players enjoy the game itself, the persistent technical problems detract from the overall experience, leading to a decline in user satisfaction.
“It still freezes up some and always says I have no network connection, but I do.”
“Every time you are about to make the move to win a round, it either freezes, puts up some annoying ad that gets stuck (making you exit and start over), or something equally frustrating.”
“Game freezes and crashes every time I try to start it.”
- music125 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its catchy and enjoyable elements, particularly the whimsical "meow" song and the overall soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience. However, numerous complaints highlight issues with the music cutting out, especially after ads, requiring players to restart the app to restore sound. While some find the music uplifting and integral to the game's charm, others express frustration over its inconsistency and the inability to turn it off completely.
“The graphics are beautiful but the soundtrack is the star of this game.”
“I love the colorful gameplay, the music is awesome.”
“The music is the best!!!”
“The music seems a little over the top at times.”
“Major complaint: after any ad, the music cuts out and can't be restored without rebooting the app.”
“I love this game, yet the music and the sound effects keep failing to work correctly and stop playing.”
- gameplay43 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive and enjoyable, featuring fun mechanics and impressive graphics. However, many users express frustration with the heavy reliance on ads and monetization strategies, which can disrupt the experience. While some find the gameplay engaging and well-designed, others note issues like lag, sound problems, and a lack of challenge in certain aspects.
“Gameplay itself seems addictive and fun.”
“Gorgeous graphical flow, awesome music, interesting, unique match 3 gameplay.”
“A true classic with great gameplay and amazing sound.”
“Integrating the time to create these power-ups in no way upped the strategy involved in gameplay.”
“Sometimes after an ad plays, there will be no more sound during gameplay unless I restart the game or another ad happens to trigger it back on.”
“Laggy, terrible gameplay, freezes, doesn't update.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the meow music and singing cats particularly hilarious. Many reviews highlight the game's funny graphics and soundtrack, contributing to an overall enjoyable and addictive experience. However, some users also mention humorous glitches related to internet connectivity, adding to the game's charm.
“The meow music is hilarious 😂”
“Very funny and addictive!”
“Best game I've played, great visuals, love the singing cats, hilarious.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally entertaining, though some players express frustration with technical issues and a lack of mission variety. While the narrative engages players, there is a desire for more quests to enhance the overall experience.
“Like it but looking for quests to do with.”
“Very entertaining, but when I write these, usually the story changes.”
“See, we played until we couldn't complete a mission.”
“Like it, but looking for quests to do with.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. The balance between challenge and enjoyment has shifted, leading to a perception that the effort required to collect and use in-game resources is not worth the time and data consumption.
“You guys turned a great game that actually had well-balanced ad time into something tedious. Who cares what gems you collect if it's a pain to use them? Eating up my data and battery is simply no longer worth it.”
“Challenging... tedious... very fast-paced game.”
“Too grindy.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with users noting that it runs smoothly without crashes and offers a high-quality experience. However, some players feel that certain aspects, particularly in older content, could benefit from further optimization to enhance gameplay.
“No crashes, runs smoothly, very addictive.”
“High quality with amazing challenges, and it runs smoothly.”
“The game feels lethargic; given its age, it should have been optimized better.”
“Performance issues make the gameplay experience frustrating and unresponsive.”
“The lack of optimization leads to frequent frame drops and long loading times.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, often describing experiences as heartbreaking and resonant.
“That was heartbreaking.”
“Emotional”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users note that the lack of an endless mode significantly diminishes the game's replayability, contrasting it with classics like Bejeweled, which thrived on their easy and mindless replayability.
“The lack of an endless mode is a missed opportunity; the easy, mindless replayability is what made Bejeweled a classic and a household name.”
“Every playthrough feels fresh, thanks to the variety of challenges and levels that keep you coming back for more.”
“The game offers multiple paths and choices, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“No endless mode... the thing that made Bejeweled such a classic and a household name is the easy, mindless replayability.”
“Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to play again; the lack of varied content really hampers replayability.”
“The game feels like a one-and-done experience; after finishing it, I had no desire to go back and play through it again.”