The Treasures of Montezuma 4
- May 16, 2014
- Alawar Entertainment
- 21h median play time
The Treasures of Montezuma 4 is a match-3 puzzle game where players spin the Aztec board to create matches and combos, collecting Ankh pieces to progress through levels. Powerful talismans can be earned to help overcome challenges and unlock bonus rounds. With over 200 levels, various game modes, and a captivating storyline, this game offers hours of engaging entertainment.
Reviews
- The game features a variety of modes including story, quest, and puzzle, providing ample replayability.
- Graphics are vibrant and visually appealing, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- The totem mechanic adds a strategic layer to the traditional match-3 gameplay, making it engaging.
- The game is heavily time-based, which can lead to frustration and does not cater to players looking for a relaxed experience.
- There are numerous design flaws, such as distracting move hints that cannot be turned off and a confusing power-up system.
- The gameplay can feel overly reliant on luck, making it difficult to progress without favorable board layouts.
- story162 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story mode features a clichéd and often criticized narrative, with many players finding it bland and unengaging despite the inclusion of 3D cutscenes and voice-acted intros. While some appreciate the attempt to incorporate a storyline into the gameplay, the overall consensus is that the plot lacks depth and originality, making it a secondary concern compared to the puzzle mechanics. Players noted that the story serves primarily as a framework to unlock various game modes rather than a compelling narrative experience.
“The story mode where you upgrade your totems and power-ups is really fun (played it on expert difficulty).”
“There is a decent story that actually makes sense, which I love about this game.”
“This game is very addictive and has a cool story to it.”
“The story is paper-thin and clichéd, so not worth talking about.”
“It's near impossible to get rewards on most of the puzzles due to the time restriction and the story is too corny and boring, making it a waste of time.”
“Anna, and her quest for destiny fulfillment, is terrible and a shoddily written segment of the story mode.”
- gameplay81 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Treasures of Montezuma 4" features a mix of traditional match-3 mechanics and a unique totem system that encourages strategic color matching, though it can be disruptive due to its penalties for chain combos. While many players find the core gameplay addictive and well-polished, some criticize the grind to unlock power-ups and the presence of distracting elements like a persistent hint arrow. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing and action-packed experience, but it may feel redundant compared to previous installments in the series.
“Great graphics and fun gameplay.”
“The gameplay is well polished.”
“With gameplay that is easy to learn but hard to master, I found myself addicted to the Treasures of Montezuma 4 in no time.”
“The game itself is decent, but some of the scoring mechanics are weird, and I personally dislike how they chose to extend gameplay by forcing you to beat later levels to unlock power-ups to make getting gold on earlier levels obtainable.”
“So you're stuck with an awful hint arrow always visible, which distracts a ton from the gameplay.”
“There is an annoying audio glitch which causes the background music to get stuck in a loop during gameplay, repeating the same few notes over and over again.”
- graphics52 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and detail, particularly in 3D elements and cutscenes, though some users noted issues with UI quality and busy animations that can obscure gameplay. While the visuals are considered acceptable and well-executed, there are complaints about the lack of graphics options and performance issues on lower-end systems. Overall, the graphics enhance the casual gameplay experience, despite some inconsistencies and technical shortcomings.
“Great graphics and fun gameplay.”
“The detailed graphics of the totems are really amazing; whoever designed them has some talent.”
“The game is graphically pretty and splashy, though when a piece is covered by a bonus or malus, I often had trouble telling what color it was.”
“The animations and graphics can get very busy; you'll lose your cursor way too many times.”
“It has very complex visuals with quite bad animations.”
“This game is also a terrible PC port; there are no graphics or resolution options, and the sound bugs so the same two seconds of the song repeat over and over unless you exit the game entirely.”
- music42 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game generally receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric fit to the Aztec theme and finding it soothing, though some tracks, particularly during puzzles, are criticized for being less enjoyable or repetitive. While some users highlight standout pieces that enhance the gaming experience, others report significant audio glitches that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a positive aspect, but it suffers from inconsistencies and technical issues.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The soundtrack is good and sets the atmosphere well.”
“Also, I have to mention the awesome background music, which makes the game fun even more intense.”
“There is an annoying audio glitch which causes the background music to get stuck in a loop during gameplay, repeating the same few notes over and over again.”
“This game is also a terrible PC port; there are no graphics or resolution options, and the sound bugs so the same two seconds of the song repeat over and over unless you exit the game entirely.”
“Luckily, you don't need sound to play this game, so turning the music off solves that issue.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game features excessive grinding, particularly as players progress, with many levels feeling repetitive and increasingly difficult. While some players find the grind tedious, especially for achievement hunting, others note that it can be manageable and not entirely off-putting. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant design flaw that detracts from the game's enjoyment and replay value.
“Bought it for like $0.67. It's really grindy for these types of games, and a lot of power-ups feel like they do nothing. Even big combos don't feel satisfying, and everything is based on time, not the number of moves.”
“The game proves to be a grinding nightmare because it lacks any sort of replay value.”
“Here is where the grinding really kicks in and the weakest, most frustrating design development in the game.”
- replayability24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its diverse puzzle modes and collectible gallery, encouraging players to revisit levels for higher scores and upgrades. However, some reviews note a decline in overall quality compared to previous installments, with mixed opinions on long-term replay value, particularly when compared to similar titles like Bejeweled 3. While certain modes provide endless challenges, others may feel repetitive, leading to a divided experience regarding replayability.
“Puzzle mode offers many different options and adds a lot of replay value, as well as a gallery of collectibles for completing each mode.”
“Obtaining gold scores may prove difficult until all of the bonuses have been fully upgraded, gently suggesting that the player replays the earlier levels for higher scores, and consequently furthering that replay value.”
“Additional quest mode featuring new challenges and infinite replayability?”
“The game proves to be a grinding nightmare, because it lacks any sort of replay value.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“These game modes are reminiscent of the game modes in the pinnacle of match 3 games, Bejeweled 3, and some are just as fun while others are just as challenging (maybe even frustrating, depending on your taste), although I do feel Bejeweled 3 has more replayability in the long run than The Treasures of Montezuma 4.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively creates an engaging atmosphere through its well-crafted soundtrack and a vibrant pre-Columbian American setting, enhancing the overall experience of its diverse match-3 gameplay. Players appreciate the combination of various game modes and tasks that contribute to an addictive and immersive environment.
“The soundtrack is good and sets the atmosphere well.”
“This game perfectly creates a new, addicting kind of match-3 game with many game modes, various tasks, and achievements to reach, all within a nice pre-Columbian American atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users praise the stability of the game series, highlighting it as a refreshing alternative to unbalanced and buggy match-three games. The consistent performance and lack of significant issues contribute to a positive gaming experience.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express strong emotional responses, particularly joy, when achieving significant milestones in the game, highlighting the impactful and rewarding nature of the gameplay experience.
“I cried in joy when I earned the last achievement.”
“I cried in joy when I earned the last achievement.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the humor in match-3 games, noting that developers often incorporate funny mechanics to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. This creativity is essential to differentiate modern titles from the simpler, retro games of the past. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment that enhances the gaming experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, with witty dialogue and funny character interactions that keep me laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its mechanics; it makes even the toughest challenges feel light-hearted and fun.”
“The quirky jokes and playful puns sprinkled throughout the gameplay really enhance the overall experience and make it memorable.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy targets players seeking a relaxing experience without the interruptions of microtransactions and ads commonly found in free-to-play games. This approach appeals to those who prefer a more straightforward, ad-free gaming environment.
“I would specify the target group to people who want to relax but don't want to play a free game with microtransactions and ads (like Candy Crush Saga).”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report significant improvements in optimization, with many noting that performance issues have been effectively addressed in recent updates.