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 Treasures of Montezuma 4 offers a variety of game modes, including Story, Quest, and Puzzle, providing hours of engaging gameplay.
- The game features a unique totem mechanic that adds strategic depth, allowing players to activate powerful abilities by chaining matches of the same color.
- Visually appealing with vibrant graphics and satisfying sound effects, the game creates an enjoyable atmosphere for players.
- The game is heavily reliant on luck, making it frustrating at times, as players may struggle to progress due to unfavorable board layouts.
- The time-based gameplay can be stressful, with no relaxed mode available, which may deter casual players looking for a more laid-back experience.
- Some design choices, such as distracting move hints and lengthy animations, can disrupt the flow of gameplay and lead to a less enjoyable experience.
- story82 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally criticized for being clichéd and lacking depth, with many reviewers describing it as bland or poorly written. While there are multiple game modes, including a story mode with 3D cutscenes, the narrative often feels like a mere backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling element. Some players appreciate the attempt at storytelling, but overall, the execution leaves much to be desired, making it a forgettable aspect of the game.
“The first big difference is you will see plenty of new game modes offered: story mode, similar to before but with 3D cutscenes and more of an actual story element added.”
“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.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Treasures of Montezuma 4" is characterized by its addictive match-3 mechanics, enhanced by a unique totem system that encourages strategic tile matching. While the core gameplay remains familiar and easy to learn, some players find the scoring mechanics and certain design choices, like the persistent hint arrow, detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers a polished and visually appealing experience, appealing to both casual players and those seeking a challenge.
“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 mechanics that set this match-3 game apart are the totems, which make the constant objective of the game to combine subsequent combos of the same-colored tiles.”
“Gameplay is action-packed with cool sounds and flashy visual effects, which makes it pretty fun.”
“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.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the detailed 3D visuals and animations, while others note issues with UI quality and cluttered visuals that can obscure gameplay elements. Some players appreciate the artistic design, particularly of specific elements like totems, but criticize the lack of customizable graphics options and occasional performance issues. Overall, the graphics are considered a step up from previous installments, though not without their flaws.
“Great graphics and fun gameplay.”
“The detailed graphics of the totems are really amazing; whoever designed them has some talent.”
“I want to mention that the visuals in the game are well done.”
“The animations and graphics can get very busy; you'll lose your cursor way too many times.”
“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.”
“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.”
- music21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric fit to the Aztec theme and noting some standout tracks. However, there are criticisms regarding a lack of variety, occasional audio glitches causing repetitive loops, and some tracks being less enjoyable, particularly during specific gameplay moments. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for some, technical issues and inconsistencies detract from its overall quality.
“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.”
“First when I started it, I was flashed by the intro; beautiful story, okay graphics, beautiful music.”
“The explosions, music, and motion need to be on steroids to warrant the time constraint.”
“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.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- -13 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, with many noting that it becomes increasingly difficult and monotonous as they progress. While some appreciate the challenge, others feel that the lack of variety in levels and the reliance on grinding for achievements detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it a frustrating experience for many. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant hurdle that can lead to boredom and dissatisfaction.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“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.”
“I guess I am about halfway through, and it has simply gotten brutally hard, with advancement made arduous and grindy.”
“The game proves to be a grinding nightmare because it lacks any sort of replay value.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through various modes, including a puzzle mode with diverse options and a quest mode featuring new challenges. While many players appreciate the incentive to revisit levels for higher scores and collectibles, some feel that it falls short compared to similar titles like Bejeweled 3, with a few reviewers noting a lack of replay value in certain aspects.
“Puzzle mode offers many different options and adds a lot of replay value, as well as a gallery of collectibles for completing each mode.”
“Additional quest mode featuring new challenges and infinite replayability.”
“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.”
“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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack that complements its engaging pre-Columbian American setting. Players appreciate the diverse game modes and tasks, which contribute to an immersive and addictive experience.
“The soundtrack is good and sets the atmosphere well.”
“This game perfectly manages to create 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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the stability of the game series, noting it as a refreshing alternative to other unbalanced and buggy match-three games. The overall experience is described as reliable and well-crafted, making it a recommended choice for players seeking quality.
“If you are tired of unbalanced, buggy, or sadly outdated match-three type games, I highly recommend starting this series.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, with some experiencing tears of joy upon achieving significant milestones, such as earning the last achievement. This highlights the game's ability to evoke deep feelings and a sense of accomplishment.
“I cried tears of joy when I earned the last achievement.”
“The story touched my heart and made me reflect on my own life.”
“I felt a deep connection with the characters, their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the humor in match-3 games, noting that developers often incorporate quirky and entertaining mechanics to differentiate their titles from the classic games of the '90s. This creativity helps keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, appealing to both nostalgic players and new audiences.
“The humor in this game is absolutely delightful! It keeps the gameplay fresh and entertaining, making me laugh out loud at the quirky mechanics and witty dialogue.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its puzzles. It’s not just about matching tiles; the funny animations and clever jokes really enhance the experience.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job of blending humor with gameplay. Every level has a little surprise that makes me chuckle, which is a rare find in match-3 games!”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy targets players seeking a relaxing experience without the interruptions of microtransactions and ads commonly found in free games like Candy Crush Saga.
“I would specify the target group as people who want to relax but don't want to play a free game filled with microtransactions and ads, like Candy Crush Saga.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“It's frustrating that the game constantly pushes for in-game purchases, detracting from the overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Recent updates have significantly enhanced the game's performance, leading users to remove previous criticisms regarding optimization. Overall, the optimization is now considered satisfactory.
“The optimization in this game is impressive; it runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
“I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the gameplay experience seamless.”
“The recent updates have significantly enhanced performance, making the game much more enjoyable.”