GameBox Gems
by PDAmill,
Price: $9.95
Reviewed September, 2003 by LightMan
Gem games are one of the most popular game
types for the Pocket PC platform. However, the quantity does
NOT mean quality and a considerable percentage of those gems
games lack several qualities required to be called a good
game. So, I think there was definitely room for a really
good gems game and after reading that this one was from PDAmill
(responsible for my all-time favorite Snails),
needless to say I was very eager to check it out.
GameBox Gems is PDAmill’s 3rd game
in the GameBox series, after the all-rounder GameBox Classics
and the excellent GameBox Solitaire. GameBox Gems is composed
of 8 variations of gems games:
Rising Diamonds: Keep
the peak level of the gem pile low by removing fields of
similar gems
Jewel Master: Clean the levels by
removing joined patches of similar gems without leaving anything
Ruby Connection: Clean the levels
by connecting and removing similar gems using flexible wires
Sunstone swap: Arrange three or
more similar gems in a row by rotating blocks of four
Crystal Cave-In: Clean levels by
moving gems to form 5 in a row while more gems drop
Stone Stacker: Form groups of three
or more similar gems from falling pieces
Sapphire Spires: Form horizontal,
vertical or diagonal lines from the falling triples of gems
Stone Stacker+: Form groups of similar
gems from the falling pieces and the rising pile
Each game has its own storyline so be sure
to check it out as it is neatly thought out (love the names
of the characters) and it’s kinda funny at times. It
had to be well done, since it’s Jaybot (Jason Surguine)
behind it, the guy behind all Snails text and audio.
In order to let the player know which
gems will be available next, there is a visual indication
of the next 3 gems on the top left corner of the screen.
Some games have power ups like bombs that blow up a good
amount of gems, razor blades that help cut down the number
of gems, weights to “sink” those extra gems,
etc. Note that not all power ups are friendly. Each game
type has its individual hi-score table and depending on
the game type, you have 1, 2, 3 or more “lives” or
attempts.
The difficulty of
GameBox Gems is well balanced. Some games are a bit easier
than others and even in the more challenging games, the first
few levels are simple enough to allow the gamer to get into
it before the real difficulties arise. A resume feature would
have been very handy, especially since some games can be
a bit long as you advance to high levels.
The graphics are
very polished and colorful, turning a “simple” gem
game into a very appealing and pleasant visual experience:
smooth looking menus, nice backgrounds, groovy characters
(one per each game type), excellent sprites and animations
for the gems. Sapphire Spires (columns clone), Stone Stacker
and Stone Stacker+ are played using the hardware keys.
All other games are played using the stylus.
Sound and music are
often neglected in such games, especially the music, but
not in PDAmill games. Once again, as they did in a fantastic
way in Snails and followed up nicely in GameBox Classics
and GameBox Solitaire, the sounds and music are very polished
and extremely well done. They enhance the theme of the
game and provide a very joyful and nice atmosphere for
gamers.
Conclusion:
Naturally, having 8 games in one
package is a big plus for any puzzle game. Not only will
every gamer find something they like in GameBox Gems, but
it also adds immense replay value. So, “Is it worth
it?” you ask. Definitely! There is not a doubt in
my mind. Currently priced at $9.95, this is an excellent
deal. This is THE “gems game” so far for the
Pocket PC. The quality of the game shows in every little
sprite or detail of the game. It’s fun, it looks
good, sounds good and it’s so easy just to pick up
and play. PDAmill have done an excellent job in turning
a simple game like gems into a very enjoyable game!
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