Very nice review, John!

You nailed it when you said it's incredibly addictive.

I had the pleasure of attending the release party for this game in Seattle earlier this week, and I have been playing the game continuously since I got home.

When the twisting mechanic was first revealed, I was a bit disappointed, too. I was hoping for something spectacular, and instead it was so very simple. But once I had the chance to play I realized the simplicity is what makes the game so addictive.

I've currently unlocked about 37% of the challenges, and my high score in Classic is 648,720.

Oh, and for those with Macs, I'm playing this game on my Mac using CrossOver Games. You don't get all the high resolution eye candy, but this game is so addictive you really don't need it.

I really wanted to try the demo in crossover games, but it's not working for me. The screen resolution changes, or it comes up as a window, but the window or screen is white. I can hear the music, and can move other open windows over the whiteness to 'uncover' the picture but for only that instant. I can also see it for a split second when I close crossover games.

I'm using a mid '07 macbook, 2ghz, GMA 950. Would be nice to get it to work, but I'll just play it in bootcamp unless anyone has suggestions :)

That actually happens to me, too. Here's what to do:

When the window first comes up, press [CMD][return] to switch to windowed mode, then [CMD][return] again to switch back to fullscreen (if you wish).

I like running the game in windowed mode, but I still have to do that switching thing twice each time I launch the game.

I hope that works for you, too.

I love the high-res stuff. It's so eye yummy.

...But who would have a 1900x1200 screen?

At any rate, this game is fun. And challenge mode is evil. But addicting evil.

Surely the picture shows a 2x2 square of gems being rotated, not a 4x4 square (i.e. 16 gems)?

This does look like an interesting twist to the Bejeweled saga...

Surely that was a typo, Gareth. Thanks for pointing it out, I've corrected the review.

DarknessKeeper - I have a 1900x1200 display. :)
But I play in 800x600. In fact, check out this screenshot...
https://jayisgames.com/images/bejeweled_1018960.jpg

:DDD

Actually it's a mechanics of Hexic, especially the bombs.

Great game!

Anyone can help me with last Challenge "make 8 gems in a row"?

No idea how to make it...

Under what planet name does that challenge appear? I don't think I've seen that one yet.

You've pinned down the spin mechanic and fun factor well in your review. I totally agree, as I'm still finding ways to make matches.

The first thing that it reminded me of when I watched the launch event live was Hexic.

ARGH... ERG... FLARFIN... stupid... mega... fruit... combo... one... away... trial... ENDED

oh and what does the mega fruit combo do?

I agree the mechanic and the bombs are very similar to Hexic, and yet this Bejeweled variation is unique enough to stand on its own.

Challenge mode is especially nice and original in its puzzler characteristic, and it's also a good way to practice with the various patterns possible for making matches.

Mega fruit combo = dancing fruit splash spectacular + mega points bonus bonanza!

It's quite the gratifying reward, but oh so rare to see. :D

You have a better chance of seeing it in Zen mode, since there are no bombs or blocks in that mode.

Bludr: Do you mean the first challenge? That is what it's called.

Basically, the count includes any falling gems which also happen to match. I got 12 for example (4 lots of 3).

Jay: Thanks for the tip about ⌘-return. That works on Peggle Extreme (the Valve-themed version of Peggle), too.

It's last challenge on last planet called Enigma. I need to "match 8 gems in a row", with one and only move. It's probably most hardcore challenge in the game. No clue how to make it.

*sigh* Yay, yet another $10-value PopCap game that they're charging $20 for. The worst thing is--hasn't the 2x2 rotation to match thing actually been done already? I seem to recall having seen at least one other game on JIG that uses it.

Here's the solution to Enigma 7 (The 8-in-a-row) puzzle:

Thanks a lot for the tip Jay! I can't believe how fantastic this game is! So completely mesmerizing. People say that it's just really at $10 game, but I disagree. You're not going to find this level of polish and charm in a $10 game (commercially; I love those free downloadable indie platformers ;)). I adore the lofty goals that are set for you, the mega fruit bonus is very hard to get, and adds that level of depth like hexic has, with the flowers and the near impossible black pearls.

DS version please!

Just get black screen and music...
Running XP.
Tried all combinations of or with enter, space...and all the F keys...
Guess I'm being told not to waste time playing a game...

Same problem here.. black screen with random flashes and music... Running XP

If you're having any technical trouble with this game, please contact PopCap customer support at:
http://www.popcap.com/helpform_contactus.php

I figured out how to match 8 for the last challenge.
X X O X X O X X
X X M X X M X X
X X T T X T X X
X X M T X M X X
O O M O O M O O

Then rotate the T's by rotating the middle to match 4 and drop them.

An easier way to get a 8-in-a-row:
- - - - - - - -
- - O - O O - -
O O - O - - O O
- - - - X - - -
- - X - X X - -
Match the 4 X's and you get 8 O's (the 4th O doesn't fall because you just created a flame gem below it).

I love puzzle games and am new to the gaming world. A friend gave me a copy of Bejeweled 2 a few months back and I was enthraled. But now I'm in Love with Bejeweled Twist. It is #1 in my book.

I've almost finished all the challenges except the last gem fall, clearing 30 in one turn. Help! :)

Here:

- - B - B B - -
B B A B A A B B
A A O A O O A A
O O - O Y Y O O
- - - - X - Y -
- - X - X X - -

That's 4X + 3Y + 8O + 8A + 8B = 31 gems :D

How do you get rid of the ticking silver time bombs once you reach level11 or 12?

Installed yesterday from CD. Game locks up every few minutes, and sits there for about 3 - 5 minutes doing who knows what, and then starts working again. I have no idea what is going on.

Windows Vista, NVIDIA GeForce Go7600, HP Pavillion dv9235nr Notebook.

[Edit: Where did you get the CD from? Did you purchase the game? You might want to contact Pop Cap customer service. Perhaps they have a more recent version that will work with your setup. -Jay]

Love this game, but I really only play Zen. Do the levels ever end, I wonder? I had a magnificent experience last night: Two mega fruit bonuses in a row. With three fruit gems on the board, I matched one, made the mega bonus, then matched another one and made the mega bonus again. Never in a million years will I probably repeat that. Just wanted to let you know it IS possible!

I own Bejeweled and Bejeweled 2 and am playing the trial version until my CD arrives. I have played on level 15 in Zen too many times to count once I figured the score still adds up. It also replays whatever the very last move was when you re-enter. (i.e. if you had a Mega fruit bonus when 15 ended, it gives it right back when you start 15 again.

I can't get past level 10 in Classic but the Rank is adding up still, so... I keep playing because it's like you said Jay, addicting.

I can't finish the 4 Challenges and Blitz is not an option in the trial. I'd appreciate some feedback if anyone can. Thank you!!

I am playing the game on gamespring and have noticed that I am not getting the multiplier points when I make matches. For a three gem match I get 150 points no matter how high the multiplier is. Anyone have the same problem or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance...

Is there any way to save the beautiful backdrops in jpg format?

My high scores. I don't know how to upload it, only capture it.

LVL 23 1788080
22 1622650
21 1357300
18 1183800
18 1158120

They are all in the millions.

Awesome game. Too awesome.

what is a supernova, and how do you get one? I have finished all of the challenge modes, and after you finish the last one, it says to get as many supernovas as you can in three minutes. I'm a bit confused!!!!!

supernova 6 or more like gems in a row

The exploding coal... what do you do?? I haven't figured out how to match it and it keeps ending my game. Thanks

I am completely addicted to this game and have done a bit over 70% of the challengelevel but am stuck on Spectrum 7. How can you make 9 Violet matches in a row??

If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

My high score is 420,000. Does anyone know how many levels the game has? I'm up to junior bejeweler (I think that's it).

Regarding coal, you don't blow it up by matching it, you make flames, ligntingings, or supernovas and use them to blow up the coal.

Sweet easter egg to get the credits to show, thanks for posting it.

No one has yet mentioned the continuous match in Classic, so I thought I'd bring it up. I had the hardest time getting through the multiplier levels until I realized that for each match you get a tiny step closer to the next multiplier level. Of course if you get the 4 gem bonus match you level up very quickly, but I find those are hard to do. So, to continue through the multiplier you have to make a 3 gem (or more) match every move. This can get tough as the gems get more and more randomized. That's when I reached an Ah Ha moment. I realized that each time you make a 3 or more gem match the game will always leave some new gems to get at least 1 more 3 gem match. In other words, no matter how scrambled the board is, if you make a match there will always be at least one more match available in a single move. I've been playing this game way too much and I have never seen a time where I made a match and had to make 2 moves to get the next match.
While my high scores do not match some here, I have been able to get a score of 936380 on Level 17. Can't quite break that 1 Millon mark.

These are my best scores in Bejeweled Twist:

Classic
1. 1,107,250 lvl 17
2. 1,057,500 lvl 19
3. 980,600 lvl 18
Blitz
1. 601,875
2. 393,025
3. 387,500

I can't really make it to level 20 on Classic. And most of my Blitz scores are around 275,000-400,000. At some point in Classic mode usually around level 14-16, I have to start constantly doing a lot of two-move matches to get rid of all of the bombs.

Well, I finally broke the 1 million mark
1. 1,444,490 lv 29
2. 1,217,420 lv 22
3. 1,004,110 lv 20

I have no clue how I made it to level 29! Must have been lots of luck with diffusing bombs.

I played some more of the Classic Mode and I got a new personal best: 1,305,950 points on level 20 before losing.

I just played Blitz mode. I got 292,000 points but the results looked weird. Check this out... Special Gems made up 0% of my points!!! 0 flame gems, 0 coal gems, 0 lightning gems, 0 fruit gems, and 0 supernova gems!!! lol

I am currently on level 55 with a high score of 1.8 million and would love to know how many levels the game has, does anyone know?? Thanks!

I've managed to reached Rank 46 Hyper Gemspinner with a high score of 1,492,060, highest level attained is 20

Fredrick,
I don't know that there is an upper limit to the number of levels. The game just keeps going up and up.
I've managed to get to 2.4 Million at Level 43 in Classic. My lowest top 10 Classic score is 1.2 Million.
One trick I use is to create a supernova gem and let it sit off to the side. Then make only flame gems and keep the supernova in reserve if things get really bad.

Best scores on Classic Mode:

1. 1,603,590 lvl 23
2. 1,442,750 lvl 19
3. 1,325,380 lvl 19

I just got the 1.6 million today!!! :)
All of the scores are in the millions!!!

Best scores on Blitz Mode:

1. 763,375
2. 742,175
3. 726,550

I have been playing this game for several months now. I am up to level 51 in Zen mode and have over 7 million points at Rank 11. This game is VERY addicting!

I've had this game a month or so. In Zen I am at level 881 w/530.5 million points.

Hey, anyone know, what are white and purple fruits? Hah, red and green are apples, yellow are lemon...But i don't know theese two ;p

So far I'm not doing too badly. I just cut 445,700 points in Level 19 (I think) and am ranked an Apprentice Gemspinner. I've done my share of challenges and have about 83% of them knocked.

My question is this: in the Classic game, has anyone managed to maintain a chain long enough to get the Fruit Gems? I've been working on holding the chain together to up my scores, but sometimes, it seems as though you just have to go after the Bombs and Doomsday gems with set-up moves which do not create a match.

Any input on this would be welcome.

Well, I may have answered my own question here. Doing what I can to maintain a string while trying to eliminate Bombs and Doomsday gems, I was able to rock out a 549,000 game while only going to Level 14. If you're patient and work to maneuver those gems into where similar colored gems, flames or lightnings are, you can survive several levels using that technique. However, it seems as though there's a point where you have to compromise between maintaining a chain and dealing with the problematic gems, and that crossover looks like it's around level 12 or so, plus or minus.

The crossover starts at 12-17 for me. If you have to choose between getting rid of bombs and earning a fruit gem, get the fruit gem. All of a sudden you have something to fight those bombs with. Of course, you might not be able to make a match with the fruit gem though. :/ And don't forget to check the progress bar. You might not even have to deal with the troublesome gems because you can complete the level in a few moves. It's always a good idea to save up fruit gems until when you need them. Because a point will come when you simply can't get a fruit gem.

Also, I recently got a new Classic Mode high score: 1,642,000 at level 22. :)

Quick Question:

Beaker mentioned an Easter Egg to display credits, but having scanned the comments here, I didn't see it. Am I blind (entirely possible!) or was it deleted or otherwise missing ... and if permissible, WHAT IS IT?!?

Credits easter egg:

Classic Mode high scores:

1. 2,081,480
2. 1,642,000
3. 1,603,590

All top 10 scores are now at least 1,100,000.

Tonight, reached another all time high of 1,955,640 points, 66 minutes to do it and 91% accuracy, 267 consecutive twists, Level 23, now Twistwizard Alpha at 1,525. ...Roy

Anyone notice the faces/images in the background besides me? What is going on here?

I actually managed to complete challenge mode 100%, then my computer got a virus and i had to start over. It was a low blow, but at least i got screenshot evidence of the highest quality.

Just started playing this game and have figured alot out--like getting fruit gems, etc. but I can't save and have to start over every game--also my high scores don't save--this seems so crazy--tell me how to save :)

I am finding it frustrating that the score multiplier does not move up when you make multiple matches in a single move. You get more points, but in the early levels you want to move up to the 10x level asap, and complete as many bonus matches. Getting multiple matches doesn't help you progress to the 10x level as early as possible. I also needed a green and purple match to finish my bonus, when I matched it, the game didn't recognize it and put me back to the beginning of the bonus. Don't see the point in trying ramp up the points in this game.

How do you get the "Make 5 yellow matches in a row" on the Spectrum mode in Challenge mode?

I cannot even figure out how to bust the bombs that have spikey things on them. help me... i can't remember how.

Thought i would mention that you wrote: "In Classic mode you will get stars." Actually you can get it in all modes. (Or nearly all dunno about Blitz.)

My high score is level 21, 1,519,100 points. I've gotten 5 mega fruit bonuses in one game! It's an art form =)

Jamie I got 1,976,400 on level 24, and ONLY 1 Mega fruit bonus, those coal gems are important!

In classic play level 22 ?? and 23 ?? HOW HOW I've been playing for awhile now and the best I can get is level 18 with a little over 1 million points........tell me HOW to do better PLEASE

And how are those coal gems?? important

those of you talking about levels higher than 30 is that in zen mode????

For Mitzi : "I can't save and have to start over every game"

I had the same problem like you and I found this answer:

• "Most game save issues result as a user account on your desktop having limited rights and not being able to save a game properly. Ensure your computer meets these requirements on the desktop and try again.

  If you are on Windows Vista or Windows 7, try setting the game into compatibility mode. Right click on the Bejeweled Twist Shortcut, select properties, and then click the compatibility tab. Make sure your compatibility settings are as follows:

  Operating System Windows XP SP2 (Windows XP SP3 if you are on Windows 7)

  Permissions Boxes: Run As Administrator checked."

And it worked!!! Good luck!

You get stars in all the games, although you only get half of the stars in each Zen Level.

To get rid of Doom Bombs (Bombs with Spikes that don't twist use Fire and Lightning.

97% on Challenge.
1,450,000 Lvl 20 Classic,
Lvl 25 Zen, boring to only earn stars and keep score.
300,000 lowest on Blitz.

The purple fruit are Grapes!

Are the higher scores only achievable after you have cleared so much of the challenge mode?

I kept getting low scores until i started to clear the challenges.

I've cleared the lot apart from the last Gem fall and my high score in classic is: 2,607,450 and up to level 28

How do you get rid of the ticking silver time bombs once you reach level 11 or 12?

how exiting is that bejeweled twist.....
i love it!!!..
what a challenged is that very amazing and incredible and spectacular.....
i already eclipse the 13 intriguing challenges and give my best shot to have best score. i still exploring the world of classic and i reach level 19 only....my rank is lightning weaver..... how far it is...?

Does anyone know the combination to the bejeweled Classic game where you have to put the jewels in a specific order, I can't get them and so it is impossible to move on. If anyone can help me that would be great!!! Thanks, Paula

up to level 95 on zen

there are only 99 levels for zen. it just stays at 99 and doesn't go any higher

there is only 99 levels in zen,

i am at rank 22. Has anyone finish the classic game?

has anyone completed the whole game?

just moved up another rank lighting weaver..

hello,
I need some help. I've got the game, I fished the tutorial, but when I finish a classic game and quit the game, the scores don't save and i'm still at rank 1, can you help me for saving the game ?

on ds when you press start while playing it saves.i just gotten bejewel 3 today and started playing it

Can anyone tell me if there is a secret to winning (everytime) on the spinning gem challenge? It seems once it happends, it happens frequently afterwards until the game is lost. Is there a timing function that would let me click at exactly the right time, everytime, to cause me to land on the gem space instead of the skull space? thanks

we are still playing bejewel twist..we are at the rank 48 i think..

just moved up another rank,i am playing this on the ds version

how many ranks is their for the ds version of this game.i am at 60

i recheck my rank and it says rank 78. Hopefully i can get to the end of this game..

[I don't think there is an end, tom. The developers don't ever want you to stop playing. :) -Jay]

i am a rank 100 now.

the game seems to stop. i got up to 101 and it said that level 2500 was complete and then it would not go higher than this. i guess i will try to continue this game, but it probably repeats this level again. this is on the ds version

how do you complete stratamax 7. all other challenges are easy... if you know how. btw, for gem fall 7 just go:

x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x c c x c c x x
c b b c b b c c
b a a b a a b b
a x x a x x a a
x x x x o x x x
x o o x o o x x

and hope you don't get an accidental detonation of the lightning or supernova gems created. my second try detonated but gave me 72 gems. don't know what happened there? otherwise it gives you 32.

btw, there is an end for this game... at least in ranks... I checked the names of ranks in the files... 2nd last is called fruit dancer...lol *<:-). Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

i am playing bejewel 3 on the ds version is there any cheats or help to get up to the higher ranks

i am also playing puzzle quest 2.nothing like the other games

I love this game!

I just scored my highest accuracy level yet: 95%
Stats for this game:
Score: 1,041,500 (not my highest, but nice!)
Accuracy: 95%
Longest Chain: 121
Avg. Multiplier: 8.7
Special Gems: 55% of points
Coal: X12 for 45,100
Fruit: X11 for 400,300
Flame: X37 for 74,350
Lightening: X6 for 62,450

Best Move: 91,300

This game moved my last game of less than a million points off the chart for best scores :D