Review: Bejeweled 2 (PlayStation 3)

Written by Jim Squires

Tuesday, 24 February 2009 08:29

Yes, we've seen it countless times before. Yes, it's like every other version of Bejeweled 2 you've already played. And yes, you need to own this one too. Wait.. what?

Bejeweled 2 takes advantage of the PlayStation 3's hardware for more than just a glossy HD uprez making this one of the best values in the world of match-3 gaming. Read on to find out more;

First things first: Bejeweled 2 is the same excellent package you've known and loved for years. Classic, Action, Endless, and Puzzle modes are all still there, as well as some unlockable mystery modes. Match-3 gameplay was invented with the first Bejeweled and downright perfected with the second one. It's a package that offers up a good variety of modes that'll keep you on your toes and coming back for more. If you've somehow never played Bejeweled 2, this is one of the best versions to go with. Not only do things look gorgeous in 1080p HD, but buying Bejeweled 2 on the PS3 means taking advantage of some features you're only going to find on Sony's big black box.

bjremoteplay1

Bejeweled 2 takes advantage of Remote Play. For those of you not in the know, remote play is a PS3 feature that let's you play certain PS3 games on the go by connecting wirelessly via your PSP. While great in theory, remote play has had a few snags. Slow connection speeds and/or the general nature of the feature mean there's always going to be at least a few milliseconds of delay. That means playing anything from Heavenly Sword to Amplitude wouldn't be a real possibility. It's a big part of the reason so few games take advantage of this. That's why most people just swear by PS1 RPG's (all first gen PlayStation titles work with remote play) and generally leave everything else alone. Well guess what -- it turns out casual puzzlers don't suffer the least bit from that fraction of a second either!

Trophy obsessed PS3 owners should be delighted with Bejeweled 2. Not only can they earn trophies during remote play, but they have things a lot easier than their Xbox 360 brethern. Bejeweled 2 was an Xbox Live Arcade launch title, and to date is reknown for having some of the hardest achievements around. Achieve360Points has given the achievements their most difficult rating -- 10/10, Near Impossible. The PS3 Trophies on the other hand range from fairly simple to incredibly challenging. It's a nice grab bag of difficulty for those who love the carrot at the end of the stick.

There's so much more we could say about Bejeweled 2, but let's be frank -- it's all been said before. This is a game that's been around in one form or another since 2004. The brilliance of puzzle mode, the anxiety-laden gameplay of action mode, the chilled take of classic and endless... We could go on and on. With the exception of games like Puzzle Quest and PopCap's own Bejeweled Twist, few titles have done as much to evolve the genre as Bejeweled 2. Whether you're already a fan or have simply somehow missed out on the phenomenon that is Bejeweled, you're bound to be satisfied with the PS3 edition of Bejeweled 2.

Bejeweled 2 is now available on the PlayStation Store for $9.99.