| Game Reviews From a Parental Perspective! | |
|
|
|
| Home | Forums | Review Archive | Columns | Feature Articles |
|
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Scroll down for our Kid Factor. 
The basic 'swap-three' puzzle type made insanely popular by Bejeweled has spawned many clones over the past several years - some more closely related to the original than others. Some have been good, others have been bad, but all have shown that the simple gameplay developed by the original has loads of possibilities. 7 Wonders of the Ancient World has its' own variations on the theme - you are responsible for 'building' these world wonders one stage at a time. This involves clearing areas shaped like pillars or blocks or other objects (nothing too extreme), and also delivering a cornerstone to the builders to set the building in motion. After that, clearing the other bricks finishes the level.
The core gameplay is Bejeweled - swap adjacent blocks and match three or more blocks to clear them. Matching four gives you a special orb that clears a horizontal row; matching five give a mega-orb that clears a row and column; matching more than fifteen gems with a single move nets you a special orb that will randomly clear out between fifteen and twenty gems around the board. These bonuses happen pretty often and easily offset the fact that the cornerstone cannot be swapped or moved and blocks all special orb effects. Playing is simple on both the PC and PSP - select the gem you want to swap, then either choose a swap direction or the block you want to swap with. You will complete your first 'wonder' within a half hour and then ask how much there is to do in the game. When you realize the answer is 'how many is seven', you will also realize that the game only lasts for a few hours and that replayability is just repeating the same challenge in structured or free-form mode. By putting a discrete end on the game the emphasize its' shortness in a way that makes it feel very small. Since it isn't very challenging even with the added replay difficulty, after the second run you will be unlikely to play again - this is not going to be one of those games you keep at the ready for some quick burst play: that is basically because it is inferior to Bejeweled and clones such as Puzzle Quest - get one of those instead.  
There is absolutely nothing to be concerned about here. You are swapping blocks, nothing more. The only concern I would have compared to straight Bejeweledis that you have a timer - if you run out of time you fail and have to try again until you run out of lives. This makes the pacing a bit more frantic than many other swap-three style games - but still nothing of major concern.
Other Platforms: PC: Looks great, solid game throughout, very easy controls. PSP: Same as the PC version, very solid but controls not quite as flexible. Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: 7 Wonders of the Ancient World |
Read the GamerDad 2007 Holiday Guide!
|
Please Note: GamerDad is not intended to be read by anyone under 18. We stay clean, but be warned! Content Management System developed by Redbird Solutions. |
