Jewel hunters will need to be on their “A” game to mine the most fun from this app

Platform: Android

RATING:
4 out of 5

PRICE:
$2.99

TASTY:
A colorful, casual game that challenges players to swap shiny jewels around into matching sets to remove them from the playfield.

BUMMER:
No multiplayer mode to match your skills with others online.

COOL:
Each time you remove a set, new jewels fall into place, sometimes causing massive chain reactions as additional matches occur. (A little like “tilting” your favorite old school pinball game!)

Read all of my Apple iPad and Google Android application reviews at Appolicious and Yahoo! Tech.

Matching games like Aces Jewel Hunt HD have been around for ages. The concept is simple enough: You’re confronted with a wall of jewels, and it’s your job to swap them around into matching sets to remove them from the playfield.

Each time you remove a set, new jewels fall into their place, sometimes causing massive chain reactions as additional matches occur. These spontaneous jem-clearing reactions can take a few seconds or, in rare cases, more than a minute to wrap themselves up. (Boom, POW!)

Aces Jewel Hunt also offers an arsenal of special traps that can be placed in specific locations, or dropped or fired into place to remove an entire row, column, or group of jewels. Each special will help you remove stubborn portions of the screen that contain no matches. (I seem to be a magnet for these kinds of situations!)

Online leaderboards boast the best personal, daily, weekly, and “all time” scores. With that kind of churn, you’re sure to move into a higher spot with a little effort. My son and I have traded the top spot several times over the past two weeks, but have yet to crack into a reasonable daily or weekly slot.
With three modes of play – quick play, challenge, and timed – you’ll never get bored of this instant classic. The music and sound effects also enhance the gaming experience, adding up to a matching game that’s worth a place on your Android device.

A free version is also available in the Android Marketplace, so be sure to try before you buy.