Compare Match 3 Games
by Scott Lewis
One of the most common mechanics in the casual puzzle game is the matching of three or more like elements. Today we're going to take a brief look at a few different games utilizing this core mechanic.
Generally, a Match 3 game consists of a grid of objects (usually square, but occasionally hexagonal) that can be manipulated in some way to form combinations. The most common manipulation is switching two neighboring elements as in Bejeweled, the most representative member of the category. New objects are filled in to replace those matched and the game continues, generally until some external timer ticks off or a score threshold is reached. Individual games mix up one or more of these elements, often adding power ups in the form of objects with special properties, to varying degrees of success.
Our first entry into the category is 'The Walls of Jericho'. Thematically, this game is about knocking down the walls of ancient cities and appeasing your followers. The followers serve as the external timer, staying longer as you break blocks and leaving when you fail to do so. The primary mechanical variation Walls of Jericho provides is that you make matches by dragging individual blocks through the grid rather than simply matching pairs. This allows much greater than normal freedom of movement and results in a board with far more matches at any one time than the player can possibly take advantage of. While interesting, this mechanic, combined with the form of timer used tends to result in rewarding spastic, as opposed to strategic, play. Walls of Jericho ends with a 3/5.
Next we examine Ball'n by Cyanimation. Thematically, Ball'n is a mess. You're motivated by some sort of extreme skater dressed penguin and given not even the simplest of motivations for what's going on. Mechanically, Ball'n is simply Bejewelled recoded with assorted sports balls instead of gemstones. The powerups purchased between levels add nothing to gameplay and the game is further confused by the lack of any instructions upfront or any variation on gameplay. If you want a pure form of Match 3, you're far better off getting Bejewelled 2. Ball'n gets a 1/5.
Our next game is 'Bewitched' by Gamehouse. Based on the popular (if somewhat old) television series, the game takes advantage of its license for an easy to grasp theme. This game is far more polished than the other entries, tying together the expected audio track (which will not leave your head) with some nice visuals both in game and during loading. The game also has enough variety in modes to keep gameplay fresh and excellent help and tutorial modes. The primary variation on gameplay is the presence of a hidden path on the board. Your character (Samantha) starts at a space on the board and must make her way across the board to a known exit. You can only see the area of the board immediately around Samantha's current location. When you make a match, in addition to getting points per usual, any steps on Samantha's path under the matched objects are revealed and Samantha moves forward. The goal, then, is to get the entire path revealed before time expires, rather than clearing a board or reaching a score threshold. This variation creates a better feeling of moving toward a goal. The combination of strong theme, quality graphics and addicting gameplay combine to make Bewitched a solid 5/5.
It is interesting to consider how many of the games we play are closely related to one another. The question of whether copying a mechanic is good or bad for the end user is the subject of much debate. The reality, of course is that it could go either way. A game like Ball'n adds nothing to the experience, simply repackaging a mechanic to try to cash in on the success of an existing (better) game. A game like Bewitched, however, adds to the cannon with new mechanics, strong presentation and gameplay that goes beyond its predecessors. At the end of the day, the game's the thing.