Gems of the Aztecs

Match three games are not designed to revolutionize much of anything, but they are designed to steal as much of our time as possible. The core mechanics are always the same, but each individual game comes with a few twists and turns that keep players engaged. Hence, if you have fallen prey to one of these games, it’s very likely that others can do the same to you.

Gems of the Aztecs does not look all that different at first, since it uses the same formula as most other match three games out there. However, it’s also pretty challenging if you are new to the genre, because there’s a limited number of moves you must adhere to in order to complete each round. Thankfully, there are plenty of bonuses to whip out when you are under pressure.

The story that runs its course in the background can be completely ignored if you do not wish to concern yourself with it, but even if you choose to pay attention, it’s still not something to lose sleep over. In short, you are a poor man who falls in love with the daughter of a very wealthy king, and he obviously doesn’t want you to marry her. Thus, he sends you on a series of impossible quests in order to prove your love.

Scoring four or more gems in a row means that you get special items to toy with on the board. Some of them cause huge explosions, while others give you a lot of points over time. You can also make use of special abilities when things get tough, although you need to exchange currency in order to unleash them. Some of the levels can be quite punishing if you don’t employ special abilities.

In the graphics department it’s business as usual, since everything is as shiny and colorful as possible to draw attention. The artwork is smooth and the particle effects are quite satisfying, although nothing too fancy. Even the cutscenes look decent, although the resolution of the images seems a bit low for today’s standards.

Even if it’s not the best of its kind, Gems of the Aztecs is still a good game if you are interested in the genre. Thus, it can certainly keep you busy for a few hours and provide you with a decent challenge in most cases.