For those who would enjoy another remake of the Bejeweled game, the iPhone App Store offers Diamond Twister. For only $4.99, you too can switch different colored gems to create combinations of three or more to try to earn enough points to pass a level in an impossible time limit! But wait, act now and we can throw in a shoddy story line that actually detracts from the whole experience.
Yes, Diamond Twister is simply Bejeweled with a story line, if I could justify calling it a story line. In Diamond Twister, you play an expert jewel thief who travels the world trying to steal ridiculously large gems from exotic cities. You play multiple levels of bejeweled in each city, trying to get rid of enough gems to earn enough points to clear the level. A new addition is the "security fuse" at the bottom of the screen. This acts as a timer for the whole level, and as with the story line it brings the whole experience down. Whenever you’re stuck there is a hint in the form or enlarging gems to show you which one you should move. If you run out of moves, you get a very kind notice while the game takes a few seconds to rearrange all the gems on the screen, eating up some of your clock.
Luckily the graphics are excellent and the sound is very good. The controls are simple, involving only dragging the gems with a finger. As each level is completed, you get a notice of how much money you earned compared to your goals and consumed time. Once all the levels in your current location are completed, the next city (and possibly a new challenge mode) is unlocked. There are multiple challenge modes outside of the regular single player mode, and this helps increase the difficulty of the game. It also includes a classic mode, which eliminates the time limit and is a lot more enjoyable than the regular game.
There is no issue with load time and the game can be paused at any time to go check your mail or other functions.
As a whole, Diamond Twister was decent though it would be much improved without the lame story. I found I was more amused playing the classic version than the story mode, as the time limit most often seemed impossible at higher levels. The game was a drain on battery, but so is anything else that requires constant use of the screen. However, for only $5 the game is an economical choice over pricier titles.
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