Bejeweled Twist

Bejeweled Twist is a puzzle game of the Bejeweled series created and published by PopCap Games, released on October 27, 2008.

Gameplay 
Instead of swapping two gems, the player rotates a set of four gems clockwise. Not every move has to form a line of three, but each time a line is formed during a move, a tick will add up to the multiplier bar where every time the bar is filled, the multiplier increases by 1, which multiplies the points earned by matching gems. The multiplier tick bar will be emptied if a move is made which does not line up three or more gems. If the same is done when the bar is empty, the multiplier decreases by 1. The Multiplier maxes out at X10. In all modes but Challenge, there is also a bonus optional mini-challenge that the player can complete by matching the displayed gems in order. Completing the mini-challenge will award the play extra ticks, and will clear one bad gem from the screen (or when there aren't any, more ticks are awarded.) There are several different modes of gameplay available.

Classic
The player attempts to match gems together, and the resulting matches contribute to a level up bar at the left of the screen. When the bar is filled, the player is warped onward to the next level. The game ends when an active Bomb Gem or Doom Gem counts down to zero and the disarm spinner lands on a skull, at which point the game board and the spaceship are destroyed, and the game ends. This is the only mode available in the DSiware version of the game apart from the DS-exclusive Battle Mode.

Zen
Zen Mode is similar to Classic Mode, but do not include Bomb, locked, or Doom gems, therefore it continues endlessly and the player can never lose. This mode does still have Coal for extra bonuses. This mode is intended for beginners and for those who want a more relaxed pace of gameplay.

Challenge
Challenge is unlocked when the player gets to Rank 3 (Rotator).

Challenge Mode is made up of several different challenges. On each planet, the player is given a specific challenge to complete. In the PC and Mac versions, all the planets at the start (except Detonator) are locked. When at least the first challenge on a planet is completed, the next planet is unlocked. Every time a challenge is completed, the player is given stars. Each planet has seven challenges that increase in difficulty. After completing the seventh challenge, the planet's challenge turns into an Eclipse Mode, where the player is given the task to make the highest objective possible in 3 minutes (except for Stratamax and Survivor). There are 13 planets to clear.

Blitz
Blitz is unlocked when Level 10 in Classic Mode is completed for the first time. This mode is unlocked at the beginning in the Steam version.

Blitz is the new name for the original Bejeweled game's timed mode. The gameplay is the same as in Classic Mode, but with a time limit of five minutes to amass as many points as possible. In the web version, the time limit is three minutes. The game ends when a Bomb Gem counts down to zero, or when time runs out. As the game progresses, the announcer will alert the player how much time remains, starting at one-minute intervals, then thirty seconds, and finally at ten seconds, where a countdown can be heard.

Battle 
Battle Mode is exclusive to the Nintendo DS and DSiWare versions of the game. It is identical to Classic Mode, but with differences from said mode. It lets the player battle against another player. The player sends bombs to the other player's board by making 6 consecutive matches. The player attempt to fill up a "tug-of-war" tube to win the match. The player who fills the battle tube first wins. The player levels up their spaceship after winning matches.

Gems
Normal gems come in eight different colors and shapes such as square-shaped rubies, rhombus-shaped topazes, sphere-shaped diamonds, decagonal emeralds, crystal-shaped sapphires, triangle-shaped amethysts and hexagon-shaped tourmaline.

Special Gems 
These are in different forms, and they can be created by matching more than 3 gems in a row, or in different conditions.

Flame Gem 
Flame Gems are created when 4 gems on a straight line, a T, a +, or an L-shaped line of gems are matched. It appears as a gem surrounded with fire. When matched or detonated, it dentonates and eliminates gems in a 3x3 square.

Lightning Gem 
Lightning Gems are created when 5 gems are matched in a row. It appears as a gem full of electricity. When matched or detonated, it destroys all the gems on its row and column.

Supernova Gem 
Supernova Gems are created when 6 or more gems are matched in a straight line. This can only be created by a cascade. It appears as a burning electric gem. When matched or detonated, it destroys three rows and columns of gems from where the gem was detonated. It can be seen as a combination of a Flame and Lightning Gem.

Fruit Gem 
Fruit Gems are created when maxing out the x10 Multiplier twice. The multiplier does not upgrade after the 10th multiplier. Instead, when the multiplier is filled and the player makes another match, a yellow tick will turn into a rainbow tick. When all the rainbow ticks are filled, the multiplier bar shoots out a beam that turns any bad gem (ex: the bomb with the lowest number) into a Fruit Gem. If there are no Bad Gems, a random gem on the board is turned into a Fruit Gem. When matched or detonated, the Fruit Gem shoots out 3 rings of pulse energy that makes all the gems of its color shake and adds ticks to the bombs, and the 4th ring destroys all the gems of the Fruit Gem's color, as well as any locking gems and Lock gems. Any other Fruit Gems cleared due to having the same color as the Fruit Gem that was matched acts like a Flame Gem instead. The Fruit Gem also adds 10 extra ticks to any leftover Bomb Gems or Doom Gems. After that, the bonus turns into a Mega Fruit Bonus. When the Mega Fruit Bonus is completed, fruits will dance on the screen and give the player a big score bonus, and after the bonus, another fruit gem will appear on the board. Fruit Gems do not affect Locking Doom Gems. Its result is similar to a Hypercube.

Coal 
Coal gems appear randomly. Coal can't be matched, but when it is destroyed by the explosion of a Flame, Lightning, or Supernova Gem, it breaks open, geodes pop out from the coal and each geode that appears give a score bonus. There is an easter egg, when the player types in "snackers" on the keyboard with their cursor off the board in the PC version, all the coal will become the face of Snackers, PopCap co-founder and Bejeweled creator Jason Kapalka's cat.

Removed Special Gems 
These are gems not seen normally in-game, but can be placed on the board by modifying the game's files. These were likely concepts, but were taken down later in development.

Ice Gems 
The gem would be created by matching 5 gems in an X formation.

It could stop Bomb and Doom Gems from counting down as well as stopping the Chain Meter from decreasing.

It still allows time to continue ticking down in timed modes though.

Skull Gems 
The notification that appears when an Ice Gem is seen for the first time would have been the only one in Bejeweled Twist that highlights the name of the gem with lavender text color.

Whenever a move is performed while under the effects of an Ice Gem, the Gem Rotator emits small bursts of sparkles as it spins.

When matching an Ice Gem, The background turns blue and the music will pause itself until the Ice effect disappears.

The ice effect lasts for 4 moves but the player can make it last longer by matching more Ice Gems.

This would have been the only type of match in the Bejeweled franchise that does not require a line of gems to be made.

It is possible to re-enable the Ice Gem by modifying the game's files, but the Ice Yem will only work in Challenge Mode.

Angel Gems 
This is the rarest Special gem in the game that is created by making a + match with 5 gems and it will remove all bad gems onscreen. When the game is hacked and an Angel Gem is matched in-game, the game crashes, as it was not coded before it was scrapped. When players restart the game, the gems remain in the arrangement just before the Angel Gem is cleared.

Bad Gems 
The gems over here give obstacles for the player and can end the game. None of these bad gems appear in Zen Mode. At the end of every level in Classic mode, all the bad gems are destroyed.

Bomb Gems 
This is the most dangerous gem in the game. These gems appear starting at Level 2 in Classic mode, and instantly in Blitz Mode.

The gem appears as a gem with a mine. Every time a twist is made, the number on the bomb goes down by 1. On later levels, they start with a lower number. Starting at level 15, Bomb Gems have their timers start at 7 whenever they enter the board. The player must clear the Bomb Gems before the bomb timer reaches 0. When the bomb timer reaches 8, the bomb starts to emit smoke, the number flashes red, and the bomb starts shaking. When the bomb timer reaches 5, the bomb plays a sound every time a twist is made, giving a warning, and the music adds some extra instruments and plays faster. In Classic Mode, if the Bomb Gem reaches 0, the Disarm Spinner appears. In Blitz mode, should a Bomb Gem reach 0, the game immediately ends.

According to evidence found inside the game files of Bejeweled Twist, it seems that Bomb Gems were originally known as Counter Gems.

If players use a Fruit Gem to extend a Bomb Gem by 10 moves, it is possible for the number of moves on it to go over 20.

It is possible to modify one of the XMLs to change the default number of moves on the Bomb Gem, and/or not make it count down one move when starting the next level. One instance where it will be achieved is by changing the number of moves to 35.

The highest possible number of moves that can be on a Bomb Gem, if extended by hacking, is 2,147,483,647; if extended by a Fruit Gem, the number on the bomb will just flash red (as it does when the bomb ticks down to 8 moves) and it will not count down any further with any move.

Disarm Spinner 
When a bomb hits 0, the Disarm Spinner appears, giving the player one last chance to destroy the bomb. A wheel of 8 gems will appear, but 2 gems will immediately turn into Skulls. The wheel will then start spinning, and the player must click on "Click to Stop" (or touch to stop) to stop spinning the wheel.

If the spinner lands on the pair of gems, the bomb will match with the gems, disarming the bomb. 6 more ticks will also be added to any remaining Bomb and Doom Gems.

If the spinner lands on the pair of skulls, the bomb will ignite, and explode, destroying the spaceship, the board, and the planet cube, and the game ends.

Each time a bomb hits 0, two more pairs will turn into skulls until one pair of gems is left. The Disarm Spinner doesn't appear in Blitz mode, so if a bomb hits 0, it instantly explodes and the game ends.

The Disarm Spinner doesn't affect Doom Gems.

Locked Gems 
These gems start appearing in level 4 in Classic mode, but in later levels, they appear more frequently. It doesn't appear in Blitz mode, but they appear in the Challenge Mode's challenge planet, Survivor.

At a random point, a lock will appear over a gem. If the gem isn't matched in the next move, it will turn into a locked gem. A Locked Gem can't be twisted, but it can still be matched to destroy the lock.

Doom Gems 
These deadly gems start appearing at level 13 in Classic. Like Locked Gems, they don't appear in Blitz mode. However, Doom Gems do appear in the challenge modes Survivor and Chain Reaction (only in Eclipse mode).

At a random point, like a Locked Gem, a slightly larger lock with small spikes and purple vapor will appear over a gem. If the gem isn't matched after the next move, it becomes a Doom Gem.

Doom Gems are a unique combination of a Coal, Bomb, and Locked Gem. Like Coals, they can't be matched. They tick down like Bomb Gems, but only after matchless moves. Like Locked Gems, they can't be moved. Only one Doom Gem appears on the board at a time. The gem has a countdown number like a Bomb Gem. If the Doom Gem's number hits 0, it instantly explodes with no chance to disarm it, and the game ends. It cannot be moved or matched, and the Doom Gem can only be destroyed by the explosion of a Flame, Lightning, or Supernova Gem.

In Classic Mode, the lowest starting number for a Doom Gem is 9. Only one Doom Gem appears per level starting at level 13.

In Survivor mode, the Doom Gem is set to a counter of 20, whereas in Eclipse, the Doom Gem is instead set to a counter of 15.

In Chain Reaction (only Eclipse mode), the Doom Gem is set to a counter of 1 to make the challenge more difficult.

The notification that appears when a Doom Gem is seen for the first time is the only one in the game that highlights the name of the gem with red text color. Unlike Locking Gems, Locking Doom Gems do not a have a unique mouseover description.

The sound of a Doom Gem exploding is slightly different from that of a Bomb Gem. The animation slows down a little bit whenever a Doom Gem is destroyed, similar to Coal Gems. Similar to Bomb Gems, the number displayed on the front of a Doom Gem has a colored outline: red-violet. According to early screenshots of Bejeweled Twist, the color of the number displayed on the front of a Doom Gem was originally violet and the outline of the number was bright gray. According to evidence found inside the game files of Bejeweled Twist, it seems that Doom Gems were originally known as Devil Gems. Although Doom Gems do not appear in Bejeweled Blitz and Bejeweled 3, graphics of them can be found inside the game files of those games.

The sound of the Doom Gem ticking down is the same as the sound heard in Bejeweled 3 when a new Bomb Gem appears on the screen. The lock on a Locking Doom Gem is slightly larger than the lock on a regular Locking Gem, and also has spikes on it. It is possible to clear the Locking Doom Gem in two moves, but it takes timing and speed to execute it.

Soundtrack 
The soundtrack to the game is composed by Finnish musician Peter Hajba, known by his demoscene nickname Skaven, and Phillipe Charon. The voice in the main menu and during gameplay is performed by Ken Tamplin. In the Xbox 360 version, it is voiced by Lani Minella.

Legacy
In Bejeweled Blitz LIVE, one of the game modes, Twist, was inspired by this game. The gameplay is almost identical to said game, but with the ability to be able to make counter-clockwise twists and other features shared with the game's Classic mode.

References

External links
Official Bejeweled Twist Homepage

Category:Bejeweled
Category:2008 video games
Category:Mobile games
Category:PopCap games
Category:Windows games
Category:Nintendo DS games
Category:DSiWare games
Category:Zeebo games
Category:Puzzle video games
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Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Griptonite Games
Category:Single-player video games