The match-3 genre is perhaps one of the most popular and competitive on the app store, with simple and addictive gameplay mechanics, they make the perfect mobile game. Developers hoping to make a successful Match 3 title must compete with well-established classics, but they must also steer clear of the hundreds of clones. Birzzle Pandora it does this, in a number of ways. It offers 3 very different game variations and has slightly different gameplay mechanics than most titles.
Each game mode has unique gameplay and is polished enough to be a separate title in its own right. Let’s start with the classic mode, just like other match 3 games, your goal is to group 3 or more birds to remove them from the playing field. However, instead of the usual swap mechanic, you can pick up any exposed bird and drop it on any column. Match 4 or more and you get a supercharged bird, the more you add, the more powerful the effect. The brilliant thing here is that the matches will linger on the screen for a moment before disappearing, giving you plenty of time to add more. If you are quick and can manage a group of 7 or more, you will receive a black hole bird that clears the entire playing field regardless of how many birds are stacked there. Every few seconds a new layer of birds falls from above and the game ends when there is no more room for new birds to fall. Levels increase as you earn points, which makes new birds fall faster, but also increases the points you get from matches. When you pass level 10, birds with padlocks start to appear, requiring 2-3 matches to remove them from the game.
Pandora mode is the main event and is like a blitz option. You start the round with 90 seconds on the clock, and of course, once the time is up, it’s game over. Between the birds there are blocks with the letters of the word. BirzzleThese cannot be moved and can only be destroyed with lit birds. However, when you destroy them, you will receive a variety of bonuses, such as overtime and bombs or obstacles, such as wooden blocks that get in your way and cannot be matched. Picking up all the letters from Birzzle It gives you the opportunity to earn a more powerful bonus, long periods of time, or advanced levels to increase your scoring potential. Unlike the classic mode, new birds enter from the bottom and only when there is room for them, the faster you match, the more opportunities you have. Pandora mode has that ‘one more turn’ quality that keeps you coming back for more and you always end up feeling like you can accomplish more.
The end game mode is Ice Break, and this is like playing a completely different game. Unlike the other modes, you cannot move birds once they are on the playing field, you can only drop one bird at a time. The first two rows are submerged in water, and while you can match here, you’ll need to focus on the area above. Your goal is to clear all the ice blocks above the waterline by making matches next to them. When all the ice is cleared, a new wave pushes up from below and you gain an additional 20 seconds. Scattered across the ice are bonuses like overtime and bombs to help you. You’ll also find golden eggs that add to your final score and may have something to do with a secret game mode seemingly only found in Ice Break. Large groups are a bit more difficult to do here, but with a little strategy, it is still possible.
Graphics are bright and cheerful, crisp and well defined. All fired up birds look fantastic when they get going. The birds look a bit like they were smuggled in with very small boxes, but I only noticed it briefly. The backgrounds look good and are not distracting. The only problem I found was that the screen could seem a bit cluttered at times, especially in Pandora mode with all the additional effects activating all at once, sometimes even interrupting the flow of the game. The sound effects are nothing special, but they are not bad either, they are fun and most importantly to me, they don’t get annoying. There are some nice little touches when using power-ups, but it’s not really atmospheric.
Social media integration is included in the options menu, but I couldn’t link to my Facebook account. I’m not sure if this is a bug or just a function they are still working on. However, Game Center works fine, you can compare your scores with your friends and if you want to get demoralized you can take a look at the global scores. However, social media issue aside, this is a solidly built app, I have experienced no glitches to date.
Birzzle Pandora is a really fun, simple and addictive title and offers a variety of play styles with simple controls and a delicate balance between strategy and fast-paced action. Fans of the Match-3 genre should be happy with this title and newcomers should find it a great place to start. Apart from some minor problems Birzzle Pandora It is a polished and well designed app, I rate it 4 stars. It is definitely worth the time.
Achievements 50
650 points
Birzzle Pandora HD Achievements