Jewels II: The Ultimate Challenge

A challenging game for puzzle lovers, plus an interesting way to learn about earlier cultures. Definitely worth it for the visuals, sound, and the workout for yer ol' noggin.

However, these criticisms aside, I had a great time wrinkling my brow over this fine collection of beautifully animated puzzles. I’d be first in line to play Jewels III.

However, these criticisms aside, I had a great time wrinkling my brow over this fine collection of beautifully animated puzzles. I’d be first in line to play Jewels III.

However, these criticisms aside, I had a great time wrinkling my brow over this fine collection of beautifully animated puzzles. I’d be first in line to play Jewels III.

If you looking for something with a story or adventure, this isn't the place to be, but if you like a challenging if rather short-lived mind game, then Gems' 24 puzzles will likely keep you occupied for the duration.

Jewels II is ideal for logic puzzle enthusiasts and I enjoyed completing each challenge though I must admit to peeking at the Professor's journal once or twice, and to finishing a few of the puzzles on easy mode :) . If you use the journal judiciously and don't read too far it won't completely spoil the fun. Better still, play this one along with a friend - two heads are definitely better than one when it comes to solving these brain teasers!

Like a number of similar games before it, Gems of Darkness basically takes classic puzzles out of puzzle books and gives them a multimedia makeover. Devoted puzzle fans will probably want to check out this game, because it offers plenty of challenge, especially when played on the hard setting. But if you are looking for innovative puzzle design, you won't find it here: by and large, the puzzles are formulaic, stale, and dated. These Gems never really scintillate.

It takes only a few moments of playing Jewels II: The Ultimate Challenge, Courtland Shakespeare’s 1997 sequel to his 1995 Jewels of the Oracle, to realize that this game is not so much a sequel as it is a remake. The basic premise is identical. You wander from room to room, discover how to operate ancient machines, and collect a gem for each puzzle solved. Solve all 24 puzzles and you have the opportunity to solve the last one and uncover the (modest) secret of the Kavi, the long gone folks who built the place that now lays in ruin. If you like Jewels of the Oracle, you may like Jewels II: The Ultimate Challenge.

If you liked Cydonia and you're looking for the next great game from Dreamcatcher, you won't find it in Jewels II. In fact, Jewels II isn't even an adventure game; it's a collection of "puzzles." More importantly, these aren't puzzles in the adventure game sense, but brainteasers, or what are sometimes referred to as twaddleware.

This is my first negative review. I don't like giving negative reviews because I would rather companies produce average adventure games than not produce any at all. However, Jewels II is simply not an adventure game. Trust me on this one.

If you liked Cydonia and you're looking for the next great game from Dreamcatcher, you won't find it in Jewels II. In fact, Jewels II isn't even an adventure game; it's a collection of "puzzles." More importantly, these aren't puzzles in the adventure game sense, but brainteasers, or what are sometimes referred to as twaddleware. So, if it isn't an adventure game, why is JA reviewing it? Because Dreamcatcher is presenting it as if it is. Therefore, I'll review it as if it is.