The AOL Games Blog

This one is a biggie. The original Jewel Quest, released back in the dark days of 2004, remains one of our most popular games. Now Jewel Quest 2 has arrived. Does it beat the original? Can it still cut the mustard in the crowded 3-match puzzle genre. Let me know in the comments - tournament mode is looking awesome.

[Update] Some more info on tournament mode

Q: What is Tournament mode?

A: Tournament mode, also known as “Dueling Jewels,” automatically matches you up with players around the world that have a similar skill level to you. Both players will play the exact same board against each other to see who gets the higher score. If you win, your rating will go up and you will compete against people of higher skill level.

Q: What’s the best strategy to win in Tournament Mode?

A: In the end, the person who makes the hardest and best matches the quickest will win. But some rules of thumb:

- Try to match more than 3 jewels for bonus points.
- Try to achieve multiple matches with big cascade effects.
- Try to turn the board gold as soon as possible to enter the bonus round.
- When in the bonus round, match as many silver coins as possible to boost your score.

Q: How do ratings work in Tournament Mode?
A: Ratings are adjusted after every game, based on the ratings of your opponent. Your rating will go up depending on how good the person you beat was -- the better they are, the more it'll go up. If you lose, your rating will go down, also dependent upon how well matched the game was.

|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this