Review – 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

Publisher: Mumbo Jumbo
Developer: Hot Lava Games (Mumbo Jumbo)
Platform(s): Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Sony PS2, PC
Genre: Puzzle

Rating: Everyone

The Scoop: Mumbo Jumbo adds an ancient twist to the tried and true Bejeweled formula.  While there may not be much innovation, the highly addictive puzzle gameplay stays intact giving fans of the puzzle genre another reason to keep matching 3 gems.

The Setup: In 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, players are tasked with clearing puzzle boards filled with multi-colored runes in an effort to rebuild the 7 Wonders.  Anyone who has played Bejeweled or any of its clones will feel right at home with the gameplay as Mumbo Jumbo kept the match 3 puzzle mechanic made famous by Bejweled, which makes this  an easily pretty easy to pick up and play.

Each section of the puzzle board is filled with a stone tile which gets cleared when players make a match in that particular section.  A match consists of lining up at least 3 of the same colored rune in a row either vertically or horizontally.  Once a stone tile gets cleared it gets sent to the top screen of the DS where a “worker” retrieves the tile and uses it to build one of the 7 Wonders.  Once all stone tiles have been removed from the puzzle board and sent up to the workers the level is cleared and you’re one step closer to rebuilding a 7 Wonder.

Each level also has a cornerstone/capstone that players must get to the very bottom of the board and send it up to their workers. These stones will become uncovered as you clear stone tiles, and must be sent up to the workers before the level can be completed.

What’s Hot:

• Matching 4 or more gems in a row rewards players with runes that hold special powers, such as clearing a whole vertical or horizontal row.
• The backdrop and theme music change to match the location of each of the 7 Wonders.
• The match 3 puzzle mechanic makes this puzzle game easy to pick up and play.
• Perfect for short gaming sessions and on-the-go gaming.
• Different puzzle board shapes adds some challenge.
• Your workers will go on strike if they don’t receive any stones in a period of time, so you’re forced to keep a steady pace.

What’s Not:

• No multiplayer component.
• Can be completed in a few hours.
• Aside from the “Ancient” theme, 7 Wonders of the Ancient World doesn’t bring anything new or innovative to the table.
• Lack of depth and story

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