Bejeweled Hypercash
A million games have been created now that are all about matching items of some sort, clearing three or more at a time in order to let more fall onto the screen. Broadly known as “match three” games, they include titles like Columns, Candy Crush, and Marvel Puzzle Quest.
One of the best known examples, however, is the classic video game known as Bejeweled. Originally released in 2001, there have been numerous versions of the title created since then, each of which pits players with the task of moving gems around a screen in order to make chains of three or more of the same gem in order to clear them from the screen and cause others to fall into their place.
This is certainly a skill-based game, and a challenging one at that, especially if you’re trying to be as efficient as possible. But the same type of gameplay has also worked its way into a number of different online gambling games, including at least one that is directly tied to this franchise. In Bejeweled Hypercash, players are tasked with making the same types of matches as in the original game, though they have no ability to move gems, making this a contest of luck. They’ll also need to make bigger combinations: you’ll have to get at least six identical gems touching each other in order to earn a prize. On the bright side, players will have the help of some special icons that make it easier to make massive combinations.
A Fortune in Jewels
Bejeweled Hypercash is actually the name of multiple games that have been released by multiple developers for various websites, each of which has slightly different gameplay rules. In this article, we’re talking about the version seen on Jackpot Joy. This title fits right into the broad grouping of offerings known as specialty games – which is really just a way of saying that it doesn’t fit into one of the major casino categories.
At the start of each game, you’ll be able to set a bet amount from a wide range of options in your chosen currency. The game area consists of an eight by eight grid that is filled with a number of different gems: green, purple, yellow, blue, white, orange and red. Each color is also a unique shape, so it’s easy to play even for those who have trouble distinguishing colors.
The colors aren’t actually important when it comes to determining how much money you’ll win. The only important thing is that only identical gems can match with each other, and it is these matches that will earn you prizes. When you are ready to start the game, you’ll hit the “Go!” button, at which point a new set of gemstones will fall into the playing field.
At this point, a few things can happen. In order to score a win, you’ll need six or more of the same gems touching each other somewhere on the screen. These stones don’t have to be in a single straight line; as long as each touches at least one other either horizontally or vertically (not diagonally), they will continue the chain.
The longer a chain, the more money you stand to win. Here’s how the prizes scale up, based on your initial bet:
- Six: 0.25x
- Seven: 0.75x
- Eight: 1.5x
- Nine: 9x
- 10: 5x
- 11: 10x
- 12: 20x
- 13: 30x
- 14: 50x
- 15: 80x
- 16 or More: 100x
Even if you have more than one winning combination on the screen, only one will pay out at a time. Each time you receive a win in this way, the gems will leave the screen, causing the gems above them to fall down, and more to fall in place from above. If you now have at least one winning chain, you’ll get paid out again, and the process will continue until you no longer have any ways to win.
The Lightning Round
These is one special feature that’s worth talking about in Bejeweled Hypercash. Along with the standard seven types of gemstones that populate the game, you’ll occasionally also see lightning hypercubes that off you a special opportunity to make bigger combinations. These special stones will destroy all of a random color of gems on the screen, causing new rocks to fall in their place. This is beneficial, as it will move other gemstones closer together – and with one color entirely missing, there will be a better shot at hitting a big chain.
These hypercubes will also allow you to continue playing even if you don’t yet have any winning combinations. As long as you either have a qualifying combo or at least one hypercube on the screen, the game will continue and you can keep collecting prizes.
No Skill, but Odds Aren’t Bad
You shouldn’t need us to tell you that Bejeweled Hypercash isn’t a game of skill. The only interaction you’ll have with the machine is hitting the button to start the action, after which each round plays out by itself. That puts you at the mercy of fate, and even the amount you choose to wager won’t change your odds.
However, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the odds in this game aren’t terrible, especially for a specialty title. Overall, the expected return to player is 94.26%, meaning the house edge is under 6% -- about in the range of a solid Internet slot machine, and well above many other offbeat games like this one.
A Light Bit of Fun
Bejeweled Hypercash isn’t the kind of game that is likely to keep players occupied for very long. Without any interaction and light on features, there isn’t much here to engage a gambler; you’ll mostly be sitting back and watching the results roll in, making it a very passive experience.
Still, this is one of the more enjoyable titles in this category of gaming. There’s quite a lot of nostalgia involved when you play, and it can be fun to try and anticipate cascading combinations that will pay out big prizes before they happen. If you have a little time to kill and want a light way to gamble, or you have great memorizes of playing Bejeweled over the past 15 years, you’ll want to check this one out.
