7 Wonders II is the latest puzzle game from Avanquest, released on DS and adding to Avanquest’s already impressive portfolio of puzzle games (including Mystery Stories and Jewel Quest Expeditions).  The original 7 Wonders was released on PC but the concept has transferred well to the DS, which is hardly surprising – in many ways the DS was made for casual gaming!

The ‘Match 3’ gameplay requires you to match or swap gems into groups of three or more in order to clear them off the board.  Match four or upwards and you will receive bonus power-up gems that will be activated when swapped, such as a gem that will clear all gems from the row it’s on when activated or a gem which causes explosions to destroy gems on various parts of the board.  In order to complete the various levels, you have to clear each of the marked gems within a set timescale, using the stylus to drag and swap tiles over.

In story mode you will receive bricks as you complete each level which will enable you to build up your Seven Wonders but also help you unlock bonuses, such as the ‘Clock Stopper’ which freezes time for twenty seconds and the ‘Chameleon’ bonus, which enables you to change the colour of any tile on the grid.  Secret levels can also be unlocked during gameplay, presenting you with the challenge of getting one particular tile from the top to the bottom of the board in a limited number of moves.

7 Wonders II offers several modes, including story mode, where you build up your Seven Wonders of Stonehenge, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, the Shwedagon Pagoda, Angkor Wat, the Great Wall of China and the Moai Statues.  If you are adept enough to complete all seven secret levels, an Eighth Wonder will also be revealed...  In addition to story mode, free play mode is offered, allowing you to go back and replay levels you have completed already in story mode.

In terms of gameplay, this type of game works perfectly on the DS, simply because it’s so easy to pick up and put down.  The levels are relatively short: it’s easy to get one or two in when you have a few free minutes.  There’s no lengthy dialogue or complicated plot so there’s no fear that you’ll get so enthralled that you’ll miss your stop on the bus or have to quit without saving because your train has arrived.  That’s not to say it’s not engrossing, however: it has that well-known ‘just five more minutes’ factor that easily translates into an extra half hour playing.

7 Wonders II is a straightforward, no-nonsense puzzle game which simply offers addictive, challenging puzzling to keep you amused.  The game is great fun and, although a little difficult at times, the odd failed level is a great incentive to keep playing and keep improving.  I really enjoyed this and certainly rate it as one of the better ‘Match 3’ games that I’ve played, all the more so because it fits so perfectly on the DS format.  Another lovely release from Avanquest!

**Review by Donna Haw**