Cookie Jam

Game overview

Matching games have been around for, well, decades. And it seems that now with apps at our fingertips, there's a new one that comes out every week (especially around major movies releases). Cookie Jam runs the same as the others like it, except with desserts and pastries- get three or more of the same in a row to dissolve those items. Four in a row gets you a row or column eliminator, five gets you a piece of multi-coloured cake. Switching that cake gets rid of every cookie of that colour. Sound familiar?

But wait, there's more! There are pesky gingerbread men climbing over cookies and wreaking havoc on your game in some levels. In others, you need to clear the screen and drop desserts into boxes at the bottom. Still others have troublesome waffle cone pieces that need to be broken in order to continue (too bad eating them isn't an option instead!) And all the while, an adorable Parisian panda shows you the ropes with tips and tricks throughout the levels. While it's not a new concept, Cookie Jam does a great job of putting a new twist on an old favourite.

➔ Main points:

• Easy matching game for both newbies and veterans
• Beautiful and delicious-looking graphics
• Keeps you busy with over a thousand levels
• Constant updates and special events keep the game lively

Full review

The game that's as easy as pie!

The gameplay is the same as others of its kind, which means it's easily accessible to everyone who's played anything similar. If this is a player's first exposure to this kind of game, then the quick and easy tutorial that's integrated into the early stages of gameplay will have them caught up very soon. The levels are quickly and fairly easy in the beginning, which leaves the player feeling productive and successful as they advance. As the later levels come up, it takes quick skill and planning. When you run out of lives, the shop offers to help you buy your way through with extra lives, but not to the point of being annoying about it. There has been some recent chatter that the updates as of late have made the game unstable and buggy, but that wasn't something that this reviewer experienced.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself craving something sweet as you play.

WARNING: Do Not Lick The Screen

Simply put, these graphic rock. The cookies all have amazing depth of colour and design. They're bright and fun, and add to the overall charisma and playfulness of the game (the way the gingerbread man climbs up your board is especially well animated and, well, cute). Moreover, they look absolutely delicious. Like in other games, your goal is to get three stars in each level, which is dependent on the number of points you have. As you gain more stars, your desserts get more and more delicious-looking. Don't be surprised if you find yourself craving something sweet as you play.

Layers of graphics make layers of chocolate look good

Because Nothing Says Dessert Like Paris

For some reason, when the game makers decided to come up with the concept for this game, they decided the best place to set it was in Paris. Or, more generally, to make the game have a "je ne sais quoi" French atmosphere about it. Some of the language makes its way into the English instructions, and when you make a really great move, there's the subtitle and the sound of a Frenchman saying "Ooh La La" in a sultry way. This is great the first few times you hear it. But by the tenth level, it might start to get on your nerves. If you find this happening, feel free to play without the sound. That way, the game still looks amazing, but you don't need to be bothered with the sounds and music.

Overall...

This game is fun, addicting, and has a quick turnover of levels. This means you can play it in small increments if you choose, without needing to worry about losing your place. While the sounds do distract from the general positive aesthetic of the game, the graphics do a superb job of reinventing an old concept and make the game one worth playing.