Vega Mix 2: Adventure

The pieces you can build

A basic match is three or more identical pieces in a line, and it explodes them. Bigger shapes are where the game gets interesting, because each one leaves a power-up behind. Four in a row creates a Rocket, which clears an entire line. Four arranged as a square creates a Spinner, which knocks out one of the level’s targets. Five pieces in a T shape make a Bomb with a huge blast, and five in a straight line make the Rainbow Flower, which sets off pieces of the same color.

Playing for the bigger shapes

Since the power-ups come from matches of four and five, it pays to look past the first set of three you notice and check whether a swap elsewhere would make something bigger. The Spinner is handy when a level is nearly done, because it goes after one of your targets directly. The most powerful play the game describes is matching any two power-ups with each other, which produces a range of strong effects, so when two of them end up side by side, pairing them is well worth considering.

Obstacles and the island

Levels come scattered with obstacles to break through, and there are many kinds. The variety is deliberate: different obstacles call for different strategies, which keeps the levels from feeling alike. Some of the puzzles are tricky and ask for real strategic thinking. Your score climbs with every match you make, and each board you clear moves the two heroines onward across the magical island.