In the ever-growing casual gaming market, few games have been able to rival the runaway smash hit that is Bejeweled. The game is loved by gamers and non-gamers alike, and has been emulated by several games on the market, like the recent smash hit Puzzle Quest. From Playrix Entertainment, Around the World in 80 Days looks to be another game to cash in on the Bejeweled puzzle phenomenon. Offering a storyline inspired by the Jules Verne intermixed with Bejeweled color matching elements, Around the World in 80 Days is an interesting story-based spin on the causal game. However, the story elements might not be enough to cause Bejeweled players to reinvest in what is in many ways the same game. Still, if you haven’t gotten your fill of the game and would like to check it out from a different story-focused angle, then Around the World in 80 Days might be worth your time.

Around the World in 80 Days follows the story elements of the book fairly closely. You’ll follow the odyssey of well-off Londoner Phileas Fogg as he takes a gentlemen’s wager with some friends that he can go on a tour around the world in 80 days. He brings along his French valet by the name of Passepartout with him as he hits up a variety of landmarks across the globe to meet his deadline.

The gameplay is immediately recognizable to Bejeweled fans, as it revolves around colored jewels that need to be matched up in order to score points. One of the key differences is the fact that in order to proceed, you must get pieces of key items to reach the bottom. These items show up on the grid and by knocking blocks out of the way, they will slowly fall to the bottom of the screen. Once they get to the bottom row, then you’ll gain them in your inventory. These are all items that Fogg needs on his voyage, so collecting them will allow the story to progress.

Aside from the required key items, scoring matching combos will allow you to gain other items that will help you knock out other blocks. These include hammers (which will knock out on block on the grid), or other items capable of knocking out a more sizable chunk on the grid and give you the edge.

The game’s graphics are pretty nice, but nothing that should cause problems for most low-end machines. The sprite-based graphics grids are bright and colorful, and are basically all you could hope for from a casual puzzler. Around the World in 80 Days has a soundtrack to it, but it’s pretty basic. There are a handful of tunes that sound pretty mellow and shouldn’t take away from the experience.

Around the World in 80 Days is a nice spin on the Bejeweled formula, but unfortunately the story elements aren’t really enough to pull the game through its derivative gameplay. Even though there are a few updates to the original game, Around the World in 80 Days just feels too much like a retread of Bejeweled to make it a worthy purchase for gamers who have gotten their fill of the popular puzzler. However, if you haven’t quite made the plunge and have no interest in Puzzle Quest, then Around the World in 80 Days might be just what you’re looking for.

Gameplay: 7.5
Classic Bejeweled gameplay, but unfortunately doesn’t do enough to separate itself from the original formula.

Graphics: 7.0
The decent sprite-based are bright and nicely colorful, but won’t flex your PC’s muscle whatsoever.

Sound: 7.0
A fairly barebones soundtrack composed of a handful of songs that don’t detract from the gameplay experience.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.0
Adding story elements to Bejeweled is a nice touch, but Around the World in 80 Days does little else to separate it from other Bejeweled clones.

Overall: 7.0
Around the World in 80 Days offers story and purpose to the classic Bejeweled formula, but unfortunately doesn’t add much to the overall experience.