Crepe Cafe - Levels 355 - 360 (Region 60)

[Phaedrakiki]

From the 13 August post (http://blog.teamlava.com/post/58190189307/new-content-august-12-15-2013) of the TL Blog (http://blog.teamlava.com/):


http://media.tumblr.com/7dbfc297c8a0a8708ffd77162558ab1e/tumblr_inline_mrhn74tdtg1qz4rgp.png

So versatile, so yummy, so delicious! This level can be hand-wrapped just the way you like it! Enjoy the delectable nature of the Crepe Cafe in Jewel Mania (https://www.facebook.com/JewelManiaGame)!


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I haven't reached this island yet, but I thought I'd get the thread ready, in case anyone else has tips to share! Looks like fun!

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 355: 18 glass in 40 moves (6JC.) Well, the reprieve from doom jewels is over. This level starts out with 4 of them in the middle of the board, then you get "surprise" doomies falling throughout the round. There are windows and cutouts, which create little pockets on the sides that separate the jewels from the rest of the play area. You'll need row blasters (or other special jewels) to break the glass under the bottom 2 jewels on either side (double glass!) The pockets above those are hard-to-reach, but can be accessed from the main board.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/738b996b-cc7a-4e7e-8ec0-c98b5bec8b11_zps09bfec40.jpg

I think this took me 3 tries to pass; the screenshot above is from my "winning round" (I just love that doom jewel/diamond match!) ;) On my first attempt, I could barely make a row blaster...the 6 jewel colors can sometimes make it difficult to make special jewels. In fact, the only combo I could make in all 3 attempts was a blaster + blaster. But on my 3rd try, I got lucky with diamonds. I was able to make 3 (or 4?,) as well as several row (horizontal) blasters. That was perfect to knock out all the glass! Only 1 star (bad habit lately, lol.) So, I'll be back playing this again soon. Np, it was quite fun! :D

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 356: 36 glass in 1:40 (6JC.) Timed doom jewels, yuck! :p But luckily, there's only 4...one in each corner, with 1:15 on its timer. And no surprise doomies dropping in, either. There are windows in the board that make it difficult to match around them. In fact, making any matches at all is tough with all 6 colors in play, and I've had a few reshuffles. I haven't been able to create many special jewels, and no combos yet. However, this level is pretty straightforward...just gotta break all the glass (if you can, lol!)

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/5f5e998c-ec4c-442c-b45a-472c597479db_zps67f9c624.jpg

I haven't got very far with this one; still working on it. I'm trying to move fast, and focus on the doom jewels in the corners (trying to get to them in time is turning out harder than you'd think!) And then I'm also keeping an eye out for matches near the windows, as well as for special jewel-making opportunities.

[Phaedrakiki]

Whew, finally made it past 356! Never could get a combo going on this level, but I did have a diamond and a couple blasters. Had to use the diamond because a doomie was about to blow, but it also helped with other glass, of course. I was surprised to pass, because I think the time on this is very, very tight! I'm just glad it's over... Ihtl (My new acronym, "I hate timed levels", lol!)

Level 357: 14 fire in 50 moves (6JC.) There's a window & cutout in the board, which help create an almost completely separated "fire pit" at the bottom left of the board. The fire begins to spread right away, with each move. There's also surprise doom jewels that drop in from time to time, with 8 move counts on them.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/a54ac801-7ed5-4656-bc80-04010e163c53_zps945853fc.jpg

Having all 6 colors in play makes it tough to clear the doom jewels sometimes. I had several explode on me, so don't wait to clear them! Special jewels aren't as easy to make either, but I found it varied round to round. I was hoping to get a blaster + bomb down on the lower right side--swap 'em and clear all the fire at once! But it's even harder to make combos. I made a diamond, as well as lots of blasters during the round I passed. Used the blasters to put out some fire, which left a path for some jewels. Then I used the diamond with a color that was closest to the most flames, which put out more fire. After that, I just made regular matches in the "firepit area" to clear the rest. Only had like 4 moves left. Simple, but passed with 2 stars, lol! :)

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 358: 12 fire in 2:15 (6JC.) Timed fire level, starts with 2 doom jewels with 1:15 on their timers; additional doomies with shorter timers drop in randomly. You have to break through triple-boarded crates to get to the doom jewels at the bottom, in an area further isolated by cutouts in the board. This layout makes the flames to the right & left hard to access directly. The flames will start spreading the second the level starts. Ugh, this is very difficult!

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/7a739fa3-cc84-48f9-b6c2-68b3a48bcf6a_zpse3b2a947.jpg

The fire is really hard to contain. When you're trying to get through the crates to get to the doom jewels, you tend to focus moves in the center of the board (always watching for those doomies, though.) So the fire starts spreading up the sides very quickly. I'm trying to move fast, putting out the fire to keep it under control. But sometimes there just aren't any moves by the fire. A reshuffle then, is kinda "lucky"...cuz it'll move those doom jewels so you don't have to get through the crates (necessarily.) Big/powerful special jewel combos would be a great answer, but it's just so hard trying to make/create them with everything going on and all six colors used. I've tried this so many times already, but I haven't had any luck in the combo area so far. I'm doing well just to keep the fire at bay and a bit of open space in the middle of the board, much less putting it all out! :eek: I'm barely making it to the end, anyway...I've had doomies explode on me every time but twice (when the timer ran out I had a wildfire going.) I get the feeling I'll be stuck here awhile. :( Hopefully I'll get better/faster with practice, so when that lucky board comes I'll be ready for it!

(Ihtl, esp. those w/fire & doom jewels! I'm feeling the pressure just thinking about it...time to 3-star some older levels again, lol... ;))

[Phaedrakiki]

Wow, I passed 358! I was so frustrated with it, so I went back to play some kinder moves levels (and increase my scores.) Each round of 5 energies, I'd use 1 for a moves level. Most of the time on 358, a doom jewel got me. The times I made it through the clock, I'd have a massive wildfire burning. I started thinking I'd have to "buy" my way off the level, but I couldn't even figure out how to do that. (Bcuz the problems's not really the doom jewels...it's the fire & the layout that are so difficult, at least imho...) But my last round, I wasn't getting as many doom jewels dropping, and I was able to make more blasters and bombs (usually they're hard to make, maybe a couple here & there.) I had the crates all cleared and the fire pushed back down on both sides--and then a blaster & bomb fell right into that lower center area. Perfect! Swapped 'em, and all the fire went out. I think my jaw dropped, but I'm not sure cuz I was in shock! I'm soooooo happy to be done with that level! If it's driving you crazy like it did me, just stick with it (take a break here & there as needed.) Eventually, you'll get that perfect board! :D

[Phaedrakiki]

This island is pretty difficult! Looks like every level in the region has doom jewels, as well as all 6 jewel colors in use. These features make every level more challenging (and sometimes more frustrating too, lol!)

Level 359: Dig 8 meters in 70 moves (6JC.) This digging level has super dirt, black jewels, ice/white blocks, and 2 doom jewels when the level starts (w/20-move timers.) Additional "surprise" doomies drop in with shorter timers, though I can't remember the exact #'s on their fuses (12, or was it 15?) :o

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/131d02a6-e2c7-4da6-bdde-9f9b42aac857_zps5135ea08.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/5abe46e2-a15a-4435-9938-4f22e5acbe5a_zps6268e3c2.jpg

Don't play around with the doom jewels; they're hard to clear with all 6 colors on the board. I was almost to the goal on my first attempt, but a doom jewel dropped in & got me at 7 meters. My fault, I waited too long...trying to maneuver some special jewels to make a combo. But combos do no good if a doomie explodes! ;) I passed on my 2nd try, though. I used blaster + bomb combos twice (in heavier super dirt areas--got lucky with perfect spots.) I also made a diamond, but the screen scrolled before I could get it to fall (lost it off-screen--hate when that happens!) :mad:

Anyway, this level's pretty straightforward...just make special jewels/combos and watch out for doom jewels!

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 360: Dig 8 meters in 2:10 (6JC.) A timed super dirt (s.d.) digging level, in an irregular shape with window cutouts. There's ice/white blocks embedded throughout the "shapely" board, and 2 doom jewels (w/1-minute timers) at the 3-meter line. No "surprise" doomies drop in (TY, TL!.) There's a few s.d. tiles stuck between the windows & wall...adds a bit of difficulty.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/67759bde-fbf7-42d1-bcb4-fe390f75e230_zps1441a442.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/ec7d8648-b655-447a-b140-597c4308b59c_zps1af95736.jpg

Gotta dig down to the doom jewels quickly, cuz it can take awhile to find a match. I had lots of screen reshuffles, though, which moves the doomies up (giving more time to clear them.) Watch out for the ice under the s.d. (don't forget it becomes whatever clears next to it--you don't want to blast the super dirt, only to create more super dirt!) ;) Blaster + bomb combos will help avoid that (they clear the s.d. & ice simultaneously--if both in the blast range, of course.) That combo's the way to go anyway, if you can. Blaster + bomb's so awesome for digging, and has an immediate blast (that doesn't waste precious clock time!) There's super dirt at each corner of the goal line; you either have to blast it, or dig/blast underneath to make it fall (I assume, anyway--haven't got that far yet.) ;) I keep getting close to the finish, but then I can't find that one match on the board (before another reshuffle...) Ugh, gotta move faster, I guess~

For some reason, this level's really got my heart racing. (Maybe cuz it's the last one on the island, and I'm eager to check out Man's Best Mech (http://forums.storm8.com/showthread.php?58506-Man-s-Best-Mech-Levels-361-366-(Region-61))!)

[Phaedrakiki]

Finally passed level 360-whew!~ I found the s.d. at the edges of the 2-meter mark to be quite troublesome. I was able to get thru this pretty easily the first few rounds I played. But I kept getting stuck after that...every time, the furthest I'd get is 4 meters. (My luck ran out, or something?) Now that I've finally beat this, I think if you can get through the top area quickly (so the screen scrolls,) then you're poised to do well on this level. Btw, the ice becoming super dirt turned out to not be a problem (at least for me.) All the activity from targeting the doom jewels in the middle of the board would usually color-change the ice...before I could blast that super dirt above it. (Also, that s.d. will fall if you clear the jewel underneath, but only 1 meter...then will be stuck there. You have to blast/clear this before the screen will scroll.)

It was weird how much trouble I was having making/detonating horizontal blasters in that area. Everything I tried went wrong (it's cursed, I tell ya! ;)) Finally, I got super-frustrated. Decided to buy a pre-start boost (think it's the first time I did that, at least w/gold anyway!) I planned to find a 3-match in that area & use the row-blaster boost to get through my trouble spot. (I'd choose a jewel in the right spot & turn it into the row blaster, then detonate.) Well, of course I got through the area without a hitch that round...in fact, I made it to the bottom pretty easily. I used a blaster + bomb on the s.d. at 5 meters, then used vertical blasters for the s.d. in the middle at the goal line. Then I made a horizontal blaster, in the perfect place to blast the s.d. at the bottom edges--but no way to detonate it. I was frantically swiping, trying to get it to activate, when I suddenly remembered the boost. A-ha! Placed it right next to my blaster, swapped 'em, and super dirt gone--Goal achieved! The timer started to flash, but I kept making moves to get as high a score as possible. With that additional time, I probably could've made it through without the boost. But sometimes my brain freezes when I'm stressed like that--so maybe not, lol. Anyway, I'm glad I used it, even though it still feels like *****ing!)

Now I'm on Man's Best Mech (http://forums.storm8.com/showthread.php?58506-Man-s-Best-Mech-Levels-361-366-(Region-61)), working on a timed digging/L&C level... Only 4 JC, a fun change after working w/all 6 in every level here!