Triplet Hills - Levels 385 - 390 (Region 65)

[Phaedrakiki]

Didn't see this on[/url] the [URL="http://blog.teamlava.com/"]TL Blog (http), so I borrowed this photo from the JM Regions Master thread (http://forums.storm8.com/showthread.php?51491-Jewel-Mania-Regions-Master-Thread-(Updated-8-1-13)&p=727413&viewfull=1#post727413):


http://i.imgur.com/FxVvl8q.png

They say three's a crowd--I hope that doesn't refer to one of these hills. Or does it have to do with joining Bean Dog and the others on this journey? I don't want to be a "third wheel"! Actually, I believe the "3rd time's a charm"--meaning these three magical hills are bound to bring us good luck and lots of fun on this island of Jewel Mania (https://www.facebook.com/JewelManiaGame)!


~*~*~

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 385: Dig 10 meters in 2:10 (5JC.) This cool-looking digging level has super dirt, snakes, and ice/white blocks.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/d129fe21-d55d-4c2e-afbc-d1400c39a8fc_zps35134772.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/967d3b88-f570-48b8-b858-4681e54e819f_zps49be413f.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/902d06f5-baa0-4295-9c6e-8684e0c02807_zps28d64e9b.jpg

Tried it a couple times before I ran out of energy, and there's a lot to do in so little time. Didn't get very far. It's pretty easy to make special jewels, though, so hopefully that will help and lead to a "win"... ;)

[Phaedrakiki]

K, how are you guys getting through 385 in the allotted time? I've been working at this, and can't get more than 5 meters--usually only 3, maybe 4. I'll keep practicing, but I'm wondering if anyone else is having trouble? I keep getting the wrong blasters...row blasters when I need vertical ones to blast the snakes from above, and vertical/column blasters when I want to blast some snakes or super dirt horizontally from within that row. Maybe I'm just super unlucky right now? :confused: My bombs are detonating too early...before I can get them next to a blaster for a combo. Or I'll get a diamond after I've cleared the snakes, and then I can't get a blaster near it (or there's not enough dirt/s.d. onscreen to make it worthwhile, spending the time on a diamond + blaster detonation.)

Ugh, I'm already so frustrated with this one. Need more time on the clock here...please? Or something...! :o (Breathe, it's just a game... lol! ;) )

[Phaedrakiki]

Well, couldn't get anyone to take pity on me...no time increase, no tips from anyone (is anybody even out there?) :eek: Normally, digging levels aren't that bad for me; even the timed ones are fairly enjoyable (not the stress part, but the rest.) But 385 just seemed impossible to me--not enough time. Usually on a tough level, you gradually get a little better, or you get a "lucky" round now and then. But not on this. I've had some pretty decent luck recently in this game, though...maybe I just ran out. If that's the case, I sure hope the loss is temporary!

So, I finally got a round with lots of diamonds...helped me get close enough to see the goal for the first time. Frustrated and wanting off this level, I pressed extra time button, thinking I could make it. But the last couple snakes & s.d. held me up. Pressed it again, thinking "almost there." But things still weren't going my way. Worried I'd spent the gold in vain, and not wanting to have to press it again, I bought one of those auto-blaster boosts. It took out that last row--done! An expensive "win", but at least I don't have to mess with it again. Ugh, I really dislike timed levels--why do they have to make them so short? And the next one is timed, too. With fire. And doom jewels! :mad: And only 40 seconds!!!

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 386: 20 fire in :40 (5JC.) Wow...forty seconds? This level looks pretty straightforward, but the little windows make it really hard to push the fire back. There are also some doom jewels that fall in (30 second timers--I think.)

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/8ba922ba-9e33-4c38-b7f0-4e834f007a50_zpsebc52d3c.jpg

When I first looked at the level, I thought I'd push the fire back, and try to get a blaster + bomb down towards the bottom--get all the fire in one blast. But it's hard to clear the fire, as those windows get in the way of flat/horizontal matches against the flames. So you can only make vertical matches. That means only one jewel (usually) is touching the flames/extinguishing fire, instead of 3 or more. Time's up by the time you "make some room." So, I just tried to make as many specials as I could, blasting away at the flames and hoping for the big combos. I was also trying to find some matching jewels in the blaster's path, that I could match-up and clear even more fire. I finally had a round where I pushed the fire back rather quickly. (Involved one of my favorite blaster moves--where a vertical blaster is one of the 4 jewels in a horizontal blaster-making match. It drops the new horizontal/row blaster all the way to the bottom of the vertical blaster's path--in this case, the bottom row.) The fire on the bottom row was extinquished, and another blaster fell to the bottom. Unfortunately, time ran out. But I wasn't that upset, cuz I felt I was making progress. But then I noticed a diamond-making move right above my blaster, that would drop the diamond right next to it. Couldn't resist...I just had to press the "more time" button. (Ugh, this is getting too expensive! :eek: I need to turn on my "restrict in-app purchases", lol.) Made the diamond, swapped it with the blaster, and all the fire was extinquished--Whew! So happy I wasn't stuck there a long time. That level is crazy-short!

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 387: 32 glass in 25 moves (4JC.) Windows and cutouts make the top & bottom rows a bit hard-to-reach, and they completely separate the left- and right-most columns from the main board. Both side columns have 2-headed snakes in them, so you'll need blasters, diamonds, or combos to clear them. Plus there's double glass underneath (all the glass is 2x.)

Whew, the moves are quite tight on this one! With only 4 jewel colors, it's pretty easy to make special jewels. But it's frustrating when you're planning a row blaster or combo, and other jewels "self-match" and ruin the whole thing! Not enough moves to recover usually if that happens. I've used regular row blasters, blaster + bomb combos, diamonds, etc., and always get the snakes cleared. But I keep ending up with at least a couple glass left over...on the sides, and sometimes at the end of the top or bottom row. It's a little harder to **** the upper snake heads than the bottom ones (since the highest you can make a row blaster is 4th row--snakes are on the 3rd.) So I've been mostly getting the top snakes with diamonds, or a blaster + bomb. If you see a match in one of the top or bottom row corners, you might want to make it, as those areas are harder to reach. This one is pretty fun, but it's gonna take a lucky round...no extra moves here! ;)

[Phaedrakiki]

Passed 387 last night. Finally got that lucky round. First of all, all 4 of my snake heads were red, so I was hoping for a diamond to quickly **** them. I got it right away, and then ended up getting lots more diamonds--including 2 right next to each other. So within a few moves I was able to **** all the snakes and take out a layer of glass from the whole board. I still had lots of glass here & there, but I ended up getting 2 more diamonds after that! (Couldn't combo them, unfortunately. But still very nice.) Even with all that, I got down to my last move and had one glass left. Luckily I had a match (I would've been :mad: if not, lol!) So, this level's pretty tough, and tight on those moves--they should add at least 5, imho. ;) I only got one star, so I'll play again to better that. Fun level! :)

[Phaedrakiki]

Oops, I forgot my screenshots in the last post, from my "lucky" 387 round.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/bd50cc8a-b7fd-4616-8f31-4fa005bdf1aa_zpsfc8e4e07.jpg http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/eb220ac5-ea0e-4c40-959c-979cff748013_zps14f86c8b.jpg http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/f1307d12-0b48-4051-bf70-eff578643123_zps920d790c.jpg

#1: All red snakes, yes!
#2: Side-by-side diamonds. As you can see, I had some other combo choices. I wished I could "split" the diamonds--put one with the bomb (had several green jewels on glass,) and hopefully combine the other with a blaster/bomb. But you never know what will get detonated, so I couldn't take the chance that the other diamond would get blasted (it's right in the path of the aqua/lt. blue blaster.) So, I swapped the diamonds...
#3: The old dude's angry (funny-looking Grandpa (http://forums.storm8.com/showthread.php?53715-Bicycle-Barrel-Levels-253-258/page3&p=689562#post689562), according to a fellow player--where've you been lately, finnth12? ;))

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 388: 14 fire in 25 moves (4JC.) The working area of this board is kinda triangular-shaped, with 3 flames that start spreading with each move. The board cutouts completely separate boxes with various amounts of fire in them from the main play area. Special jewels & combos are needed for them, of course. Doom jewels & black jewels fall in from time-to-time. The doomies aren't bad, and have an 8- (or is it 10-?) count timer on them. The black jewels can start to clutter the board sometimes--the amount seems to vary each round.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/de058a6a-b03f-4f51-924f-561a4f102b02_zpsb4b91612.jpg

This took me lots of attempts. Each area of flames needs something different to put it out--no one combo will extinguish all the fire, unless you get the perfect diamond + blaster. (Tried that combo a few times, and it didn't work as well as I'd like--and always missed the top right flame.) To extinguish that upper right corner flame, you need a blaster + bomb, located at the top or far right of the board (a blaster/bomb in one of the top 2 rows, or one of the 2 rightmost columns. And be sure to direct the blast in the proper direction!) Unless, that is, you can get a blaster in the perfect position--difficult to do, although I did it once on the right side... The real problem, is getting to all the various areas in just 25 moves!

When I finally passed, I had a diamond + blaster early in the round, that took out some of the "easier" targets. Then I got super-lucky, and got the blaster + bomb combo shown in the screenshot below. The combo took out the remaining flames in the bottom fire areas as well as the top right separated flame. Yippee! :D I passed pretty fast, so I only got 1 star (passed the challenge, at least, lol.) ;) Will definitely play again for a better score...

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/9a4ebe96-4967-495d-8960-c5121aa7d26b_zps573dff1f.jpg

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 389: 44 glass in 1:05 (4JC.) This board has a tricky shape with lots of tough corners, and double glass on most of the board (the more difficult parts are all 2x-glassed!)

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/a9b380f2-918b-4ff8-a5b0-8f99357123dd_zps5f428bd9.jpg

Gotta move fast on this one. Watch for matches in the top/bottom rows and side edges, and use the middle to make special jewels and combos. Vertical blasters made in the center can be activated to blast glass in those short rows at the top & bottom, too. Of course, the big combos are most helpful: blaster + bomb, diamond + blaster or bomb, and 2 diamonds (if you get lucky! :D) The round I passed I swapped a diamond + blaster, then used an extra diamond and lots of blasters, a couple bombs, and frantic swiping. Wow, this one goes by quickly! A little stressful, but not too bad for a timed level, lol... ;)

[Phaedrakiki]

Level 390: Dig 20 meters in 65 moves (4JC.) Super dirt, ice/white blocks, windows, and the shape of the board add difficulty to this level. It has an hourglass shape in a couple areas, narrowing to just 2 wide twice.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/7f2a32f0-de25-4c4d-97bc-608a2dc349ec_zps8fa2c3a7.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/6de9cda3-831b-4a37-8d02-34e12b68777c_zps8ae3dd09.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/a332d24c-71ce-4b42-a403-29d7ef8b0ad5_zps4c48e84d.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/7cb65ed0-f46f-4864-9cff-1a54b6c705e1_zps6608cb53.jpg
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag81/Beadsbykat/355%20up%20-%20JMD/e3e1fadd-771a-49c5-9fc4-b23eb545df1d_zpse633edfe.jpg

Tried it like, 6 times, but I'm only getting to about 14 meters (15 once, ooh! ;)) Basically, when the large window splits it into 2 sides, progress slows way down. And when it comes back together as you get to the narrow part again...it's really slow. I think this is another one of those levels where you need the right special jewels/opportunities at the right times... It's a fun challenge; awaiting energy to try again! :)

[Phaedrakiki]

Wow, 390 really was a toughie! Been at it all day--finally passed. That area with the large window seemed to be the real holdup for me most rounds. What I'd do is try to dig down on only one side (the more promising-looking of the 2) and blast or set off a combo from there. If you try to work on both sides, your moves will disappear quickly. (They still seem to vanish rapidly anyway, lol...but still. ;)) On the round I passed, I had lots of diamonds. And at the very beginning, there was lots of "self-matching" or bonus matches. You know how you make a move and the whole board starts going nuts digging for you? Love that! :D During the round, I got what I needed at the right times. Like using a few diamonds to set off blasters or bombs in key locations (couldn't combo them w/o wasting moves.) Then I swapped 2 more diamonds right after the screen scrolled--when I had a full board onscreen to clear. So, it worked out really well, though I still only had 2 or 3 moves left when I passed. Only got one star, too (gotta improve that!)

Although this was a fun level and island, I'm happy to be finished. I did rather poorly, though--one star on most levels. So I'll def be back to fix that problem. For now though, I'm eager to move on to the next island. Monkey Treetop (http://forums.storm8.com/showthread.php?59292-Monkey-Treetop-Levels-391-396-(Region-66)) looks like a lot of fun... :)

[pastasplace]

Wow! 386 is a toughie! They've upped the time to 45 seconds, but it's still really difficult. I think there are too many colours on the board (5JC) I'm spending ages looking for matches, invariably they're at the top of the board where it's not a help to the situation, and I've had a few reshuffles early on in the game a few times - which is tough when there's such little time on the clock.

I've got it down to 2 flames a couple of times, but that's a rarity! The positioning if the windows means that even if you do clear a path to the lower section, there's not much room for matching...