The popular gem-swapping game Bejeweled has returned in a sequel that keeps your heart and mind racing. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe offers four different gameplay modes that exercise mind and nerve.

My favorite mode is the fast-paced action, or timed mode that has a life bar that increases with points earned, and decreases as time passes without moves made. All modes share the same quality that the original Bejeweled had which is swapping adjacent gems to form three or more matching colors in a row. Strategically setting up a sequence of moves to earn maximum points is impossible in the timed mode because if you spend too much time thinking and not clicking, the life bar will quickly empty out.

If strategy is your forte then the classic or endless modes, which are both un-timed, are what you're looking for. The endless mode is exactly what it claims to be: You work your way through levels, never running out of time or moves. In the classic mode however, you can be doing really well, you can run out of moves, no matter how good you were doing, thus ending the game for you. These two modes exercise the brain and leave plenty of time for strategy.

The forth and final mode of play is the puzzle mode, where you're given a gem pattern, and required to clear the entire thing. The puzzles start off fairly easy and self-explanatory. As the puzzle's level of difficulty increases, different moves are introduced by using a mini-lesson, demonstrating how it is done. For example, after completing five puzzles of lining up three matching gems, you are shown that if you match up four in a row, a Power Gem is made. When this Power Gem is used to make another match, it blows up and destroys gems that are surrounding it. Each move that is introduced is accompanied by five different puzzles. Allowing you to get the hang of it before something new is introduced. Once four of the five puzzles are completed, you can learn a new move and move onto five new puzzles. The puzzles get more and more difficult, but thankfully a "hint" button is provided. However, this is an easy cop-out for lazy puzzle-solvers because the game allows you to get help on every single move to successfully complete the puzzle, if you want.

Combining all four gameplay modes makes this a game that will consume hours of your day. It is really fun to play, and when you get sick of a fast-paced gameplay you can switch over to get a taste of solving puzzles. This game is also great because it is so easy to start and stop. If you have to quit in the middle of a game, even in the timed-mode, it does not take you long to get back to where you were. Sound is not required and it is playable in a minimized screen version, making it easy to multitask while at work or simply browsing the internet. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe is a game that you will want to keep on your desktop for months on end, and is available for $19.95 at PopCap.com.

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