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e-Funsoft has added to its extensive collection of Match 3 titles that challenge players.  This latest addition comes as part of the Gaslamp Cases series of Victorian melodramas.  Now up to number eight in this particular series, the Gaslamp Cases 8 offering is entitled Quest for the Relic and features the combined investigative talents of Morgan, Jack and Tensin as you are led through a story line that many, including myself, will find quiet forgettable.

When playing this game, you have the usual options of creating profiles for different players and adjusting volume level settings plus viewing the game in full screen mode.  The game supports Relaxed and Timed game play as you progress through various levels.

An opening sequence sets the scene for the game as a monk is seen forewarning the gathered crowd, representing the populace of London, of the disasters that are about to occur to the great city of London.  The monk, actually it is Tensin, prove to be true to his words as a massive earthquake quickly hits London.  On questioning Tensin, Morgan and Jack are informed of a mysterious relic, believed to be in the possession of a Lord Sinclair character, was responsible for causing the problems currently affecting London and, incidentally, other parts of the world.  These disasters would continue to occur until the relic had been returned to its original home.  Thus the scene is set for Morgan, Jack and Tensin to begin their quest to find and return the relic to its home.

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The trio's journey starts in India as you need to work your way through 70 Match 3 levels that are spread over the usual five chapters of grid clearance action.  Following its usual practice, e-Funsoft's game playing layout has a familiar appearance.  Taking up a central screen position will be the actual grid that is filled with a variety of embellished tiles and other elements that provide both blockage and helpful facilities.  Each grid appearing in this game will be accompanied by a set challenge, appearing to the right of the grid, of the elements that will need to be removed in order to complete the level.

The removal of tiles from the grid will be carried out by the usual method of swapping two adjacent tiles in order to create a group of three or more tiles of a similar appearance.  The formed group of tiles will then disappear with the space, thus created, being filled by other tiles falling downwards.  This can often result in other groups being created and so producing a cascading effect.  As tiles are removed the set challenge will be adjusted to show its latest status.

Some grids will come with a special artefact tile.  Unlike the other tiles, this artefact can not form part of a group.  As it is always included as part of the grid's challenge, you will need another method to remove it.  To carry out this task, you will need to create a pathway beneath the artefact so that it falls to the base of the grid and can be removed.

Each grid is also accompanied by a small selection of power-ups.  These elements are displayed to the left of the grid and can only be used with the current grid and are rated as use-once only.  However you can created bombs within the grid to help with clearing difficult areas.  These bombs are automatically created when groups are formed with five or more tiles.  When used carefully these bombs can be manipulated into position to cause the required benefit.

In order to progress through the five chapters making up this game, you will need to complete four upgrades for each chapter.  As a reward for the completion of each grid level you will be rewarded with a number of stars.  These stars can be used to carry the upgrades, which must be completed in sequence, necessary for each chapter.  Following each upgrade will be a short cut-scene featuring static game characters delivering dialogue in both printed and spoken dialogue which helps pad out the story line a little.

Apart from the story line, this game offers nothing that is really new to the world of Match 3 game play or likely to appeal to players.  Innovation does not seem to be part of the e-Funsoft's current vocabulary.  I downloaded my copy of this game from Gamehouse.com where it is priced at $9.99.  The game requires a 1.5 GHz processor with 1024MB of RAM and 149MB of hard disk space running Windows 7 and later.

Gaslamp Cases 8 - Quest for the Relic | GameHouse