Zen (2024)

"Explore endless alien worlds in this stress-free version."

— Game menu description from Bejeweled Twist.

"Relax body and mind in this endless game."

— Game menu description from Bejeweled 3

Zen, also known as Zen Mode, is a game mode that appears in Bejeweled Twist and Bejeweled 3, and is a continuation of the Endless Mode from Bejeweled 2.

In the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Bejeweled 3, the icon that represents Zen in the game menu is the Taijitu (Yin and Yang) sign.

Gameplay

Zen, like it's predecessor, is an endless variant of the Classic mode, where the player cannot run out of moves, and can play for as long as he/she wants. Points earned are not multiplied when reaching new levels.

Bejeweled Twist

In Zen, no Bomb Gems, Doom Gems or Locked Gems appear during play. Planetary backdrops appear during the game instead of visualizers, and feature different transitions between levels. When a level is completed, the game board's layout remains the same. The player earns half the stars of the current level count (rounded to the next whole number if necessary) when a level is completed. The maximum number of stars the player can earn is 50.

Bejeweled 3

In Zen, gameplay is slowed down slightly, with certain special gems emitting different visual effects and sound effects, accompanied with a unique soundtrack for the mode. The cooldown for using the Hint button is shorter compared to the other game modes (except in Bejeweled Classic, where the duration of the cooldown is the same as the other modes). The Instant Replay feature does not appear in Zen.

This mode incorporates a system of jewels on a necklace that are earned every time a level is completed.

• A system of collecting diamonds can also be found in its predecessor.
• The jewels on the necklace can have 8 possible colors: purple, pink, red, yellow, green, blue, teal, and silver; most of such colors reference the colors of the gems.
• The first necklace appears at level 1 (at the beginning of Zen mode). The second appears at level 4. The third appears at level 16. The fourth appears at level 76.

Zen Options are featured in Bejeweled 3, which offer features intended to calm and sooth the player. They can be accessed by selecting the Zen button on the Menu panel (RB on the Xbox 360 version, R1 on the PlayStation 3 version).

• Breath Modulation: Plays a breathing sound that can help calm the player. Additional options include being able to turn on a visual indicator to help the player sync with the breathing, and options to adjust volume and breathing speed.
• Ambient Sounds: Plays ambient sounds that can help the player relax or focus. Enabling ambient sounds for the first time will mute music, but can be turned on again if the player desires to. Ambiental sounds include: Costal, Crickets, Forest, Ocean Surf, Rain Leaves, Waterfall, and a Random option that alternates between all the sounds when transitioning between levels. The volume of the Ambient Sounds can be adjusted
• Mantras: Positive messages are displayed on top of the Level Bar to help the player with positive thoughts. Sets of messages include General, Positive Thinking, Prosperity, Quit Bad Habits, Self Confidence and Weight Loss. The speed of when the messages appear and disappear can be adjusted. If the Subliminal option is turned on, words based on the current setting will periodically appear over the game board for a few brief moments.
• Binaural Beats (PC/Mac versions only): Beat frequencies are played through the player's head to make the player enter different body states. Headphones are required to use binaural beats. Caution is recommended when using this feature, for certain people. Sets of Binaural Beats include:
  • Beta Pattern: Helps the player enter an alert and engaged state.
  • Chakra Circle: Helps the player align auras and energy flow.
  • Chill Cycle: Helps the player let go of stressful and troubling thoughts.
  • Delta Pattern: Helps the player's mind enter a deep relaxation state.
  • Euphoria: Helps the player replenish auras by opening their mind to positive energies.
  • Lucid Dream: Helps the player establish better control over their dreams.
  • Meditation: Helps the player clear their mind of distractions and worldly troubles.
  • Mood Lifter: Helps the player raise their positive emotions.
  • Pain Suppresser: Helps the player focus away from discomfort and stress.
  • Sleepy Time: Helps the player transition from wakefulness to rest.

Reaching Level 5 in Zen unlocks the Butterflies game mode (in most versions).

Gameplay tips

• This is a good game mode in order to practice strategies and making special gems.
• You can also earn some achievements here, although it is very inefficient as only the Inferno, Stellar, Chromatic, Blaster, and Annihilator achievements are obtainable. These can also be earned via normal gameplay attempts.

Trivia

Specific to Bejeweled Twist

• The player will earn half the Skill Stars as they normally earn on each level in Classic mode, with an additional Skill Star added every second level in this mode.
• The maximum number of Skill Stars that can be earned after completing a level in Zen mode is 50 in PC and Nintendo DS versions, or 30 in the mobile version.
• Restarting a Zen game is only possible in the mobile version.
• In the mobile version, there aren't any Coals appear. After completing a level, the board doesn't remain the same as the previous level.
• In the mobile version, if the player accesses Zen for the first time, a Twist Tip notification will appear to introduce this mode.
• In the mobile version, if the player reaches Level 100 and onwards, the board displays the infinity symbol (∞).
• If the player manages to place a Doom Gem (or Bomb Gem) on the board and let it explode, the game will end normally, but the game will later give out the player's personal stats page at the part where scoreboard should appear. The player can choose to restart, and the game will use Classic Mode's intro (having the Levelup Tube landing) and the "View Replay" buttons will not disappear.

Specific to Bejeweled 3

• When your score is over 2,147,483,647 (2³¹-1), which is the maximum value for a 32-bit signed integer in computing, it will stop adding points and the point display will be replaced with "MAX SCORE".
  • This prevents the score from being a negative score due to an integer overflow.
• Zen's subliminal messages was originally intended to feature a message set to discourage people from smoking, but was removed later in development to avoid raising the ESRB rating of the game (which would give the game a "Tobacco Use" disclaimer).^[1]
• If the game is unable to give a valid move, a Hypercube will spawn to ensure that the player has moves.
• The Nintendo DS version of the game excludes the Zen Options, though it features the Ambient Sounds.
• The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game excludes the Mantras option.
• The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game oddly uses music from Classic instead of its own.

Names in other languages

Gallery

Bejeweled Twist

Bejeweled 3

References