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❤ Gameplay Overview

The core gameplay loop involves solving match-3 puzzles to earn gold, which players then use to rebuild and upgrade the city of Athens. The game features a hex-grid board, rather than the standard square grid, which adds a unique twist to the match-3 mechanics.

❤ Match-3 Mechanics

Players click and drag their mouse to connect clusters of at least three tiles of the same color, causing them to disappear. The game includes special tiles, such as bombs and lightning bolts, which players can match to create powerful effects like area-of-effect explosions and line-clearing lightning strikes. Matching tiles also damages any reinforced tiles, such as stone or frozen tiles, as well as tiles bound by ropes or chains. Clearing these obstacles is key to progressing through the levels.

❤ Variety in Level Design

While the core match-3 mechanics remain consistent, the game introduces variety through different level layouts and objectives. Some levels task players with clearing the board entirely, while others require removing specific items or reaching a certain score threshold. This keeps the match-3 gameplay from becoming repetitive.

❤ City-Building Elements

Completing match-3 levels earns the player gold, which they can use to rebuild and upgrade the city of Athens. Players can choose from three different building styles, each with their own aesthetic and (presumably) functional differences, though the reviews suggest the city-building aspect is relatively light. The city-building elements provide a sense of progression and a tangible reward for the player's match-3 efforts, as they watch Athens gradually recover from its ruined state.