Review
Big Kahuna Reef 2 takes everything you love about matching games, slaps on a new paint job, throws it underwater, and makes everything explosive. Is this a good thing? Absolutely! This game offers addictive matching gameplay - reminiscent of so many games you know and love - and throws in things like chain reactions and dynamite (literally!) to keep the action from getting stale. The more you play, the more you get to fraternize with the denizens of the deep. What you're left with is a wicked fun little game that rewards all your hard work with fish.
The Matchmaker
This game as I'm sure you could guess from the name, has an underwater/ocean/pirate theme going on. The symbols that you're required to match up range from starfish and seashells to cannonballs and pirate ship wheels; at least, I think they're called pirate ship wheels. Maybe pirate ship steering wheels. I don't know, I'm not a pirate. That's the beauty of this game, though! You don't have to be a pirate to enjoy it!
In Big Kahuna Reef 2, you match three or more symbols in a row to make them disappear. Once you do this, more symbols drop down. The object is to break the wooden boxes located behind the symbols. You do this by - you guessed it - matching the symbols in front of the box. In later levels, as the game becomes more difficult, the boxes increase in number and even hide behind protective metal casings, forcing you to break them twice! Never before have boxes been so interesting!
An Explosive Situation
Every so often, after a big score, you'll be rewarded with a bomb or a stick of dynamite, or even a nuke! When double-clicked or moved, these explode, taking out a whole mess of symbols and boxes. If you set up your combos right, you can earn this quite frequently, which will help you finish the level in no time at all.
Chain Reactions
If you're a fan of puzzle games - more specifically matching games - then you're familiar with chain reactions and the power that they possess. You've never seen them like this, though. Reef offers elaborately set-up levels that, with the help of chained-up symbols, can cause you to unleash some of the biggest and best chain reactions to be had in puzzle games. These chained-up symbols can't be moved, so you have to bring other symbols to them. This is just another example of the challenges that you'll face and the explosive payoffs.
Payoff
I mentioned earlier that you earn fish. With each level you beat, you earn towards unlocking a new fish, with which you can use to fill your virtual aquarium. Now, this might sound a little strange and not that rewarding; but with Big Kahuna Reef 2's stellar graphics and immersive atmosphere, you'll be surprised at just therapeutic and relaxing your virtual fish tank can be.
Gameplay Modes
Multiple game modes such as:
- Action
- Relaxed (Take your time)
- Kahuna Challenge (Main game mode)
- Tiki Challenge (Harder game mode)
- Other Adventures (Play user created levels from all over the net!)
- Mouse Party (multiplayer on the same computer)
- My Fish (view your fish!)
Be the Kahuna
This one is a blast, simply put. It's challenging and rewarding and you aren't likely to find a more addictive game on the net. So put on your flippers and jump in, the water's fine.
