I have been playing Candy Crush Friends Saga for quite a while. I recently decided to play the game some more.
I first played the game soon after it was released, and I was not impressed. My opinions have quite changed after having played this game and the other Candy Crush games together. I decided to update the review. I feel my first review was a bit too cynical. It turns out that I actually somewhat like this game.
I play the game on my Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 tablet and sometimes on my iPhone XR. At the time of updating this review, I was on level 249.
Table of Contents
What Kind of Game Is Candy Crush Friends Saga?
Candy Crush Friends Saga is a match three game. You need to beat each level in a certain number of moves. Each level also has a goal you need to complete.
Candy Crush Friends Gameplay Review
What is different in Candy Crush Friends Saga?
If you have played Candy Crush Soda Saga or Candy Crush Jelly Saga, Candy Crush Friends Saga will seem about the same. The powerups are the same, and the candy matching rules are the same.
The biggest difference in this game compared to the other Candy Crush games is the friend mechanic. I will explain how that works soon.The types of levels are different but similar at the same time.
Who Are the Friends in the Game?
You may be wondering about the friends in Candy Crush Friends Saga. Well, those friends are not referring to actual people you know. At the start of each level, a friend joins you. If you match your friend’s favorite candy, you get a bonus power-up.
At first, I did not think much about which friend I picked for levels. I go with whatever the game chooses. But after playing the game for a while and unlocking new friends, I have noticed some friends are more helpful at certain levels than others.
Picking your friend helpers adds an extra layer of strategy to the game, and I like it. It might not change things a lot. But this is something different that the other Candy Crush games do not have.
How Does the Game Feel?
Everything works as expected, and the game feels very fluid and fast.
The game has multiple game modes. There is nothing groundbreaking new, but the game modes in this game are different from previous games.
I like the quests. Doing them gives you something to work towards every day. There are also team based quests that can be fun if your team is active.
As you play the game, you earn pieces of multiple things. Boosters, characters, and character outfits.
Some Levels Are Too Hard
My biggest complaint is the randomness of how difficult levels are. Some levels are very easy, and some levels are insanely hard. I suppose trying to balance hundreds and, eventually, thousands of levels is no easy task.
But match-three game levels tend to either be somewhat easy or extremely hard. It is nice to see more of a middle ground. I suppose, to be fair, this game does have levels like this.
Lots of Chances to Continue Levels for Free
When I played after losing levels, I could almost always watch videos for extra moves. Sometimes I could get extra moves more than once. With enough time, you can just refuse to fail levels if you want to watch video ad about six times. You can also start levels with extra boosters.
Of course, this is not guaranteed. But I take advantage of things like this when I can.
I suppose this is better than being stuck on the same level forever.
There Is No Story
Despite having the word saga in the name, don’t expect a story or any plot resolution in Candy Crush Friends Saga. The goal of the game is to beat as many levels as possible. If you beat them all, you need to wait for more levels.
I did find hints of story when reading about the characters. But I don’t ever see this referenced in the game anywhere.
I feel like King has decided to just stop pretending to have a story in their games. I suppose they were never known for having much story anyway.
Candy Crush Friends Presentation Review
The Game Looks Better Than Other Candy Crush Games
Unlike the older Candy Crush games, Candy Crush Friends Saga is mostly 3D. It has quite a different look to it.
I would not say the game looks incredibly better. But it does look better. I feel the animations and overall flow of the game is better.
The game area and everything in it look about the same as previous games. Don’t expect anything massively different. I do like how certain animations are dynamic.
Your friends look more active when you are close to using their powerups.
The Sounds Are Average
If I can play a game with the music and sounds muted and feel like I get the same experience, then they don’t exactly impress me. That is how I feel about the sounds in this game.
Nothing sounds bad, but nothing sounds that good either.
How Does This Game Get You to Spend Money?
The King of Microtransactions
You do not need to spend money on any King games. Yet they make lots of money every day. The reason is because of microtransactions. In this game, you can buy a currency (gold bars) and pay for many things.
Is This Game Fair for People Who Don’t Spend Money?
The game is somewhat fair. Some harder levels might take many tries without some help. I suppose it is fair enough if you are patient.
Things That You Can Buy in the Game
There are the usual purchases you would expect. You can buy currency for powerups, boosters, and continue levels after you lose.
How Does This Game Annoy You?
The most annoying thing in this game is having to wait to get your extra lives back. In this game, you must wait 30 minutes to get a life back. This wait time is high compared to other free-to-play games.
My Overall Thoughts on Candy Crush Friends Saga
I have found myself enjoying playing Candy Crush Friends Saga more than the older Candy Crush games. The game is not that different. But it holds my attention enough that I can say I like playing it.
It is not that special, and it is just more Candy Crush. But it is my current favorite Candy Crush game.
Do I Recommend People Play Candy Crush Friends Saga?
If you already like Candy Crush games, I would recommend playing Candy Crush Friends Saga. If not, then I am not sure. I like this one better than the other ones.
Will I Keep Playing Candy Crush Friends Saga?
I plan on playing the game somewhat often. Since I want to write about it some more and I enjoy playing it.