Calling all true hero’s out there... Atlantis is calling. Embark on a fascinating new journey around the ancient lands of Rome, Greece, Troy, Phoenicia, Babylon, Egypt and Carthage to acquire seven mysterious crystals of power in order to appease Poseidon, the patron god of the Atlanteans, and save the legendary continent.

This being the third game in the popular Atlantis games series I was keen to see if Call of Atlantis deftly avoided the disturbing tendency to churn out almost identical sequels to score a quick buck or whether they had given us a new and worthy game.  To my delight they seem to have delivered a spectacular return to form for the franchise with an interesting and graphically gorgeous match 3 puzzle game.

 As a female narrator explains in the game’s introduction, Poseidon is a bit POed with Atlantis’ residents.  Over time they have forgotten to give the deity his rightful due, and as punishment a magical undersea altar, from which the fabled city draws its power, has been sealed away.  Only by traveling to seven exotic lands (Egypt, Carthage, Greece, Babylon, Rome etc.) and completing the 66 stages which populate a rendered campaign map, can the gems which unlock the altar be recovered. Cue a surprisingly engaging journey across realms of storybook fantasy, made all the merrier by a beautiful presentation of hidden object-style play elements.

Between each self-contained scenario, you’ll be regaled with fun facts about the places you’ll visit. Similarly, prior to journeying to each new land, spectacular cut-scenes further the storyline, all of which can be revisited from the main menu once unlocked. Upon arrival at the level expect to be greeted by a familiar grid of tiles. (Layouts take different forms from simple rectangles to large boxes surrounded by smaller, satellite-like squares and self-contained islands.) Naturally, all are stamped with varying icons including horses, shields, gems, rings, scrolls and so forth.