User blog:Blueeighthnote/Full Analysis: Level 165

Here it is, level 165. This level is just a jerk level. Once again, being a level that requires collecting enough candies of certain colours. It would most likely be luck.

This blog would be mostly about my opinions on this level.

Comparing with Level 140
This time around, however, there are 4 chocolate spawners at the corners, and the actual space is somewhat condensed to roughly 7x7 square. There are only 64 spaces (4 of which are chocolate spawners), 20% less space than Level 140, and 7-move bombs can be a huge annoyance.

Still, there are 60 moves available, requiring 99 candies of only 1 colour instead of 3, while Level 140 require 99 red, 99 orange, and 99 yellow candies within 45 moves. In theory, the extra 15 moves and smaller requirement that Level 165 have should be enough to compliment its smaller space, annoying bombs, and chocolate. Unfortunately, this isn't exactly the case, and I would say both levels are frustrating.

Properties
Bomb Behaviour: One 7-move Bomb dropped per 5 moves.

(In other words, whenever there are 55, 50, 45, 40......5, 0 moves left, there would be a bomb dropped down)

The 3rd and 7th column have no candy spawned. Instead, either the 2nd or 4th column candies can slide into the 3rd, and the similar can be said to the 7th.

The 2nd and 8th column have a probability of chocolate blocking it. If the path is blocked, candies will slide all the way from 4th (or 6th) column to the 2nd (or 4th) column.

Due to chocolate spawners, chocolate would never stop expanding from them.

Focus on the bombs
Because the bomb dropping pattern is predictable, try to avoid matching candies on the side on the number of turns that are divisible by 5 (ie. 55, 50, 45, etc.). It is best to remove the bombs as quickly as possible so that more concentration can be focused on special candies and clearing chocolate.

Another tip would be making vertical matches instead of horizontal ones to control where the bomb would drop down. It also helps making more cascades, which would be explained later.

Dealing with chocolate
It might be helpful to avoid chocolate clogging the top if possible. If there is a crucial move that might be eaten by chocolate, try to move that first.

The blue candies
It has been well-known that both number of space and colours affect the probabilities for matches and special candies. Due to medium-small space (for a 6-colour board), try to savor every possible chances to make special candies, especially wrapped candies and colour bombs, so as to activate them and bring more new candies into the field. If they can be formed into a combo, it is even better.

Try to also make verical matches, as there are better chances for cascading. Never forgot to remove the bombs during the process, however.

The Blue candies part are just luck, and for now, there are probably no strategies to get around it.