Once you're done wasting time on the main menu, you can choose between three different game modes: Piyo, Hyaku, and Time Attack. The core gameplay -- consistent throughout each mode -- is composed of tapping one block, and sliding it in the direction of an adjacent block to form a line of three or more. In Piyo mode each level of play has combo requirements as specified at the bottom of the screen. For example, at the bottom you'll see a row of different colored piyo blocks with a number below it -- this indicates how many combos you have performed for each color, so you know how many are left to "level up" before time runs out. If any are grayed-out, that means they don't matter in the current level other than to build up your score and gain a little time. As for Hyaku mode (which means "one-hundred" in Japanese), you need to get one-hundred (!) combos of each color in order to advance to the next level; don't worry, you're given much more time to do so. Time Attack is as straight forward as it gets: you have a limited amount of time to rack up as many points as possible.

Technologically speaking, I played on the iPhone 3G and experienced no lag whatsoever -- not a very demanding game in that regard. On the downside there were a couple crashes, but only during the initial loading screen prior to the main menu; it was nothing that effected my high score attempts. Overall Piyo Blocks will run you $1.99 in the App Store and is well worth your money. And on a final note, if you're among those who didn't like Bejeweled and are considering passing on PB because of it, know this: I too, share no love for manipulating virtual sparkling gems.