Crescent, I hope you don't think I'm talking down to you. I expect your just looking for something that isn't there. In other words, you might be making it overly complicated, and trying too hard. Maybe you should create a new user and start over, not worrrying about surviving or high scores, but take it nice and easy. Take your time and read the hints. Look the board over for a second before you start matching. Look for the bonuses first, and try to work them off the board before you work all the puzzle pieces off. And you can always go back and replay a level if you miss the bonus, as the game suggests several times. I suspect you're just used to faster games. In Match 3, there's often ample time and you don't need to feel rushed. I'm not saying it's exactly zen like, you do have to concentrate and be aware of the time. But it doesn't require the quick decisions of a Tetris or shooter style game, or the level of staring at the screen of a hidden object game. If you just take your time and work somewhat systematically, you'll find yourself seeing all kinds of matches on the board, such as the 4s and 5s and occassional L shaped 5s (where moving one tile to the corner of a junction of two sets of 2 matched tiles gives you 5 matched tiles). Obviously that'll allow you to charge up the sun, in the case of this game, anyway. Try it that way, and I'll bet you'll enjoy it a lot more.
Like the padlocks. Look to unlock them early. If you look at them first thing, you'll almost always find at least one that has an adjacent tile of the same type and a 3rd tile nearby that can be moved into line, breaking the padlock. Or at least breaking one of the chains right away in the double locked ones. As to bonuses, if you're getting tight on time and most of the puzzle pieces are near the bottom, you can usually take a second and place a bomb and free all your blocked pieces without running out of time. Though charging up the Sun by looking for match 4s and more when your momentarily stuck can allow you to save a bomb for later. Get a feel for your boards, too. Later on, you'll find boards that have enough missing squares that it's very hard for 4s and 5s to form, so you might not want to waste too much time looking for them. If you have only one piece blocked by one tile, or two pieces blocked by the same kind of tile, and your running out of time, it might be the perfect time to spend a lightning bolt. Also, try to watch the shape of the board and avoid letting your puzzle pieces fall into tough areas, like the single file areas at the bottom of some boards, or behind locked tiles. Try to look for matches that will you let you swap your puzzle piece horizontally, out of the bad row.
Again, I'm not trying to talk down to you. On the contrary, I just get the feeling that your not enjoying it because your trying too hard. Just start over and take your time and let yourself sort of grow into the game and I think you'll enjoy it a lot more. I'm systematic, but not particular fast or observant, and I'm able to play these games competitively, though not necessarily well. In fact, I'm so limited as a gamer, I doubt I'll ever finish one. But I'm sure enjoying the try. Relax a little, and I'll bet you'll enjoy it a whole lot more.
Watcher13 :)