Puyo Pop
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A
Gameboy Advance puzzle game
reviewed on 12 / 16 / 2003 by Wesley
Pollow |
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| Puyo Pop will forever be one of those games that everyone overlooks for no reason. It's a darn shame too, because this is a real Tetris-killer in terms of style, and addiction. |
Puyo Pop has been released in America before, but usually only under different names (Kirby's Avalanche, and Doctor Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine being the most notable). The basic gameplay is what you'd expect of any puzzle game. Pieces drop in the play field, and you match them to make them disappear. For Puyo Pop, you are matching colored blobs of goo that drop in pieces of two. When you get four of the same color blobs to touch (up, down, left, or right in any combination), they disappear. This may seem simplistic, and it is. Don't let that fool you though, because this game is addicting in a way most games are not.
Puyo Pop features a wide enough selection of game modes, that even a tough customer like myself was impressed. The one player modes include Single Puyo Pop (Story Mode), and Endless Puyo Pop (normal endless, and task mode). The multiplayer modes are Double Puyo Pop (2 player), and Everybody Puyo Pop (up to 4 players). All the multiplayer modes include both Single and Multiple cartridge modes. The story mode is pretty much self explainitory You basically follow a (really goofy) story about a girl named Arle, and face a lot of Puyo Pop challengers along the way. Unlike with other American incarnations of Puyo Pop, this version does not try to hide it's Japanese heritage, and it's most obvious in this portion of the game. It may seem weird, but give it a little getting used to, and you'll see why some people love “Japanese style” video games.
The music, and audio in Puyo pop is really only average. It's good, and catchy, and oh so appropriate, but is still missing that certain something that will make you remember it forever. The sound effects and voices are both cute, and clear. The graphics aren't anything really special either, but they do look good, and you won't get tired of seeing them. While you may not come for the graphics, you will stay for the top notch gameplay.
One of the things that makes this game really stand out, is that it is one of the few Gameboy Advance titles that had a lot of focus on multiplayer. This game features an excellent single cartridge mode. 1-4 players can join in with just one cartridge amongst the group, and everyone gets to see all 4 people on their own screen simultaneously. I don't think this has been done before on a portable system. There is also an even more robust multiple cartridge mode, so if you have any friends who own Puyo Pop as well, you can have even more Puyo Pop multiplayer goodness.
Since the release of the Gameboy Advance, a lot of really crummy puzzle games have been released as well (such as that horrid Tetris remake which shall remain nameless). Puyo Pop is the answer for anyone looking for an extremely addicting puzzle game, with all the features anyone could possibly ask for. There just aren't too many games this good being released anymore, so don't miss it. |
Publisher: THQ / Sega |
| Developer: Sonic Team |
| Players: 4 |
| Platform: Gameboy Advance |
Release Date: February '02
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Graphics: 7.0
While the graphics are nothing revolutionary, they more than get the job done. Either way, if you wanted revolutionary graphics, you probably wouldn't be playing a 2-D puzzle game, huh.
Game Play: 9.0
Smooth, responsive, and comfortable. Great fast
paced game play that will keep you coming back.
Music & Sound: 7.0
The music very enjoyable, but not so much so that you'll be trying to buy it on CD. The sound effects and voices are very cute, and very Japanese.
Replay Value: 9.0
Do I have to list how many single, and multi player gameplay modes there are again?! Story mode, Endless, Double Puyo, Everybody Puyo... and so on.
Overall Rating: 10.0
Puyo Pop, in short, is basically everything I want in a puzzle game. I sincerely doubt another puzzle game will come along and keep my attention like this one. |
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