Puzzle
Here we have all the games in the Puzzle Section.
Nintendo 64
Puzzle
The solid puzzle planning of Tetris meets the lush presentation of Disney in Capcom’s expert hand. A very fine version to savour.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Puzzle
The classical Chinese title game made infinitely more easy on the eye with an abundance of beach babes. Be warned though – these ladies will try anything to distract players from making the right moves.
Dreamcast
Puzzle
Bringing the mahjong mass market to Western players is worthy of commendation and allows gamers to access the vast array of Japan only mahjong titles. The strangely zen meditative properties of clearing the on screen titles is a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon pastime. Independently produced Dreamcast title.
Mega Drive
Puzzle
Simple tile shuffling to clear the screen as the stack increases slowly to test your thinking and play screen. Each line cleared drops a bomb that clears tiles on the other side of the screen to reveal pixelated lady friends.
PC Engine CD ROM
Puzzle
The classic puzzle title where players take on the role of admirals to negotiate the mine scattered seas to negotiate a safe channel.
Playstation
Puzzle
A simple concept involving comparing two images side by side and finding the differences. Enjoyable
Playstation
Puzzle
Don’t let the cute graphics deceive you – this is one mean Mr Driller. Drill down before your oxygen runs out. Easy to pick up, but prone to that just one more go mentality where minutes become hours. You have been warned.
Dreamcast
Puzzle
Don’t let the cute graphics deceive you – this is one mean Mr Driller. Drill down before your oxygen runs out. Easy to pick up, but prone to that just one more go mentality where minutes become hours. You have been warned.
Gamecube
Puzzle
For the uninitiated Mr Driller must suffer the threat of repetitive stress injury and frantically drill from the surface to the goal. Drilled blocks of the same colour collapse presenting a hazard so careful thought is the order of the day. But at the same time limit is set by depleting oxygen reserves. The lovely sprites mask a truly hardcore experience when freebased from its graphical candy, but when its so easy to get into and so sweetly coated it’s a true pleasure to drill deeper. Features a world tour with themed levels from around the globe (and a fine Indiana Jones tribute) and a frantic multiplayer mode where up to players race to the goal. Plenty of extras too and smooth presentation.
Nintendo DS
Puzzle
Don’t let the saccharine sweet, pastal graphics deceive you – this is one mean Mr Driller. Drill deep down before your oxygen runs out. Easy to pick up, but prone to that just one more go mentality where minutes become hours. You have been warned.
Playstation
Puzzle
A cute and cuddly Puyo Puyo clone mixed with plenty of fresh spices of its own bringing to make a sweet mull of an action puzzle title. Includes time attack and practise modes along with the saccharine sweet story mode.
Super Famicom
Puzzle
Matching up the blocks of different colours and designs with the superb styling of ninja family Nintama. The characterisation adds much to the melee and plenty of colour to proceedings.
Gamecube
Puzzle
Compilation of three of the finest puzzlers to come out of Kyoto: Dr. Mario, Yoshi’s Cookie and the lesser known Panel De Pon. Remixed soundtracks, crisp, easily distinguished graphics with nice, retro sound effects. Whilst most veteran gamers will be familiar with the other two, Panel De Pon is possibly the unsung hero of the collection with tiles being switched around to clear lines in time honoured tradition. Simple, yet deadly addictive.
Super Famicom
Puzzle
Nontan is a children’s book in Japan and Game Freak have kept it colourful with simple icons of frogs, fish and apples that need pairing up to clear your screen. Simple and innocent hiding devilish gameplay. Quite a collectable.
PSP
Puzzle
An action puzzle title at its base element with devious gameplay that sees players utilising their full complement of ninjas to keep switches pressed, opponents in battle or lanterns lit whilst your other ninja sneaks past. The stylisation is immense in a traditional Hokusai woodprint style with graphics befitting a screen in a Kyoto temple. Well worth a look.
Playstation
Puzzle
From hardcore gamers much loved Takumi, which was created (along with Cave) from the fallout from Taoplan’s demise, comes this distinctive puzzler. Usually more at home with shmups like Gigawing and Mars Matrix, Takumi demonstrates another string to its bow as you work to match weather symbols with some delightful characters. The symbols can be slid along sideways to make combo’s, but it keeps it nice and frantic not having to concentrate purely on the top line as in Puyo Puyo et al. Very refreshing. Also known as Weather Tales.
Nintendo DS
Puzzle
Also known as Fairy Musketeers, players get to tackle the puzzles with a definite slant on action rather than anything heavier. The frillier side of the game is also explored in the costume section where new outfits are adorned. Konamis style is certainly present in abundance as the presentation and pointy ear, maid and fantasy protagonists have had every effort made on them.
Super Famicom
Puzzle
Panel de Pon is also known as Puzzle League. Lines must be matched up but blocks can only be shifted horizontally to clear the on screen action. Liften head and shoulders above the competition by Nintendo’s exceptional presentation.
Virtual Boy
Puzzle
Join Bomberman’s quest to make the golden Bomberman statue his own by winning the three medals. All of the enemies and levels are of a spooky nature, but in a cuddly Bomberman style. Gameplay is in a similar vein to Columns.
Sega Saturn
Puzzle
Super deformed Ultraman and pals themed puzzler in which you must align capsules to make a chain. Some very satisfying combos possible in a game that slowly gets its hooks into you as you get used to the unusual, yet refreshing, style.
Dreamcast
Puzzle
Classic Japanese puzzle action with frantic pace, anime characters and plenty of cussing in despair and whooping in delight. Coloured spheres must be matched with other colours. The twist being your platform can only hold so much weight before it gradually gives way under the strain of too many spheres and gets pushed to the bottom of the screen. Fast flowing and full of fun.
GameBoy Original
Puzzle
Beautiful monochrome simplicity as Popeye takes down Bluto (helped by a can of spinach power up) then negotiates the mazes to rescue Olive Oyl. Fine use of the cherished license.
Super Famicom
Puzzle
Take on the Puyo Puyo master plan where players align four of the same coloured bug eyed balls with saccharine sweet characters and plenty of cutesy sound effects. Does actually add to the genre though and is a well respected series on the Super Famicom.
Sega Saturn
Puzzle
Cuteness as only the Japanese know how, ‘Puyo Puyo’ style gameplay which is great fun in two player mode.
Mega Drive
Puzzle
Puyo Puyo is Japanese onomatopoeia for something soft to touch, such as the jelly like balls that fall from the sky to be aligned with similar colours in this saccharine soaked, kawaii puzzler.
Mega Drive
Puzzle
Puyo Puyo is Japanese onomatopoeia for something soft to touch, such as the jelly like balls that fall from the sky to be aligned with similar colours in this saccharine soaked, kawaii puzzler.
Playstation
Puzzle
Like all the best puzzlers – easy to pick up, but refuses to let go. Puyo Puyo is at the pinnacle of its genre: sublime, fluid gameplay backed up with zany characters including a samurai mole and a grape aubergine…?
Sega Saturn
Puzzle
Like all the best puzzlers – easy to pick up, but refuses to let go. Puyo Puyo is at the pinnacle of its genre: sublime, fluid gameplay backed up with zany characters including a samurai mole and a grape aubergine…?
Playstation
Puzzle
Last Compile release in the series which compiles the Mega Drive versions of Puyo Puyo and Puyo Puyo 2 adding four player modes and a Pocket Station interaction mode. The real bonus is the quest mode which allows players to challenge the imaginative inhabitants of the Puyo world to battles in order to progress.
Playstation
Puzzle
Puyo Puyo is Japanese onomatopoeia for something soft to touch, referring to the jelly like balls that fall from the sky to be aligned with similar colours in this saccharine soaked, kawaii puzzler. Highly accomplished version which was re-released to introduce its polished gameplay to the PS2 crew.