Puyo Puyo is a great puzzle game (a block-removal game like Tetris) originally developed by Compile. It’s filled to the brim with cutesy anime characters and challenging gameplay.
In Japan, the name translates approximately to “jelly-like”, so many of the games involve globs (resembling slimes from Dragon Warrior / Dragon Quest) that form together as a single block (blob/glob/slime/jelly – take your pick).
(Remember the slimes from Dragon Warrior? Now they’re puzzle-pieces?)
When four blocks are connected, they disappear. Then, after disappearing, (like Tetris) others fall and can result in a chain reaction of disappearing blocks (a chain also called a rensa in Japan). If the third column (also the column in which new blobs appear down from the top) fills up to the top of the screen, you lose – even if the other columns are clear.
Being able to fill the other columns without losing factors into certain advanced strategies. But generally, if you’re a novice like me, you don’t want to let things get carried away. Don’t get too greedy while holding out for combos or your opponents may foil your plans.
(Four connect blobs/slimes will result in them disappearing and the others falling down, resulting in chains)
Speaking of which, each player (or the computer) will send garbage blocks (ojima) to the other player after completing a chain and vice versa. The garbage blocks prevent players from matching up colors (basically jamming up the board). To remove the garbage blocks, you must complete chains adjacent to them (which can be hard to do if you’re unlucky). Since the goal is to defeat your opponent by having their third column fill up, sending lots of ojima to them really helps.
(Ojima appear as colorless slimes/blobs. They can sometimes be countered by doing combos in time. Often times a combo battle will commence to sway the balance before the ojima drops.)
Let’s take a look at some of the more interesting games that comprise the series.
Puyo Puyo / Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine (Genesis / Megadrive)
(The Japan release versus the western repackaging as a Sonic title).
This game came out on the Sega Megadrive in 1992 in Japan (and the Game Gear in 1993). In the west, due to the popularity of Sonic, we got this game as Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine with a different enemy/mascot each level (same gameplay).
(It’s very strange that Sonic isn’t present on the cover art – giving the focus to the villain.)
I find the Japanese Puyo Puyo game to be much more charming – decorated with characters from the Madou Monogatari series (an RPG on PC Engine). Of course Japan isn’t as hung up over the depiction of demons as the west and, given this game’s fantasy theme, they often make an appearance as cute/flashy anime characters.
(Draco’s sprites aren’t nearly as pronounced as they would be in the future here.)
Given that the game included Satan (yes.. there’s a character named that), I can sort of understand the change for the western release.
(Behold the cuteness *cough* power.. I mean power.. of Satan.. )
The game features a one-player story mode that’s kind of fun to play. There’s also the usual two-player mode that’s also very fun. I bought the Mega Drive version mainly because of the box art and it’s definitely a beloved part of my imports collection.
Puyo Puyo Tsu (Puyo Puyo Two) – Genesis/Megadrive/PS1/Super Famicom
(The sequel/follow-up to the original Puyo Puyo on the Genesis/Megadrive)
This is the second game in the Puyo Puyo series and came out on many many systems systems – each with unique box/cover art. Again, if you like cute anime characters, this might be the game for you.
(The game art on PlayStation and Super Famicom)
I first played it on my Sega Saturn (as Puyo Puyo Sun) and it’s a really great experience overall. The game enhances the gameplay rules to allow for garbage to be countered and even bounced from side-to-side before dropping based on scoring rules.
There are also settings for limiting chains (for when garbage is sent). If you’re serious about Puyo Puyo, this is a much more interesting game than the first – especially with human opponents.
Kirby’s Avalanche (Super Puyo Puyo)
Kirby’s Avalanche is a re-skinned version of Super Puyo Puyo for the western audience. The game came out during the 16-bit era on the Super Famicom and Super Nintendo
For the Kirby variant, Instead of Madou Monogatari characters, the game has Kirby characters (such as King Dedede). The game has nice graphics and a lot of charm. This is one of the few games with Kirby having dialog (trash-talking in scenes between rounds). The game is currently rather easy to acquire, and at a very reasonable price.
Puyo Pop Fever
As Puyo Puyo publisher Compile had went under, Sonic Team took up the series (NDS version was published by Atlus). As with other successful Sonic Team releases, this is a polished and well-received game that came out for nearly every system in the Nintendo Dreamcast/Gamecube era.
(Once the meter is filled, you enter Fever mode – which seems almost broken in multi-player.)
The main addition here is the “fever” mode – activated as players are sending garbage to each other by filling up a meter. Once activated, the player solves predetermined puzzles until they can no longer do so or times runs out – returning to the original field.
Puyo Puyo Tetris
This later (2014) title, as the name implies, is an interesting mix between Puyo Puyo and Tetris. Once again, it’s done by Sonic Team and has been well-received (though not so much in the west). There are various modes allowing players to choose pure Tetris, pure Puyo Puyo, or mixed field-types.
There’s also a Swap mode that has the game rules change from Puyo Puyo to Tetris and vice versa over time. Four players can play at the same time and there’s a Party mode with special items, etc.
The game originally came out on PS3 (which is region free), but the Japan 3DS version is actually region locked – so be careful of that. I believe it is also purchasable through digital distribution on PS4 and Xbox One as well.
Related: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
(Not really a Puyo Puyo game, this is sort of a spiritual successor. If you like Puyo Puyo, you’ll likely enjoy this and vice versa.)
While this game is really based on Pnickies and Baku Baku, it resembles Puyo Puyo enough to where I want to mention it. Instead of globs of slime, we have falling gems that merge with other gems. And instead of forming a chain with three blobs, one must wait until eventually a “crash” gem of the same color arrives to make the chain of gems disappear. There’s also a diamond that will cause all blocks of a single color (the one lands on) to disappear.
Other than the mentioned differences, Super Puzzle Fighter is at least at face value like Puyo Puyo. In each round, you’re trying to cause garbage gems to appear on your opponent’s side in the hopes of disrupting them and causing their field to fill up.
For extra flavor, as you finish chains, your chibi-form character will do an animated move as though they punched or did a fighter combo (similar to Puyo Puyo). So, if you love Street Fighter / Darkstalkers and like puzzle games, you will be extremely pleased with game. I can’t recommend it enough.
I thought it worth mentioning that there’s a bonus game that came out on Mortal Kombat Deception (for PSP, PS2, and GameCube) called Puzzle Kombat.
It has super-deformed (chibi) versions of Mortal Kombat characters and resembles Super Puzzle Fighter.
Conclusion
The Puyo Puyo games are fun, colorful, and challenging. They really have a great atmosphere and are loved by Japanese and western audiences alike. Though there are variations and graphical differences between versions, the formula has never varied greatly (and, given how fun and successful the series is, that’s fine). If you’ve not already played one of these games, I definitely recommend you do so. It’s also fairly easy to pick up a Kirby’s Avalanche or Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine here in the US.