Pokemon Puzzle League

"Don't let the Pokemon theme keep you from picking up this excellent game."

Pokemon Puzzle League is the best puzzle game for the Nintendo 64. In fact, it may be the best puzzle game for any system. Basically, this game is an updated version of the Super NES game, Tetris Attack. Don’t be fooled by the deceptive packaging, this is a game for anyone, not just Pokemon fans.

Graphics: 9/10

Let’s get this out in the open: I hate Pokemon. It is the most disturbing concept Nintendo has ever come up with. I found the original Gameboy game to be extremely boring. The “cuteness” of these creatures will sicken anyone above the age of ten. Why Nintendo put this game out with a Pokemon theme is beyond me. Being one of the greatest puzzle games ever created, it didn’t need a cheap marketing trick to sell.

Now with that behind us, let’s continue with the review. Graphics in puzzle games are usually pretty simple, and Pokemon Puzzle League doesn’t stray far from that path. However, while the graphics aren’t going to blow your mind, they are extremely clean and colorful. There aren’t any blurry lines here. These are actually some of the prettiest graphics I have seen on the system. Every last character looks exactly the way you expect them too. There is little animation to be had, but what is there is done very well.

Sound: 9/10

The music in this game is incredible. While I am certainly not looking to buy a soundtrack, the music adds so much to the game that it can’t be ignored. When your blocks get close to the top of the screen, the music speeds up and actually makes you panic even more. The effect is so startling, you’ll be tempted to turn the volume down. But you won’t, because you would miss an excellent aspect of the game.

The sound effects, on the other hand, aren’t anything to get teary-eyed over. The sound of blocks dropping and combos being completed fit in nicely, but the obnoxious voices of the Pokemon and trainers can get annoying.

Gameplay: 10/10

Gameplay is what counts for any game and this is where Pokemon Puzzle League excels. Lines of different colored blocks rise from the bottom of the screen. If the blocks reach the top of the screen, the game is over. You have the ability to swap two blocks that are side by side. You can clear blocks by lining up blocks of the same color either vertically or horizontally. The blocks are slowly rising towards the top of the screen the entire time. You can temporarily stop them from rising by performing chains and combos. Combos occur when more than three blocks are lined up. Chains occur if, when clearing a line of blocks, others fall to clear more lines. This is truly one of those games that is “easy to learn, difficult to master.”

I cannot mention enough how fun this game is to play. It offers a lot of different modes, as well. There is a training area that will explain the basic concept and rules. There is One Player Stadium, which allows one player to challenge increasingly difficult computer opponents. In this mode, there are initially three difficulty settings, with two more that can be unlocked. There is a puzzle mode, which will put a certain number of blocks on the screen. You then have a set amount of moves to clear all of the blocks. There is a Marathon mode that lets you keep playing until you lose, a Time Attack mode that gives you a set amount of time to score as many points as possible, and SPA Service, that gives you levels you must clear.

Playing with another person is where the most fun is. You have the option of playing three different games: VS, Timezone, and SPA. VS is similar to One Player Stadium. You each play until one person loses. By performing combos and chains, you will drop blocks on your opponent’s screen. The larger the chain or combo, the more blocks that drop. Timezone is won by the player who receives the most points in a set amount of time. SPA is won by the player who reaches the “finish line” first.

In some modes, including two-player mode, you have the option of playing three-dimensional puzzles. This is essentially the same as two-dimensional mode, except that the blocks are lined up around a cylinder. This is a lot harder because you must constantly rotate the cylinder to clear lines that have piled up elsewhere.

Conclusion: 10/10

This is one of the best games available for the Nintendo 64. Unless you hate puzzle games, there is no excuse not to pick this up!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/24/02, Updated 01/24/02