"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue"

Puzzle games have become a staple for video game fans everywhere, and Nintendo hasn't missed out. Over the years, Nintendo has developed several different games within the genre: Yoshi, Yoshi's Cookie, Dr. Mario, and last but not least Puzzle League. Dr. Mario has traditionally been the most famous of the the puzzlers, but lately Puzzle League has been gaining more recognition due to its fast-paced gameplay, addicting multiplayer possibilities, and a gameplay style that is simple to understand but difficult to master. Instead of rotating blocks to fit in with existing blocks on the bottom like Tetris, you have a rising tower of different-colored blocks that you can switch horizontally. Once you get three in a row, you clear the blocks and blocks on the top fall down. Of course, the blocks don't always have to be three in a row. It can be a combo of up to five in a row, or even more. And you can string together chains with the falling blocks. These combos and chains generate annoying garbage blocks for your opponents.

Planet Puzzle League (known as Panel de Pon DS) is the newest entry in the Puzzle League/Tetris Attack series. As a Touch Generation title, it is part of Nintendo's efforts to attract casual gamers. Puzzle games are great for attracting casual gamers or non-gamers, since the gameplay mechanics are never very complex. Case in point, I've lost to my mom a couple of times in Pokemon Puzzle League, and she rarely ever plays video games. For fans of the older games wondering whether or not to make a purchase, all I can say is this: It has something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.

What's Old?
The basic gameplay is still unchanged, so veterans of earlier Puzzle League titles should have no problem fitting in with Planet Puzzle League. All of the key features in the older titles are also back for an encore. For Vs. Com, players can challenge the AI in one of three familiar modes: Garbage Battle, the typical gameplay styles with garbage blocks; Score Attack, where you make combos and chains to achieve a high score in two minutes; and Clear battke, where you strive to clear all blocks above a certain line. Each of these features has a single player mode where you play against yourself for a higher score or a quicker time. Other new features making a comeback in include the Endless Mode, a score attack without a time limit, and a Puzzle Mode, with hundreds cleverly designed puzzles designed to strain your mind.

What's New?
Yet even though many of the old features are back, Planet Puzzle League is still full of new features that make the game worth getting. Even the old features have received makeovers. For example, in the single-player Clear Battle mode, you still advance through several stages, but in the old games there are two special levels that you clear with combos and chains instead of clearing above a line. In Planet Puzzle League, there is one for every stage. The Puzzle Mode has also underwent some changes. The old puzzles where you must clear blocks within a set number of moves are still there, but now there are other puzzles including the dastardly Missions Mode where you have infinite moves but must complete a set task, which can be simple or insanely difficult.

Other than these updates to old features, there are several new game modes for you to choose from. One of them is the Garbage Attack, which is a form of Score Attack except now the game constantly dumps garbage blocks on you. Another new mode is the Daily Mode. You can play three modes (Garbage Attack, Score Attack, and Lift Attack, where your score is how high you raise the blocks), but you can only play each once a day. The game keeps track of how you do, and compares it with your earlier scores. There is definitely a hint of Brain Age to this feature. Planet Puzzle League also includes new items blocks that can be used in Vs. mode. Once cleared, these blocks can provide a special power used for your advantage, from turning all of your blocks to one of three colors or toying around with your opponent. The items blocks are great fun, but can be extremely cheap. Another new feature expert chain-makers would love is the Exploding Lift. In old games, nothing you can do will raise the blocks whenever a chain is going on, essentially limiting the chain to a certain size. However, with Exploding Lift, the player can lift the blocks even when blocks are clearing, so one can theoretically extend his or her chain indefinitely. The game also provides several new styles of blocks, so if you don't like the new default blocks, you can change it to a shape that suits your tastes, or you can even use the old blocks if you wish.

Multiplayer has always been a staple of Puzzle League games, and Planet Puzzle League takes it to a new level. Planet Puzzle League features DS wireless play for up to four players, making it only the second game in the series with a four-player mode (the other being Panel de Pon on the Japan-only Nintendo Puzzle Collection compilation on the Gamecube.) The players can compete in Garbage Challenge, Score Attack, or Clear Attack (the same three modes that are available in the Vs. Com mode) One feature of multiplayer in Puzzle League that I believe had kept it largely two-player is the question of who would get the garbage blocks Panel de Pon in the NPC decided it by associating a player with a color, (i.e. Player 1 is blue, Player 2 is red etc.) and the block will go to whoever matches the color that ends a chain. So if the last color in a chain is red, the entire garbage block will go to Player 2. This can lead to some hazardous situations, as it's very easy to send a block to yourself if you're not careful. Planet Puzzle League solves it in a much simpler fashion: just give it to everybody else. It's a simple solution, but it just means most people would be overwhelmed with junk for a good majority of the match.

But if you're like me and you have no friends to play with, Planet Puzzle League is the latest title to come with wi-fi connection, so you can search to find players around the world. In Wi-Fi, all matches are 2-player and Garbage Attack, so it's pretty much like playing Tetris Attack or Pokemon Puzzle League online. You can relax in Free Play, or you can challenge others in the Birthday Battle. There is nothing different in these battles, except every win will count towards your ranking, as you are ranked with the other people with the same birthday. (As of this writing, I was ranked 2nd in my birth date with 11 wins.) If you're new to the game, you can still challenge others in the Novice Battle, but this option is only opened to those that have yet to "clear a certain condition," and I'm not quite sure what those conditions are. Last but not least there is Friend Battle, where you challenge other friends. With Friend Battle, you can trash talk during the match with the Mic, but as I said, I have no friends, so no trash talking for me.

Famed sportswriter Grantland Rice one said, "It's not about whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." With Planet Puzzle League, how you play the game is something important. The game makes use of the touch screen by allowing players to slide blocks around with the touch screen. Think of it as playing Meteos, except that you move blocks horizontally instead of vertically. Playing with the touch screen can take some getting used to, since moving blocks is a pain if they are only to be moved one space. However, the ability to move a block clear across the playing field in a fraction of a second can provide a terrific advantage in making chains that playing it the old fashioned way with the D-pad doesn't have. You will be able to make chains that you otherwise couldn't. You can also hold the DS sideways (for bigger blocks but no access to buttons) or normal (for smaller blocks but perfect for playing the old-fashioned way.) However you want to play the game is up to you, but both options are readily available.

What's Been Borrowed?
This is probably just an opinion rather than anything else, but Planet Puzzle League certainly feels like it's borrowed some themes from Meteos. I'm not talking about the gameplay mechanics. Rather, I'm talking about the overall feel of the game. One thing about the earlier games is that they have a warm and fuzzy feel to them, with endearing characters (like Misty ^_^) and a down to earth storyline set in a world that you wouldn't mind living in. All that had been dumped in Planet Puzzle League. No more cute characters...no more storyline...no more world for safe and comfort. Planet Puzzle League is "set" in a post-industrialized, technologically advanced, culturally blended world with flashy signs, gears, and cars, cars, and more cars. It's the type of feel that many sci-fi sources strive for: lifeless and automatic. The music in the game reinforces this mood, as half of them have a strong techno feel to them, and the other half definitely have a 23rd-century feel to them. Overall, Planet Puzzle League FEELS more like Meteos than Tetris Attack or Pokemon Puzzle League, but this may be a good thing.

What's Blue?
What's blue in Planet Puzzle League? Well, the title screen is one. The other may be your mood after you lose for the 20th time against another opponent on Wi-Fi mode because they followed a 6 chain with a 4 chain. Seriously, Wi-Fi is not for the faint of heart. Like many other puzzle games, Planet Puzzle League is easy to play but difficult to master. Even when you think you've improved a lot, there will always be people that are better at seeing chains or at handling quick speeds. It's not going to be a walk in the park, especially since you're also up against Japanese players that has had the game since April. However, it's important to not take losing seriously. One major reason to play puzzle games is to have fun, and if winning or losing becomes life or death, it's probably best to reconsider your attitude. It's better to think to yourself, "Even though I just lost, it's great to be playing Puzzle League on my DS against people from around the world!"

Planet Puzzle League is not for everybody. Some people just don't like puzzle games and may end up playing the game for a week before getting tired of it. Others may find the allure of Wi-Fi insufficiently strong to warrant a purchase. However, Planet Puzzle League is a strong title that stands as one of the best puzzle games on the Nintendo DS, and if you're a fan of puzzle games, especially that of Puzzle League, Planet Puzzle League is a worthy addition.

And now for the more traditional review scores:

Presentation: 8.5
Puzzle League is back, and with a brand new look and feel. You could love it or hate it, but it's definitely a departure from previous Puzzle League games.

Graphics: 7.5
Are you really expecting breathtaking visuals from a puzzle game? The new blocks are well-designed, and there are some nifty backgrounds that fit in with the futuristic feel.

Sound: 8.5
Not much in terms of sound effects, and the futuristic techno beats are well-composed but ultimately a love or hate type of thing.

Gameplay: 9.5
Some people may not like Puzzle League, but for everybody else, this is perfect title if you just want to PLAY the game. Lots of great new additions, plus Wi-Fi.

Replay: 9
Some people may not like puzzle games, but for everybody else, Planet Puzzle League is one of those puzzle games that will keep you glued to the screen for hours upon end.

Overall: 9
It could be more vibrant, but if you're up for a good puzzle game, this would definitely be a good pick. Plus, it's for a handheld!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/06/07