"Pokemon...? Challenge...? Okay, maybe so."

Introduction

(Note: This review is written by an experienced player of Tetris Attack, which uses the same concept as Pokemon Puzzle Challenge. I will try to be as unbiased as possible, seeing as how new players will find the concept in this game quite interesting.)

Pokemon Puzzle Challenge, despite its belonging to one of the largest trends in video game (and societal) history, actually lives up quite hopefully to its ''challenging'' name. It's a puzzle game modeled after the Tetris Attack system, which basically involves you moving blocks around to match at least 3 in a row. The idea is that you have a screen that eventually gets filled up with slowly moving, different colored blocks. Yes, the idea is to change the position of these blocks and to match them to earn points. Easy, no? This idea is further complicated by the combo system the game uses, in which you earn more points for matching 4, 5, and even up to 15 in a row. Take in hand the different modes this game offers - single player involves the Marathon mode featured in Tetris (the blocks try to fill up the screen faster as you go along, just so you know), a new Challenge mode which pits you against actual ''Pokemon'' gym trainers, which each vary on their difficulty. And at the same time, you even get to choose your own Pokemon with its own theme song! It also features a Puzzle mode which can stump the best of video game players - the idea is that you have a certain number of turns to eliminate all of the blocks with certain moves. And last, single player offers a garbage mode, in which your screen is filled up by large useless blocks that can be transformed into more colorful blocks when you match blocks that touch the large garbage block I just mentioned.

Fun Factor

With all this being said, Pokemon Puzzle Challenge survives because of its fun factor. In my opinion, this is the type of game that features a fun factor level that overshadows other weaker areas such as graphics and sound (hey, they aren't that bad, though). The concept of matching blocks is simple, but fun - and because the system of ''combos'' and ''chains'' was implemented, I found this game to be a lot more complex --- complex, but complex in that it requires practice to master. Much like games such as Super Smash Bros., this is the type of game that with practice, you can master (or become highly skillful). P.P.C. was highly addictive because of that factor, and because the game's ''Challenge'' mode varied from ''Easy'' to ''Intense'' (which comes after ''Super Hard'', mind you). The game allows you to practice and then challenge yourself - and indeed, this had me hooked. The only insight I could is that many of the game's modes aren't innovative enough. While this is perhaps too subtle a problem (it's a puzzle game!), certain modes such as ''Puzzle'' are useless once you've solved them (there's only a limited number of puzzles).

Fun Factor - 10/10

Graphics

This is probably the weakest area of P.P.C., but why have an addictive game be overlooked for its graphics? I don't mean to be biased - P.P.C. does what it has to do with its graphics. The blocks are clearly visible, the pokemon each resemble their cartoon portraits perfectly, and the game's theme (i.e. main menu, puzzle screen) reminds you clearly of a pokemon or puzzle-like game. During puzzle battles, whenever you launch massive combos with your pokemon, their in-game portraits will change (to fit the situation). For example, Pikachu gave a determined and jumpy look when I did a 8-block combo. But while it does what it has to do, you will often refer to ''dark'' when you think about the graphics. This is a problem mostly blamed on the Gameboy Color's lighting, and is perhaps the only significant flaw in the game - the puzzle screen is rather dark, and the blocks are not vibrant enough so that purple can be separated by navy blue. P.P.C. tries to solve this problem by giving each type of coloured block a different type of shape, but I noticed how some of the shapes also camouflaged into their respective colors. Other than this minor error, P.P.C.'s graphics do not get into the way of its ''fun factor''.

Graphics - 7/10

Sound

The sound in P.P.C. can best be described as ''moderate''. It's not lively, and Gameboy Color music certainly won't move you (especially without headphones). However, it does give that nostalgic sense to the Pokemon player. Remixed themes from the T.V. show and RPG game series are present, as well as new themes that sound very similar to previously composed Pokemon music. In fact, because the game offers many different Pokemon characters available to use, it also means new themes for each character - that's right - it offers music for each character (not to mention for each Gym Trainer in ''Challenge'' mode as well). What does this mean, though? Many of the themes are not lively as mentioned, but they do not get into the way of the gamer. The Gym Trainer tracks attempt to simulate the actual feel of the city in which you're battling, but they sound more pretentious than simulating. However, don't get the sound wrong. Whenever your blocks are about to fill the screen up (resulting in Game Over), the theme changes to a faster, more intense theme - and whenever you launch awesome combos, the game always comes up with an exciting tune (exciting... hmm... what's the word again?) The sound is very much like its graphics - it doesn't get in the way - but it's also something you can just turn off with a quick movement of the finger.

Sound - 7/10

Replayability/Buy or Rent?

P.P.C. is extremely replayable. Its Marathon mode can never truly be ''beaten'' (realistically, anyways), it features a Multiplayer mode that was very addictive (in my opinion), and even the Challenge mode was fun to play again (in ''Intense'' mode, once you reach a level of expertise). So, buy or rent? Well, the average price for this game is probably low right now - and because it's the game's ''concept'' that's being rated (not its graphics), it can never get old. I would buy this game, but the only problem is that there probably aren't too many P.P.C. players out there right now - that'll probably mean single player only. But then there's also a Marathon mode, a Garbage mode, and a Challenge mode that you can look up to. Not to mention, performing secret moves in the game to unlock all the available Pokemon in the game. Talk about options.

Overall: 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/24/03