I'd like to spend more time with this game before I give it a more confident rating, since, as of the time of this writing, I've only completed a few runs of the game's 1 Player Mode. But I'm giving it a quick one now to help round off games I played last year.
It's an update of Panel de Pon, one of my absolute favorite games, themed around the Pokémon anime, one of my most nostalgic things. I think I'm more likely to turn to Panel de Pon as a rule, since I'm better tuned to that game's speed, but Puzzle League is hardly a step down. The main appeal here is in the anime cast reprising their roles, the MIDI versions of the "2 B A Master" album's tracks, and the completely superfluous detail of being able to choose your Pokémon. But I also think theming the blocks around the Gen 1 badges is a cute touch and another smart way to integrate Pokémon as an aesthetic.
Like I said, I want to spend more time with this game before I give a more definitive review/score, so don't be surprised if I revisit this and end up giving it an adjusted score down the line.
P.S. Team Rocket having a Golbat pisses me off for some reason. Like, you couldn't bother ripping anime clips or more stock animal sound effects for Lickitung or Victreebel or something? Ah, well.
It's an update of Panel de Pon, one of my absolute favorite games, themed around the Pokémon anime, one of my most nostalgic things. I think I'm more likely to turn to Panel de Pon as a rule, since I'm better tuned to that game's speed, but Puzzle League is hardly a step down. The main appeal here is in the anime cast reprising their roles, the MIDI versions of the "2 B A Master" album's tracks, and the completely superfluous detail of being able to choose your Pokémon. But I also think theming the blocks around the Gen 1 badges is a cute touch and another smart way to integrate Pokémon as an aesthetic.
Like I said, I want to spend more time with this game before I give a more definitive review/score, so don't be surprised if I revisit this and end up giving it an adjusted score down the line.
P.S. Team Rocket having a Golbat pisses me off for some reason. Like, you couldn't bother ripping anime clips or more stock animal sound effects for Lickitung or Victreebel or something? Ah, well.
There is less lag on this game than Tetris Attack, and also a bigger window to extend combos after clearing blocks (by a few frames). Therefore, it is very good.
This is the best puzzle game at being a fighting game. Agonizing wars of attrition, planning needing to be compensated by resource management - it does not compare to Tetris, because it does not want to be Tetris. It does not want to be infinite. It simply wants you to be better. You CAN be better. And when you're better the man will say "When you're hot you're hot" while playing a MIDI piano version of a power ballad from a 4Kids album from the early 2000's. And is that not the peak of human existence?
This is the best puzzle game at being a fighting game. Agonizing wars of attrition, planning needing to be compensated by resource management - it does not compare to Tetris, because it does not want to be Tetris. It does not want to be infinite. It simply wants you to be better. You CAN be better. And when you're better the man will say "When you're hot you're hot" while playing a MIDI piano version of a power ballad from a 4Kids album from the early 2000's. And is that not the peak of human existence?
"GO,GO,GOOOOOO"
Panel de Pon aka Tetris Attack is really fun and so is PPL. There really isn't much to it beyond that. It's a fun Puzzle game now with a Pokemon anime skin circa 2000. If that's your thing you'll love it. The voicelines will be etched into my memory until I die. Whether it be anything Tracy says ever, Lt.Surge screaming "Aw, Poor Baby", Blaine's gravelly voice saying "When you're hot, you're hot". The game has iconic lines all over it.
Panel de Pon aka Tetris Attack is really fun and so is PPL. There really isn't much to it beyond that. It's a fun Puzzle game now with a Pokemon anime skin circa 2000. If that's your thing you'll love it. The voicelines will be etched into my memory until I die. Whether it be anything Tracy says ever, Lt.Surge screaming "Aw, Poor Baby", Blaine's gravelly voice saying "When you're hot, you're hot". The game has iconic lines all over it.
I adore this game and y'know the thing about it that I think gets me more with time is the fact that it's super nostalgic. Like, the OST is mostly remixed tracks from the show and 2BA Master, and the whole game at times feels like cheap licensed cash-in.
But it's fun. The game is fun, the characters having little blurbs is fun, the references to the show is fun, the fact that there's actually like a ton of content is fun. It's just a good time.
But it's fun. The game is fun, the characters having little blurbs is fun, the references to the show is fun, the fact that there's actually like a ton of content is fun. It's just a good time.