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Puyo Puyo Sun 64
Puyo Puyo is insanley popular in Japan where there are stores that just sell Puyo merchandise. I got addicted to the series
by playing the original (after Auru came about) on the Genesis. The simplicity but complexity of this series is brilliant, and Sun 64 is no exception. The first game was
brought to the US for the Genesis under the name of Dr. Robotnic's Mean Bean Machine and as Kirby's Avalance for the SNES. But half the fun about this game are the characters that are involved.
Now that I've attempted to fill you in on the backround of this series we'll talk about this game. The object is to match four Puyo's up that are the same color. If you do, they disappear. However, you will never win the game playing like that.
You must think of ways to come up with resna (combos), because that will send junk blocks over to the computer's (or player 2's) screen. You can block junk blocks by making your own combos, which are then sent to the sun. Then the sun will release
sun blocks if he is 'angered' enough. Are you confused? You might be. That's what I mean by simple complexity. This game makes you think, and fast.
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| Graphics |
Sun 64 is all in 2D. Now, this is not bad, because there is no need for this game to be in 3D. However, it looks like it could be done on the SNES. They really should've
made this game in high-res (640 x 480). The graphics are still clear though, and they get the job done. There is lots of little animations in between the matches, and I think they are pretty entertaining
to watch (even though I speak no Japanese). The graphics are VERY cutesy, but once you get addicted to the game play, you start to like the cute graphics that go with it. Basically, nothing great, but a puzzle game only needs simple graphics.
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| Sound |
The sound is fun. The whole time you're playing the two characters just scream stuff back and forth like if you get
a combo or if you get a lot of garble puyo's dropped on you, etc. Even though I don't know what they're saying, it is so funny and entertaining. What
amazes me is the amount of voice samples they put on this small 64MB cart. The other sound effects are just normal, but the music stands out in my opinion.
You'll be humming the different songs in your head while you play most likely. They are catchy video game sounding tunes. For people that own this game, track 15
is my favorite (It's the one from Puyo Puyo Tsu). The voice samples add so much to the game... From what I understand, they are usually saying insults back and forth to each other.
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| Control |
The control is simple yet effective. You use the Digital Pad and the B and A buttons, and that's it. Of course, I don't know how anybody CAN possibly screw up controls for a puzzle game, they're always pretty simple.
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| Challenge/Fun |
Fun, fun, fun. That sums up this catagory. If you like puzzle games, you will be addictied to this one. Some people, at first glance, think of it as a Dr. Mario rip-off, but the first Puyo Puyo came out
before Dr. Mario... but the game is so much more complex. Even after I beat the game, I still play the game to see what the highest max. resna I can get, along with quickest times and highest scores. There are plenty of play modes to keep you playing a while.
The story mode is the main game where you can play as Draco Centara, Auru, or Sczheco. Then there is a 2-Player Vs. mode, a fun tournament mode, and Nazo mode. In Nazo mode, you are playing solo, but you must meet the criteria for the level to pass. It is usually
to obtain a certain max resna using so many pieces, and there are 64 different Nazo levels. You also get drawn into the characters, and come up with a favorite pretty quickly.
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| Overall |
Although some people's opinion might differ, I give Puyo Puyo Sun 64 a 10. Even though it's not the best looking visually, the fun more than makes up for it. And in
my opinion, you can have a perfect game that's not the best looking or sounding. I think Puyo Puyo is the most addicting game I've ever played, and the one of the only puzzle games I would put in my favorite all time list (Puzzle Bobble being the other).
Unless you are familiar with Puyo Puyo, I don't recommend you importing this one, because this game is not for everybody. Plus it is all in Japanese. Although I don't know what is said in the pre-match 'talks' between the players
I have figured out all the menu options by trial and error. It's not easy though. I learned the hard way what Clear Data means in Japanese :-). If you are looking for something new, and don't mind taking a chance, I would recommend you try Puyo Puyo Sun 64.
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