Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
PlayStation * Capcom

Review by Michael Vafeas
9.1

Making jest of the constant criticisms directed at the labels given to the different installments of the Street Fighter series, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo became the title of Capcom's latest wonder. Do not assume, even momentarily, that this game has anything to do with street fighting. Although this game features several characters from Capcom fighting games, the game is pure puzzler, complete with shattering gems and insanely addictive gameplay.

Not since the summer days of Bust-A-Move has puzzling been this good. Though the game bears more than a passing resemblance to other games of the same genre such as Kirby's Avalanche and Columns, the mechanics are different and make for a unique playing experience. You must arrange and position crystals which fall in sets of two, and must position them so that they cluster with other gems of the same color. However, while most puzzle games have gems that disappear when you link a certain number of them together, Puzzle Fighter allows you to link an infinite number of gems strategically together without having them immediately disappear. You are given special gems randomly which, upon contact with gems of the same color, cause all adjacent gems of the like to shatter and disappear. This allows for whole rows and sections that can disappear at once, and shattering the gems causes blocks to be dumped onto your opponent's playfield. Making matters delightfully more complex, when several gems are placed together, they form a larger diamond which, upon being destroyed, causes a great number of blocks to fall on your opponents playfield. Additionally, blocks placed on the screen as a result of the opponents actions are not immediately destructible. The blocks that fall display numbers which count down from five to one before becoming active gems that can be destroyed. All this might sound a bit confusing at first, but playing the game will reveal the game's strategy and simplicity.

The graphics are colorful and bright. Accompanying the action of the gems are beautifully animated miniature versions of several characters from Darkstalkers and Street Fighter Alpha, which execute special moves and yell expressions depending on the action of the shattering crystals. Though these oh-so-cute characters function as little more than a distraction (and justify the title) they do add a certain attitude that has been unsuccessfully attempted before in puzzle games. The sound effects and music match the game perfectly and seem like tunes from a game that could be called Street Fighter Kids.

In all, the presentation is every bit as good as the game itself, which is fantastic. I began to think that puzzle games were getting too repetitious and had lost their addictive quality, but Puzzle Fighter successfully proved me wrong and expanded Capcom's expertise into the puzzle gaming genre in the process. I doubt that many people are going to be willing to give this game a chance if they only see the cover on the shelf. What lies inside the jewel case is a great, addictive game that any puzzle player --- and any player in general --- should appreciate.


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