Software:Pokémon Puzzle League

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 puzzle game for the Nintendo 64
Pokémon Puzzle League
North American box art
Developer(s)Nintendo Software Technology
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Yukimi Shimura
Producer(s)Yukimi Shimura
Takehiro Izushi
Designer(s)
  • Bill Giese
  • Brett Ballow
  • A.J. Redmer
Programmer(s)
  • Stephen Lee
  • Robert Champagne
  • Yoon Joon Lee
Artist(s)
  • Mike Harrington
  • Raymond Yan
Composer(s)
  • John Siegler
  • Marry Corallo
  • Louis Cortellezi
  • Ken Cummings
  • Neil Jason
  • Michael Whalen
  • Ralph Schuckett
  • Brian Steckler
  • Lawrence Schwedler
Series
  • Puzzle League
  • Pokémon
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: September 25, 2000[1]
  • EU: March 2, 2001
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)

Pokémon Puzzle League is a puzzle video game in the Puzzle League series developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Released in North America on September 25, 2000, and in Europe on March 2, 2001, its Puzzle League-based gameplay has a focus on puzzle-based strategy in the game's grid-based format. To advance to new levels, players are required to combat the game's trainers and gym leaders, similar to the ones featured in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. One of several games based on the Pokémon anime, it features lead protagonist Ash Ketchum, his Pikachu, his companions Brock and Misty, the Kanto Gym Leaders, and other characters from the series.

Pokémon Puzzle League received mostly positive reviews from critics. Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, a companion puzzle game, was released for the Game Boy Color in 2000. Re-releases of the game followed in 2008 for the Wii via Virtual Console, and in 2022 on the Nintendo Classics service.[2]

Gameplay

Main articles: Tetris Attack and Puzzle League § Gameplay
Series protagonist Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu battle rival Gary Oak and his Growlithe.

Pokémon Puzzle League features the same gameplay as in Panel de Pon. The objective is to clear blocks from the playfield by arranging them in horizontal or vertical lines of three or more blocks. A continuous stream of new blocks pushes up from the bottom of the playfield, causing the entire playfield to rise continuously. If the blocks reach the top of the playfield, the player loses. The player can temporarily stop the progression of blocks by scoring combos and chains, and in two-player battles, these actions also cause garbage blocks to stack on top of the opponent's playfield.

Unlike its predecessors, Pokémon Puzzle League features a 3D mode in addition to the traditional 2D mode. In this mode, gameplay takes place on a cylinder with an effective width of 18 blocks, compared to the six-block width of the flat 2D field. It also features the original block design from Panel de Pon and Tetris Attack, as well as a Pokémon-oriented design (selected by default). The game features the ability to battle against AI opponents, though their abilities are limited when using the 3D gameplay style.[3]

The game includes several modes of play. In "1P Stadium", players control Ash Ketchum as they compete to defeat a series of increasingly difficult opponents and become the Puzzle Master. "2P Stadium" allows two players to choose one of 15 Pokémon trainers to play as, and battle one another using different gameplay rulesets. Other game types include "Marathon", which challenges players to continue playing as long as possible before the blocks fill the screen; "Time Zone", in which players attempt to achieve the highest score possible within a two minute time limit; "Spa Service", a stage-based mode where the player must clear a target number of lines to advance to the next stage; and "Puzzle University", a puzzle mode where players must clear predetermined block configurations within a limited number of moves.[4] The game also includes modes designed to teach newer players, including "Professor Oak's Lab", in which Professor Oak provides several tutorials on how to play; and "Mimic Mansion", a training arena hosted by Tracey Sketchit that demonstrates techniques and allows players to practice.

Characters

See also: List of Pokémon anime characters

The 16 playable characters in Pokémon Puzzle League are directly taken from the Pokémon anime, including characters that originally debuted in previous Pokémon games, such as Misty, Brock, and Giovanni. Ash Ketchum is the only playable character in the 1P Stadium mode, whereas other characters are available in the 2P Stadium mode. Ash's rival Gary Oak's Pokémon, a Nidoran♀, Growlithe, and Krabby, appear fully evolved into Nidoqueen, Arcanine, and Kingler when playing 1P Stadium on Hard difficulty or higher, although these evolved forms are not available when playing as Gary in 2P Stadium. The game's difficulty setting determines who the player faces as the final opponent: Giovanni in Easy mode, Bruno in Normal mode, Gary in Hard mode, and Mewtwo in Very Hard and Super Hard modes, which upon his defeat rewards the player with a different ending scene.

In addition to Ash, characters playable in the 2P Stadium mode include the eight Kanto Gym Leaders; Orange Islands companion Tracey Sketchit; perpetual villains Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket; rivals Gary Oak and Ritchie; Elite Four trainers Lorelei and Bruno; and Mewtwo, who uses cloned Pokémon.[lower-alpha 1] Each character has a unique set of three Pokémon to battle with and a specific theme music; these differences are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay. Non-playable characters include Professor Oak, who provides tutorial information to the player; Nurse Joy, who hosts the game's "Pokemon Center" options menu; and less-seen Team Rocket members Butch and Cassidy, who appear as special opponents in the Spa Service mode.

Plot

Ash and Pikachu are on vacation when they are called on the phone by Professor Oak, who tells Ash he has been selected as one of the challengers for the official Puzzle League Tournament. Ash races off excitedly with Pikachu to the nearby Pokémon Puzzle League Village.

During the tournament, Ash challenges Gary, his first rival, before defeating seven of the eight of the Kanto region gym leaders and earning their badges, learning from them of a legendary undefeated competitor known as the Puzzle Master. After battling Tracey and Team Rocket, Ash challenges the supposed Puzzle Master, Giovanni, and defeats him to win the last badge. Soon after, he defeats the Elite Four, including the current Puzzle League Champion, Gary.

Upon Gary's defeat, Ash is named the new champion and presented with a trophy, which immediately warps him into a final challenge with the true Puzzle Master, Mewtwo. After defeating Mewtwo, Ash is warped back to his vacation spot. Ash initially believes the experience to be a dream, until he discovers a Pokémon Puzzle Master trophy awarded to him by Mewtwo.

Development

Pokémon Puzzle League originally began development as Panel de Pon 64, a sequel to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game Panel de Pon (1995) featuring the descendants of that game's cast, before being reskinned to feature characters from the Pokémon franchise. The original Panel de Pon 64 version would later be completed and released as part of Nintendo Puzzle Collection (2003) for GameCube.[5]

The in-game soundtrack is primarily composed of instrumental arrangements of tracks from the 1999 soundtrack album Pokémon 2.B.A. Master.[6] Other featured tracks include an arrangement of "Catch Me If You Can" from Pokémon: The First Movie's short feature Pikachu's Vacation, and other instrumental tracks from the Pokémon anime. The game also features animated full-motion video cutscenes, along with voice acting by the cast of the anime series.[4]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic81/100[7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStar[8]
EGM9.17/10[10][lower-alpha 2]
Eurogamer(Wii) 8/10[12]
Game Informer8.5/10[13]
GameRevolutionB[14]
GameSpot7/10[15]
Hyper88%[16]
IGN8.9/10[4]
N64 Magazine89%[17][18]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[19]
Nintendo LifeStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[20]
Nintendo Power8.1/10[21]

Pokémon Puzzle League received "generally favourable reviews", according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[7] Fran Mirabella III of IGN said, "I'm totally addicted and thrilled with Pokémon Puzzle League."[4] Blake Fischer of NextGen called it "a surprisingly fun experience, if a little on the cute side. It may not be up to Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo [sic] standards, but it's one of the best puzzlers on N64."[19] Miss Spell of GamePro said the game "is designed for young gamers, encouraging creative puzzle-solving—something parents will love. Older puzzle fans who have a high Jigglypuff tolerance will also enjoy this well-structured offering."[22][lower-alpha 3] In another GamePro review, Human Tornado said, "Even though it's yet another take on Tetris, Pokemon Puzzle League has enough game modes to give it extra depth, and learning the art of advanced chains and combos will take a long time. Pokemon and puzzle game fans will appreciate this fun and challenging N64 game."[23][lower-alpha 4]

The game was nominated for the "Best Console Puzzle Game" award at The Electric Playground's Blister Awards 2000, which went to Mr. Driller.[24]

Notes

  1. ↑ Mewtwo is temporarily unlockable in 2P Stadium via cheat code, although only his clone Pikachu is playable in this mode.
  2. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the game, two critics gave it each a score of 9/10, and the other gave it 9.5/10.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3.5/5 for sound, and 5/5 for control in one review.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3.5/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control in another review.

References

  1. ↑ "Game Info". http://www.pokemonpuzzleleague.com/low/faq_info_03.htm. 
  2. ↑ Calvert, Darren (May 3, 2008). "US VC Releases - 5th May - Pokemon Puzzle League". Hookshot Media. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/05/us_vc_releases_5th_may_pokemon_puzzle_league. 
  3. ↑ Pokémon Puzzle League Instruction Manual. Nintendo. p. 29. https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_N64/Manual/formated/Pokemon_Puzzle_League_-_2000_-_Nintendo.pdf. Retrieved May 26, 2022. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mirabella III, Fran (September 26, 2000). "Pokemon Puzzle League". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/27/pokemon-puzzle-league. 
  5. ↑ Wong, Alistair (July 20, 2020). "Panel de Pon 64 Prototype Found and Shared on YouTube". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.siliconera.com/panel-de-pon-64-prototype-found-and-shared-on-youtube/. 
  6. ↑ Max, Josh (March 2, 2011). "Pokemon Puzzle League". NINWR, LLC. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/extralife/25528/pokemon-puzzle-league. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Pokemon Puzzle League". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/pokemon-puzzle-league/. 
  8. ↑ Frankle, Gavin. "Pokémon Puzzle League - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23085&tab=review. 
  9. ↑ Torres, Ricardo (October 24, 2000). "Pokémon Puzzle League". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/N64/Reviews/Pokepuzzle/. 
  10. ↑ Johnston, Chris; MacDonald, Mark; Sewart, Greg (December 2000). "Pokémon Puzzle League". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (137): 212. https://retrocdn.net/images/6/62/EGM_US_137.pdf. Retrieved May 26, 2022. 
  11. ↑ Ashe, Suzanne (November 17, 2000). "Pokemon Puzzle League". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=4391&full=1#mr_toppy. 
  12. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (June 2, 2008). "Virtual Console Roundup (Page 2)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/virtual-console-roundup-8?page=2. 
  13. ↑ McNamara, Andy (December 2000). "Pokémon Puzzle League". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (92): 138. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200012/R03.0807.1131.20385.htm. 
  14. ↑ Liu, Johnny (October 2000). "Pokemon Puzzle League". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32658-pokemon-puzzle-league-review. 
  15. ↑ Davis, Ryan (September 29, 2000). "Pokemon Puzzle League Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/pokemon-puzzle-league-review/1900-2635287/. 
  16. ↑ Shea, Cam (April 2001). "Pokémon Puzzle League". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (90): 58. https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f4/Hyper_AU_090.pdf. Retrieved May 26, 2022. 
  17. ↑ Green, Mark (December 2000). "Pokémon Puzzle League [U.S. Import]". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (48): 60–63. 
  18. ↑ Evans, Geraint (March 2001). "Pokémon Puzzle League". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (52): 38–41. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Fischer, Blake (January 2001). "Pokémon Puzzle League". NextGen (Imagine Media) (73): 99. https://archive.org/details/NextGen73Jan2001/page/n99/mode/2up. Retrieved May 26, 2022. 
  20. ↑ van Duyn, Marcel (May 4, 2008). "Pokémon Puzzle League Review (N64)". Hookshot Media. https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2008/05/pokemon_puzzle_league_virtual_console. 
  21. ↑ "Pokémon Puzzle League". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 136: 109. September 2000. https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20136%20%28September%202000%29/page/n105/mode/2up. 
  22. ↑ Miss Spell (December 2000). "Pokémon Puzzle League". GamePro (IDG) (147): 140. https://retrocdn.net/images/6/61/GamePro_US_147.pdf. Retrieved May 26, 2022. 
  23. ↑ Human Tornado (October 4, 2000). "Pokemon Puzzle League Review for Nintendo 64 at GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). http://gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/6937.shtml. Retrieved May 26, 2022. 
  24. ↑ EP staff (2001). "Blister Awards 2000 (Console Games 2)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?id=5130&page=5. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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