''Pushmo'', known as ''Pullblox'' in Europe and Australia and in Japan, is a downloadable
puzzle game
A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together ( or take them apart) in a logical way, in order to arrive at the correct or fun solution of the puzzle ...
developed by
Intelligent Systems
is a Japanese video game developer best known for developing games with Nintendo and the ''Fire Emblem'', ''Paper Mario (series), Paper Mario'', ''WarioWare'', and ''Wars (series), Wars'' video game series. Originally, the company was headqua ...
and published by
Nintendo
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles.
Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...
for its
Nintendo 3DS
The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo. It was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generatio ...
handheld system, available on the
Nintendo eShop
The Nintendo eShop is a digital distribution service powered by the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, and by a dedicated online infrastructure for the Nintendo Switch. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the eShop was en ...
. In the game, players must shift around puzzle blocks in order to create steps and platforms, ultimately to reach children who have been trapped within the giant structures. A sequel, ''
Crashmo'' (known as ''Fallblox'' in Europe and Australia, and as ''Hikuotsu'' in Japan), was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012. A third game, ''
Pushmo World'' (known in Europe and Australia as ''Pullblox World'' and in Japan as ''Hikuosu World''), was released for
Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
The W ...
on June 19, 2014. A fourth game, ''
Stretchmo'' (known in Europe and Australia as ''Fullblox'' and in Japan as ''Hikudasu Hippaland''), was released for Nintendo 3DS in May 2015.
Plot and setting
''Pushmo'' is set in the Pushmo Park, where Pushmos are made by Papa Blox, the creator and caretaker of the Park. The park also has a studio where they can be created. ''Pushmo'' starts when Mallo arrives in the park alongsides children. There, Papa Blox learns that the children has been trapped by another child and hurts his back in the process. Mallo then helps Papa Blox to rescue the children across the park which each puzzle become harder in the progression. In the evening, when Mallo has rescued the children, the child who has trapped the others arrive and confronts Mallo; failing, he explains that he is new in town and just wanted fun. He presents himself as Corin and leaves with Mallo and the children.
Gameplay
Basics
In the game, a ''Pushmo'' is a large, climbable playground structure made of blocks that can slide forwards and backwards.
The player controls Mallo, a red, round sumo wrestling creature visiting Pushmo Park, home to dozens of Pushmo. In order to rescue the children, Mallo must move the sliding blocks of the Pushmo in such a way to create a path to reach the child.
Mallo can push and pull blocks a maximum of three steps forward, and can only do so while standing in front of the block or by standing to the side, provided Mallo has a platform on which to step while moving.
If Mallo becomes stuck, the player can either reset the Pushmo or use a rewind feature similar to games such as ''
Braid
A braid (also referred to as a plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing two or more strands of flexible material such as textile yarns, wire, or hair.
The simplest and most common version is a flat, solid, three-strande ...
'' and ''
Catrap
''Catrap'', known as ''Pitman'' in Japan, is a puzzle-platform game developed for the Sharp MZ, Sharp MZ-700 computer in 1985 and published by Asmik Ace, Asmik for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1990. The Game Boy version was rereleased on the Nintendo ...
''.
Also, difficult levels can be skipped and re-visited later, if desired.
Later levels add manholes that allow Mallo to travel within the Pushmo to reach other parts of the structure.
Create and share
Along with the game's included 250-plus levels,
''Pushmo'' also includes the Pushmo Studio, where players can create and share their own Pushmo puzzles.
In order to share puzzles, ''Pushmo'' generates a
QR code
A QR code (an initialism for quick response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) invented in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave. A barcode is a machine-readable optical label that can contain information about th ...
that can be read by the 3DS' on-board cameras; the QR images can be posted on the Internet, printed or photographed from the 3DS's screen.
Reception
''Pushmo'' received "universal acclaim" according to the
review aggregation
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
website
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
.
Lucas M. Thomas of ''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' called the game "a beautifully original, absolutely charming and oftentimes devious little portable puzzler", "the 3DS eShop's killer app", and "the best downloadable game Nintendo's ever offered in any format."
Jeremy Parish of ''
1Up.com'' said ''Pushmo'' was "one of the 3DS's most outstanding offerings to date".
Patrick Barnett of ''Nintendo World Report'' said the game was "an ingenious puzzler that will consume the free time of anyone who gives it a whirl."
Legacy
Sequels
A sequel to ''Pushmo'' called ''
Crashmo'' (known in the PAL region as ''Fallblox'', and in Japan as ''Hikuotsu'') was announced on October 4, 2012 by Nintendo in both North America and Europe. It was released in Japan on October 31, 2012, November 22, 2012 for the North American
Nintendo eShop
The Nintendo eShop is a digital distribution service powered by the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, and by a dedicated online infrastructure for the Nintendo Switch. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the eShop was en ...
and November 15, 2012 for the European and Australian eShop. Using Mallo, players save birds rather than children and Mallo will be able to take on 140 new levels by pulling the blocks in any direction, causing some to fall. A third game, ''
Pushmo World'', known in Europe and Australia as ''Pullblox World'' and in Japan as ''Hikuosu World'', was released for the
Wii U
The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.
The W ...
in Japan, North America, Europe and Australia on June 19, 2014. A fourth game, ''
Stretchmo'', was released for the 3DS in Japan on May 12, 2015, and in Europe, Australia, and North America on May 14, 2015.
Appearances in other media
'' Super Smash Bros. series''
In ''
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U'', the main character, Mallo, appears as a collectable trophy. In ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeed ...
'', Mallo reappears as a spirit and the “Welcome Center” music from ''Stretchmo'' is present.
''
Super Mario Maker
is a 2015 side-scrolling platform game and game creation system developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U, released worldwide in September 2015. Players can create, play, and share courses online, free of charge, based on the styles o ...
''
Mallo appears as a costume for Mario after beating the "100 Mario Challenge" in Super Expert difficulty.
''
WarioWare Gold
''WarioWare Gold'' is a minigame compilation co-developed by Nintendo EPD and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS family of video game consoles. The ninth installment in the ''WarioWare'' series, it was released i ...
''
One of the "microgames" is taken from ''Pushmo'' in which the player controls Mallo and must reach the Flag Pole in three sets of challenges.
Notes
References
External links
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{{Intelligent Systems
2011 video games
Intelligent Systems games
Nintendo games
Nintendo 3DS eShop games
Nintendo 3DS-only games
Puzzle video games
Video games developed in Japan
Nintendo franchises
Nintendo 3DS games
Video games produced by Kensuke Tanabe