Pokémon Puzzle League

''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.

As the development process of video games as a whole changed drastically from the 2D era of the fourth generation of video game consoles to the 3D era of the fifth generation, so did the development of ''Pokémon Puzzle League''. The increased capabilities for artificial intelligence (AI) compelled the developers to create multiple levels of difficulty for the game, and it was implemented successfully in all but the 3D modes of the game, in which the AI becomes erratic at times. Local multiplayer capabilities are also available for one-on-one ''Puzzle League'' battles.

''Pokémon Puzzle League'' received mostly positive reviews from critics. The game was re-released on the Wii Virtual Console on in North America on May 5, 2008, and on May 30, 2008, in Europe. The game was also re-released on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on July 15, 2022.

Gameplay

''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).

In two-player games, players can select one of 15 Pokémon trainers to play as. Unlike most ''Pokémon'' games, trainer and Pokémon selection are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay whatsoever.

A note in the instruction manual explains the lack of AI for 3D mode. The game's engine was originally built for an unpublished ''Panel de Pon'' title for Nintendo 64; this version was ultimately released as part of the '' Nintendo Puzzle Collection'' compilation for GameCube.

The in-game soundtrack is primarily composed of instrumental arrangements of tracks from the 1999 soundtrack album '' Pokémon 2.B.A. Master''. Other featured tracks include an arrangement of "Catch Me If You Can" from '' Pokémon: The First Movies short feature ''Pikachu's Vacation'' and other instrumental tracks from the ''Pokémon'' anime.

Plot

Ash and Pikachu are on vacation (presumably after having competed in the Orange League) 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.

To succeed in the tournament, Ash challenges Gary, his first rival, eventually defeating seven of the eight of the Kanto region gym leaders and earning their badges after being obstructed in his path by Tracey, Team Rocket, and Giovanni (the final leader), all of whom he also defeats. Soon after, he defeats the Elite Four and comes face-to-face with the Puzzle Champion, Gary.

Upon defeating Gary once again, Ash is rewarded with a trophy, which immediately warps him into a final challenge with Mewtwo. After defeating Mewtwo, Ash is warped back to his vacation spot where he discovers a Pokémon Puzzle Master trophy awarded to him by Mewtwo.

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 different modes. Ash's rival Gary Oak's Pokémon, a Nidoran♀, Growlithe, and Krabby, appear fully evolved into Nidoqueen, Arcanine, and Kingler, in Hard, Very Hard, and Super Hard modes, although these evolved forms are not available when playing as Gary in other game modes. 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.

Characters playable outside the 1P Stadium mode include the eight Kanto Gym Leaders; Orange Islands companion Tracey Sketchit; perpetual villains Jessie, James, and Meowth of Team Rocket; rival Ritchie; Elite Four trainers Lorelei and Bruno; and Mewtwo, who uses cloned Pokémon. Non-playable characters include Gary Oak and less-seen Team Rocket members Butch and Cassidy. Each character has a unique set of Pokémon to battle and a specific theme music. These differences are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay.

Reception

''Pokémon Puzzle League'' received "generally favourable reviews", according to review aggregator website Metacritic. Fran Mirabella III of '' IGN'' said, "I'm totally addicted and thrilled with ''Pokémon Puzzle League''." 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'' standards, but it's one of the best puzzlers on N64." 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." 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."

See also

* ''Pokémon Puzzle Challenge'', a Game Boy Color companion game based on contemporary ''Pokémon'' main installments.

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pokemon Puzzle League
2000 video games
Nintendo 64 games
Nintendo Software Technology games
Puzzle League
Video games based on anime and manga
Video games developed in the United States
Nintendo Switch Online Nintendo 64 games
Virtual Console games for Wii

ja:パネルでポン#Pokémon Puzzle League