Well where to start? Recently I been trying to learn this game, I have limited experience with it. Is basically a game that has been around for long time that I didn't know well are people who had SNES and Genesis, while I had them both, I didn't have the game, and sometime after that it wasn't as consistently present in America as far as I know. Basically if you has SNES you would recognize it as Kirby's Avalanche Or Kirby's Ghost Trap In Europe countries, while Genesis players know it as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. These games existed in Japan only as Puyo Puyo. Now I bet some of you is wondering what the heck is Puyo Puyo? Well probably most of you know what it is by now in 2017 but for anyone who doesn't I will just try to explain.
The idea was to localize the popular Japanese puzzle game internationally possibly to compete with other popular puzzle games like the Tetris fame during that time. The game was made in 1991 by Compile, a defunct company today, who used to make some kind of Dungeon Crawling RPG game Madou Monogatari or Story of Sorcery as is translated. The girl Arle and her pet Carbuncle would use magic spells to fight various creatures in dungeons, collect crystals or some other nonsense (I didn't play the game just watched a video about it) These characters was used in the games. Instead of fighting with magic, Puyo Puyo would "Fight" with a puzzle game.... maybe sorta like Pokemon Puzzle league. (Comparing the aspect of fighting a what would be used as combat place holder with a puzzle match.) The Character Arle would get into quarrels with various quarky characters with personalities that somehow revolve around her encountering them.
After the game was made, it became a success, it was first for MSX a very early microsoft brand computer developed in japan that also played games, some of the more popular games that was on there was ported to NES which was popular internationally at the time like Castlevania and Metal Gear. Small amount of NES games was from the MSX and this also was one of them. Ported to Famicom Disk system and Famicom cart itself (Japanese NES) all in 1991. Then becoming popular in arcades in 1992, and finally making is way to people like me in 1993 and 1995. Sega and Nintendo did their part in making a effort to localize the game for international players by taking their most popular series of games and reskinning them to Kirby and sonic based games, kinda like how Nintendo did this with DOKI DOKI PANIC!! Super Mario Bros 2 (Or Super Mario USA in Japan) Dr.Robotniks Mean Bean Machine released for Sega Mega dirve/Genesis in 1993 features Sonic's enemies from the The adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog Cartoon, as well as story centered around it, with arranged music and originals for the game. Kirby's Avalanche Released in 1995 featured kirby characters from Kirby's Adventure and Kirby's Dreamland. According to some sources this game was a direct translation from JAP to ENG translation of in game dialog text that was featured in Puyo Puyo. This is why Kirby speaks in the game is out of character considering how kirby is known as Silent Protagonist. Both games play the same but just more appeal for people to purchase and try, is how marketing works.
The basic idea of this puzzle game is matching one of the 5 different colored beans.... pieces.... tiles? Umm... "Jelly blob things with eyes." You must pair 4 of them up with the same color to clear the board. The game is different from most puzzle games especially tetris is that instead of focusing on getting highest score through constant survival of clearing the board, you instead play against a CPU opponent of increasing difficulty to defeat the last one to win and see a ending to the story. So you basically play against someone else at all times. This works by creating clever setups and combos known as chain reactions to send garbage to the other player's board. The garbage is exactly what it is... okay not like trash inside of a bag, but is a clear jelly that isn't one of the 5 colors. Instead you have to make them vanish by connecting them with the other colored pieces next to them and they will vanish together. Is not easy to explain without seeing it but once you see it will be easy to understand. You fill up the other player board with the clear jelly to beat them, if they do it to you then of course you lose. So basically you have to be fast, smart, clever and able to adapt to the situation, while staying calm under pressure and not panic until is over. Is a very deep strategic game to be honest which made it a bit in depth than tetris.
To be honest, I never really played the game despite owning both SNES and GENS. The first time I did get to play it was on gamecube. Sega released Sonic Mega collection, a compilation of genesis games for gamecube, that mean bean machine game was on it. Out of the 7 advertised games this was one I did not know about. There was two more unlockable games I didn't know about either, Flicky and Ristar was the two which I may discuss later. They also had Sonic Mega Collection Plus for xbox and ps2 which had more games I didn't know about as well. 6 Additional game gear games I hadn't played up until that point, a thing I never had in favor of the gameboy, that specific version included game gear mean bean machine, and two extra unlockable games once again I never played, comix zone, and the ooze. Owning a genesis, we had sonic games, but then these others i had no idea was also related to sonic in someway. Sonic gems collection was another compilation game that had advertised three games that once again was unheard of to me. Sonic CD, a good game for sega cd which is widely available today, Sonic R which was for Sega Saturn and known as a very disliked and hated game to feature sonic in the title, and sonic the fighters, a fighting game by the devs of Fighting Vipers, which is also widely available on PSN and Xbox live arcade and is a port of a arcade title. Once again 6 more game gear games was ported to the collection making all 12 of the games with relation to sonic in full circle. (For those who did not know, Sonic Adventure DX on gamecube has all 12 game gear titles from both collections featured in as unlockable content.) Honestly I like compilations, sure there can be plenty of other good or better games to put on a compilation but mixing some good ones with others may not be aware of allows people to discover some good games. For example Sonic ultimate genesis collection has Beyond oasis, another great genesis game I recommend to people who like Legend of Zelda games.
Well back on point, I was discussing my experience with the game. Playing the game, on mega collection, I mean me and my family didn't know much about it but it was there on a sonic collection and had sonic characters I had to try. My god it was hard. This game is very difficult and the only way to get better is to keep trying. Good thing the game had password system, if you needed that break from the game which I did a lot, it was useful on the genesis, but thankfully on modern technology like those compilation disc they had save states, so forget about remembering passwords unless you prefer a basic as genesis experience or wanted to continue on another system. Back to what my point was, is by no means a easy game. Trying to win against cpu isn't easy, but playing with a friend or sister may be better off. Most people who buy competitive games don't play the single player game, but the versus mode. There had to be a way to get good at this game somehow...
Well as I said before, the compilation games had game gear games as well. I could question why some of them seem like ripped off genesis games being bold enough to have the same exact title as the genesis popular game while being completely different but I bet there was no answer. Guess what? 3 games with "Sonic the hedgehog" in the title. One for genesis, game gear, master system and in 2006 PS3 and Xbox 360. Next time someone ask you which sonic the hedgehog you wanna play, make sure is on a genesis. O_O
If you still reading this, you probably had enough of the bad attempts at jokes. Okay well then let's get to the point. Basically I been revisiting the idea of the game. Puyo Puyo tetris was released internationally on Nintendo switch awhile ago by sega. Sega owns the puyo puyo brand series and combined it with the most popular puzzle game to make a crossover, nice right? Kinda like Mario and Sonic at the Olympics which I never played and super smash bros, which I did play, or Mortal Kombat VS DC, Marvel VS capcom, Capcom VS SNK, Namco X Capcom, Street Fighter X tekken... You get the idea, is a cross over game. You can play with various ways using either of the two game methods or both at the same time in fusion. I thought there might be a good idea to owning the game on my nintendo switch, I can play with my sister or brother, but now that the memory of the puyo puyo game came back to me I decided to try and get good somehow. Brother really likes tetris, and sister warms up to puyo, Not really a fan of strategy which is why I elude puzzle games, I more of a action gamer, like mega man. But doesn't mean I shouldn't try something new even if I forgot about it.
My first goal was to beat mean bean machine, which i did. Trust me it wasn't easy and I have proof, got the trophy on my ps3 for doing it, it was a long 4 hours vs Dr. Eggman with the battery almost dead... and i did it on easy mode. (Don't care, I got the trophy, it was a achievement for me and it felt good.) But since it was a long struggle i felt that i stand no chance on harder difficulties. Going back to Mega collection plus on my xbox, I mentioned the game gear version exist. There was a lesson mode. This somehow wasn't on the genesis game. The lesson mode was basically a puzzle game for one player. Instead of playing against CPU, you had preset boards which had their own winning conditions. For example to eliminate all the red beans.... err umm "JELLY" beans. The beans are already setup before starting and you had to figure out how to clear the condition with what is available to you. There was stuff like clear red beans, Clear 12 beans at once or create a chain reaction of 3 or more beans, there was plenty of them, it was a good place to start.... which i never completed, some was too complicated and my brain wasn't on that level. after about 20, i wrote down the password... or used a save state and forgot about it. One and done. Least now is on 3DS virtual console if anyone wants to try. I didn't know anyone around the neighborhood or school at the time who played the game so I never know anyone to complete the lessons or beat DR eggman. So I guess it was the end right? Well yeah after trying it on my 3DS now a few weeks ago, I once again didn't past 20. So it really was the end.... Well I just got curious, so I instead went on a internet search for some tips. Instead I found none, I just ended up watching some TAS videos wishing i was like that. That then made me dig deeper.
I then found that there was more Puyo Puyo games on SNES, total of 4 (Not counting Kirby avalanche) Puyo Puyo 2 which used new rules and such, added more characters to the single player mode and some level up exp system to even challenge the final boss satan. There was also a 4 player mode, so if you owned a multitap for snes like I did when I had NBA Jam you could play with friends. The new rules added more headache and other stuff to remember which made it harder than the first game, lucky the option to use game one rules was there but still it didn't help, I needed a game with another lesson mode.
Two additional games was ported to SNES. They was called Nazo Puyo, the games was ported from the game gear and play different. The story was something about two girls Arle and Rulue who was in the original game trying to make curry or something.... probably explains the food related icons and music that sounds like england tea time (No stereotype intended) all over the games. The game chooses to focus on player solving other people puzzle solution challenges rather than trying to beat another player. You can pick either character story or do the lesson mode like game from the game gear bean machine. I usually call it mission mode. Same rules, preset boards, with specific clear conditions. Keep in mind the games are for super famicom, so they was in japanese and I can't read it so trying to get hints or clues was not available, just figure it out, also no video exist of the missions being beaten anywhere online. No faq, no walkthrough or video. So is just me and my brain which i did well until i got stuck again, did lot better than bean machine. The second game Nazo Puyo tsuu was much of the same as the first game with the same kind of gameplay, mission mode, story mode. Oh i forgot to mention they have a puzzle editor where you can make your own setups for people to solve. That is cool, that be nice to have on modern systems to share online.
So basically I been trying to play the lesson modes of classic games, so far only 3 I found, and maybe I'll look for more, but honestly without knowing japanese I find it maybe missing something useful to learn, but like any american who experience a good game they never had chance to play you just do it anyway. I'll probaly buy the game if i can find it for a lower price, but not until I feel bit more confident. Anyway just curious, has anyone completed the lesson mode I mentioned in mean bean machine or any puyo that has that mission mode?
How did this start?
After the game was made, it became a success, it was first for MSX a very early microsoft brand computer developed in japan that also played games, some of the more popular games that was on there was ported to NES which was popular internationally at the time like Castlevania and Metal Gear. Small amount of NES games was from the MSX and this also was one of them. Ported to Famicom Disk system and Famicom cart itself (Japanese NES) all in 1991. Then becoming popular in arcades in 1992, and finally making is way to people like me in 1993 and 1995. Sega and Nintendo did their part in making a effort to localize the game for international players by taking their most popular series of games and reskinning them to Kirby and sonic based games, kinda like how Nintendo did this with DOKI DOKI PANIC!! Super Mario Bros 2 (Or Super Mario USA in Japan) Dr.Robotniks Mean Bean Machine released for Sega Mega dirve/Genesis in 1993 features Sonic's enemies from the The adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog Cartoon, as well as story centered around it, with arranged music and originals for the game. Kirby's Avalanche Released in 1995 featured kirby characters from Kirby's Adventure and Kirby's Dreamland. According to some sources this game was a direct translation from JAP to ENG translation of in game dialog text that was featured in Puyo Puyo. This is why Kirby speaks in the game is out of character considering how kirby is known as Silent Protagonist. Both games play the same but just more appeal for people to purchase and try, is how marketing works.
How do I play?
The basic idea of this puzzle game is matching one of the 5 different colored beans.... pieces.... tiles? Umm... "Jelly blob things with eyes." You must pair 4 of them up with the same color to clear the board. The game is different from most puzzle games especially tetris is that instead of focusing on getting highest score through constant survival of clearing the board, you instead play against a CPU opponent of increasing difficulty to defeat the last one to win and see a ending to the story. So you basically play against someone else at all times. This works by creating clever setups and combos known as chain reactions to send garbage to the other player's board. The garbage is exactly what it is... okay not like trash inside of a bag, but is a clear jelly that isn't one of the 5 colors. Instead you have to make them vanish by connecting them with the other colored pieces next to them and they will vanish together. Is not easy to explain without seeing it but once you see it will be easy to understand. You fill up the other player board with the clear jelly to beat them, if they do it to you then of course you lose. So basically you have to be fast, smart, clever and able to adapt to the situation, while staying calm under pressure and not panic until is over. Is a very deep strategic game to be honest which made it a bit in depth than tetris.
To be honest, I never really played the game despite owning both SNES and GENS. The first time I did get to play it was on gamecube. Sega released Sonic Mega collection, a compilation of genesis games for gamecube, that mean bean machine game was on it. Out of the 7 advertised games this was one I did not know about. There was two more unlockable games I didn't know about either, Flicky and Ristar was the two which I may discuss later. They also had Sonic Mega Collection Plus for xbox and ps2 which had more games I didn't know about as well. 6 Additional game gear games I hadn't played up until that point, a thing I never had in favor of the gameboy, that specific version included game gear mean bean machine, and two extra unlockable games once again I never played, comix zone, and the ooze. Owning a genesis, we had sonic games, but then these others i had no idea was also related to sonic in someway. Sonic gems collection was another compilation game that had advertised three games that once again was unheard of to me. Sonic CD, a good game for sega cd which is widely available today, Sonic R which was for Sega Saturn and known as a very disliked and hated game to feature sonic in the title, and sonic the fighters, a fighting game by the devs of Fighting Vipers, which is also widely available on PSN and Xbox live arcade and is a port of a arcade title. Once again 6 more game gear games was ported to the collection making all 12 of the games with relation to sonic in full circle. (For those who did not know, Sonic Adventure DX on gamecube has all 12 game gear titles from both collections featured in as unlockable content.) Honestly I like compilations, sure there can be plenty of other good or better games to put on a compilation but mixing some good ones with others may not be aware of allows people to discover some good games. For example Sonic ultimate genesis collection has Beyond oasis, another great genesis game I recommend to people who like Legend of Zelda games.
Back on topic...
Well back on point, I was discussing my experience with the game. Playing the game, on mega collection, I mean me and my family didn't know much about it but it was there on a sonic collection and had sonic characters I had to try. My god it was hard. This game is very difficult and the only way to get better is to keep trying. Good thing the game had password system, if you needed that break from the game which I did a lot, it was useful on the genesis, but thankfully on modern technology like those compilation disc they had save states, so forget about remembering passwords unless you prefer a basic as genesis experience or wanted to continue on another system. Back to what my point was, is by no means a easy game. Trying to win against cpu isn't easy, but playing with a friend or sister may be better off. Most people who buy competitive games don't play the single player game, but the versus mode. There had to be a way to get good at this game somehow...
Well as I said before, the compilation games had game gear games as well. I could question why some of them seem like ripped off genesis games being bold enough to have the same exact title as the genesis popular game while being completely different but I bet there was no answer. Guess what? 3 games with "Sonic the hedgehog" in the title. One for genesis, game gear, master system and in 2006 PS3 and Xbox 360. Next time someone ask you which sonic the hedgehog you wanna play, make sure is on a genesis. O_O
Okay let's try getting to the point this time.
If you still reading this, you probably had enough of the bad attempts at jokes. Okay well then let's get to the point. Basically I been revisiting the idea of the game. Puyo Puyo tetris was released internationally on Nintendo switch awhile ago by sega. Sega owns the puyo puyo brand series and combined it with the most popular puzzle game to make a crossover, nice right? Kinda like Mario and Sonic at the Olympics which I never played and super smash bros, which I did play, or Mortal Kombat VS DC, Marvel VS capcom, Capcom VS SNK, Namco X Capcom, Street Fighter X tekken... You get the idea, is a cross over game. You can play with various ways using either of the two game methods or both at the same time in fusion. I thought there might be a good idea to owning the game on my nintendo switch, I can play with my sister or brother, but now that the memory of the puyo puyo game came back to me I decided to try and get good somehow. Brother really likes tetris, and sister warms up to puyo, Not really a fan of strategy which is why I elude puzzle games, I more of a action gamer, like mega man. But doesn't mean I shouldn't try something new even if I forgot about it.
My first goal was to beat mean bean machine, which i did. Trust me it wasn't easy and I have proof, got the trophy on my ps3 for doing it, it was a long 4 hours vs Dr. Eggman with the battery almost dead... and i did it on easy mode. (Don't care, I got the trophy, it was a achievement for me and it felt good.) But since it was a long struggle i felt that i stand no chance on harder difficulties. Going back to Mega collection plus on my xbox, I mentioned the game gear version exist. There was a lesson mode. This somehow wasn't on the genesis game. The lesson mode was basically a puzzle game for one player. Instead of playing against CPU, you had preset boards which had their own winning conditions. For example to eliminate all the red beans.... err umm "JELLY" beans. The beans are already setup before starting and you had to figure out how to clear the condition with what is available to you. There was stuff like clear red beans, Clear 12 beans at once or create a chain reaction of 3 or more beans, there was plenty of them, it was a good place to start.... which i never completed, some was too complicated and my brain wasn't on that level. after about 20, i wrote down the password... or used a save state and forgot about it. One and done. Least now is on 3DS virtual console if anyone wants to try. I didn't know anyone around the neighborhood or school at the time who played the game so I never know anyone to complete the lessons or beat DR eggman. So I guess it was the end right? Well yeah after trying it on my 3DS now a few weeks ago, I once again didn't past 20. So it really was the end.... Well I just got curious, so I instead went on a internet search for some tips. Instead I found none, I just ended up watching some TAS videos wishing i was like that. That then made me dig deeper.
How to do I learn to Puyo Puyo even more?
I then found that there was more Puyo Puyo games on SNES, total of 4 (Not counting Kirby avalanche) Puyo Puyo 2 which used new rules and such, added more characters to the single player mode and some level up exp system to even challenge the final boss satan. There was also a 4 player mode, so if you owned a multitap for snes like I did when I had NBA Jam you could play with friends. The new rules added more headache and other stuff to remember which made it harder than the first game, lucky the option to use game one rules was there but still it didn't help, I needed a game with another lesson mode.
Two additional games was ported to SNES. They was called Nazo Puyo, the games was ported from the game gear and play different. The story was something about two girls Arle and Rulue who was in the original game trying to make curry or something.... probably explains the food related icons and music that sounds like england tea time (No stereotype intended) all over the games. The game chooses to focus on player solving other people puzzle solution challenges rather than trying to beat another player. You can pick either character story or do the lesson mode like game from the game gear bean machine. I usually call it mission mode. Same rules, preset boards, with specific clear conditions. Keep in mind the games are for super famicom, so they was in japanese and I can't read it so trying to get hints or clues was not available, just figure it out, also no video exist of the missions being beaten anywhere online. No faq, no walkthrough or video. So is just me and my brain which i did well until i got stuck again, did lot better than bean machine. The second game Nazo Puyo tsuu was much of the same as the first game with the same kind of gameplay, mission mode, story mode. Oh i forgot to mention they have a puzzle editor where you can make your own setups for people to solve. That is cool, that be nice to have on modern systems to share online.
So basically I been trying to play the lesson modes of classic games, so far only 3 I found, and maybe I'll look for more, but honestly without knowing japanese I find it maybe missing something useful to learn, but like any american who experience a good game they never had chance to play you just do it anyway. I'll probaly buy the game if i can find it for a lower price, but not until I feel bit more confident. Anyway just curious, has anyone completed the lesson mode I mentioned in mean bean machine or any puyo that has that mission mode?
