Neo Geo Pocket Color - Puzzle Link

Format
Neo Geo Pocket Color
Publisher
SNK
Developer
Yumekobo
Country of origin
Japan
Release date
1999
Genre
Puzzle

Puzzle Link

By Bradders
24th May 04

By: Yumekobo Players: 1 - 2 Supports: Link Cable Backup: Yes

Welcome to the bizzaro world of puzzle games. In this particular game, you must use your "laser" at the bottom of the screen to link squares of the same colour at the top of the screen. Once these squares are linked they, vanish allowing the remaining squares to fall up (??) and fill the remaining spaces. If more squares of the same colour link while falling, they disappear creating a chain. And that?s it. Simple, yet mind bendingly odd at the same time.

As with all puzzle games, the graphics are simple, the squares are brightly coloured or patterned and are easily distinguishable from on another. If the player completes the level in a set time, a reward is given in the form of a card, which are all well drawn and quite frankly, utterly bizarre. The sound is, as is expected, cute and bouncy, befitting the atmosphere of the game.

As a puzzle game it works quite well. Initially the concept can be quite tricky to grasp as it is truly unlike any other puzzle game. This puts it in good stead, as the competition is stiff, PuyoPop and Puzzle Bobble are both outstanding puzzle games. Unfortunately though, Puzzle Link fails to capture the overall fun and excitement of its peers. Whether it's due to the fact that it can be difficult to get to grips with, or that it's so different from anything else, I don't know. All I know is that if you don't have a puzzle game, choose Puzzle Bobble or PuyoPop first. If you are a puzzler gasping for more cerebral madness, you should check this out.

3/5

-- Bradders 24th May 04

Neo Geo Pocket Color Puzzle Link Images