Puyo Puyo 20th Anniversary Game Announced for Japan

From French gaming sites Gamekult and jeuxvideo24 comes information on Puyo Puyo’s 20th anniversary game. That’s right, Sonic isn’t the only one having a birthday in 2011. A translation of one of the articles reveals quite a bit of information. First off, the game will be for the Nintendo DS. There will be 15 variations on the rules, such as rules from Sun (the third game) and Fever (the fifth game). Also, the game will include a tag team mode, featuring two on two play. It also sounds like you will be able to purchase items in a shop mode. Very cool!

Of course, being a Japanese title and a birthday game, there will be a collector’s Anniversary Box (priced at 8,379 yen, around $100!?). For more screens and images of the box sets, check out our gallery below and the gallery at jeuxvideo24. The game looks to be releasing on July 14th in Japan.

My fan rant: Over the past year I have been getting into the Puyo Puyo series of games, specifically the numbered titles that make up the main series. I’ve played both Saturn titles (2 and Sun) as well as the Dreamcast titles (4 and Fever). As a longtime fan of Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, I got right into the gameplay and had a blast with each title. Unfortunatly, when I wanted to continue with the series, I discovered that most of the games since Puyo Pop Fever have been exclusive to Japan.

As a fan of the series, I have to yell out a big “WTF SEGA?!”. Puzzle games should make for VERY easy localization. Translate the short story sequences into English, leave the Japanese voices intact and you’ve got yourself a title to release to America and Europe! What more, why has such an amazing CONSOLE series been relegated to handhelds? Since Puyo Pop Fever 2, a Japan only PS2 title, the series has shifted to the DS. Why not release another console title worldwide? If it being a disc release is a problem, then why not develop for PSN, XBLA and WiiWare? Surely a series in its 20th year deserves more than a Japan only handheld release. End rant.

Still, looks to be a great game! Can’t wait to… er, read about how people are enjoying it.

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7 responses to “Puyo Puyo 20th Anniversary Game Announced for Japan

  1. UrameshiBR says:

    Sega, please stop killing Puyo Puyo! The original series were cool, but from Fever on the art is horrible, the characters are retarded, and the story is boring.

  2. upsidedown fuji says:

    So many versions of Puyo Puyo out now. But if it sells, whatever. :/

  3. SOUP says:

    On the upside, the DS is region free so importing shouldn't be a big deal if they don't choose to localize it.

  4. Sharky says:

    @UrameshiBR

    The old art of the series was generic at best. The new Puyo series has instantly recognizable art and is quite original. From an artist perspective I like it far, far more.

    If you are playing a puzzle game (or a fighting game) for the story then you are doing it very wrong. None of them have had an especially deep or interesting story and I don't see how the newer characters are any more 'retarded' then the old ones.

    Puzzle games are for playing, playing with friends. It's a true GAME like a digital board game and the Puyo Puyo series has ONLY gotten better with age. The 15th game was fantastic, had a ton of modes and this one looks to have even more.

    Sega have far from ruined the series.

    • Fernando says:

      I cannot agree with you here. The older artstyle looked accessible, where as the new style went overly bright and cutesy to the point of irritation.

      I fully agree with you that the gameplay is by far the most important aspect of the game but the newer designs are so irritating (IMO) it’s a detriment to gameplay itself. I just find it so unpleasing to look at, and feel as if the new artwork had young girls as its main target audience. Sonic Team should have known better than use an artstyle that won’t cater to everyone.

  5. SMT_Xero says:

    A DS game? Really sega?

  6. TaroYamada says:

    @Sharky, Street Fighter's storyline has been pretty well expanded through Manga and Anime. At least I feel, I still need to watch the Virtua Fighter anime actually.

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