The Bankslammer
Member
Been on a real Panel de Pon kick lately, only to have it suddenly come to my attention that today is its 20th anniversary! Whoa! Let's talk about this awesome series!
For starters, Panel de Pon is a series of puzzle games published by Nintendo and generally developed by Intelligent Systems. Though it's gone by many, many different names (at least outside of Japan), Panel de Pon's gameplay has remained virtually identical. Like many other puzzle games, the goal is to clear blocks of the same color by lining three or more of them in a row. The twist is, unlike puzzle games of its ilk, there are no falling blocks for you to place. Instead, rows of blocks rise from the bottom of the screen, and you control a cursor that can move freely around the board and swap the position of any two blocks horizontally. As a result, Panel de Pon is a very action-heavy, fast paced puzzle game with the potential for players to create huge combos on the fly. Arguably, the meat of the game is played competitively, either vs. a computer or another player, where players can drop garbage blocks on the other by clearing 4 or more blocks in a row, or creating combos.
Panel de Pon (JP) / Tetris Attack (US/UK)
Platform: SNES, Wii VC (JP), Wii U VC (JP)
First Release: 10/27/95
The beginning of the series, as well as the brand confusion. Panel de Pon stars the flower fairy Lip, whose fairy friends have been cursed by the devil king Thanatos. Lip sets off to free them of their curse by besting them in puzzles, and then going to take on Thanatos. For a puzzle game, Panel de Pon came packed with a number of modes and features, including a single player Story Vs. mode, an Endless Play mode, Timed Play, Line Clear, Puzzle Mode, and tutorials, in addition to featuring two player modes.
It was decided that magical fairies and the name "Panel de Pon" likely wouldn't be very marketable outside of Japan, so the decision was made to rebrand the game to release in western territories. Nintendo decided to utilize the Tetris license and name the game "Tetris Attack" (which has caused issues for potential rereleases of this version) and altered the majority of the visuals in the game to be themed after Yoshi's Island. Rather than being about Lip and her friends, the story of Tetris Attack involves Yoshi freeing the inhabitants of Yoshi's Island from a curse Bowser placed on them, and also includes some arrangements of tunes from Yoshi's Island. Otherwise, it's essentially the same game.
Brief additional mentions to BS Panel de Pon - Event '98 and Yoshi no Panepon BS-ban, two Satellaview releases which I don't know a whole lot about, aside from the latter being an adaption of the Yoshi-themed Western version.
Yoshi no Panepon (JP) / Tetris Attack (US/UK)
Platform: GB, 3DS VC (JP)
First Release: 10/26/96
Released a year after the SNES version (around the same time as the US release), the Game Boy version of Panel de Pon adopts the Yoshi's Island themed aesthetic for all regions. It's a very similar, albeit less favorable version of the SNES game, with the most noteworthy difference being the absence of computer-controlled fields on screen. Instead, the opponents in the Story Mode have a health bar that is reduced as a replacement for dropping garbage blocks on their field.
Pokemon de Panepon (JP) / Pokemon Puzzle Challenge (US/UK)
Platform: GBC, 3DS VC
First Release: 9/21/00
Panel de Pon once again gets a reskin, this time themed after Pokemon Gold and Silver. Once again, very similar to the last handheld release, but this time with improved gameplay more similar to that of the SNES version, and far superior graphics and sound (including new arrangements of music from Pokemon Gold and Silver). However, Story Mode still uses the health bar from the GB version. New to the series are unlockable characters, which require fulfilling specific conditions in the Story Mode to unlock, and Garbage Mode, which is essentially Endless Mode with garbage blocks continuing to fall on the field.
Interestingly, it's possible this game may have been initially intended to retain the Panel de Pon theming from the SNES game and be Game Boy compatible, as within the game, an early version of Panel de Pon GB is accessible, including visuals and music based on the SNES game. It's even still accessible in the 3DS Virtual Console rerelease, try it out!
Pokemon Puzzle League (US/UK)
Platform: N64, Wii VC
First Release: 10/25/2000
Another Pokemon themed Panel de Pon game, released within days of Puzzle Challenge, but somehow very different! Rather than being based off of the Pokemon games, this game's theme is inspired by the Pokemon anime, and the dubbed version at that (as this game was never even released in Japan). Characters from the first two seasons of the Pokemon anime appear, and the music primarily consists of hilarious MIDI versions of tracks from the 2.B.A. Master CD. New to this version are higher difficulty levels for the computer, a 3D mode with a horizontally-wrapping field, and the ability to make custom puzzles, making this the most packed home console version of the game released in the West.
Nintendo Puzzle Collection (JP)
Platform: GCN (JP)
First Release: 2/7/03
... all in all, though, I'd consider the Nintendo Puzzle Collection version of Panel de Pon to be my favorite out of all of them. Both Dr. Mario 64 and Pokemon Puzzle League were never released in Japan, so enhanced versions of the two, in addition to a new version of Yoshi's Cookie, were packaged together in this collection. The game returns to the setting of the original Panel de Pon, but this time features a new cast of fairies, including the main protagonist Furil, who's... more or less indistinguishable from Lip. In addition to enhanced visuals and music, the most noteworthy change in this version is the addition of up to 4 player multiplayer. One other neat feature of the game is that it came packaged with a GBA/GCN link cable, allowing you to transfer a mini version of the game to your GBA. The GBA version was very barebones, but it's still a neat feature. Sadly, this would not only be the last time a Panel de Pon game retains its original aesthetic, but it's also the last character-focused Panel de Pon.
Dr. Mario & Panel de Pon (JP) / Dr. Mario & Puzzle League (US/UK)
Platform: GBA
First Release: 9/13/05
From here on, the series finally decides to permanently adopt the "Puzzle League" name from Pokemon Puzzle League in the west. Panel de Pon is once again packed in with Dr. Mario, but this time there's not really a whole lot remarkable about it. Though for the first time on a handheld version, CPU opponents have a visible field, there's not much in the way of improvements beyond that. All the features from Pokemon Puzzle Challenge are intact, aside from the replacement of the Story Mode with single rounds against the computer. Additionally, no characters are present in the game. Giving it, if you ask me, a bit of a sterile feel. Still, in the end Panel de Pon is Panel de Pon, right?
Panel de Pon DS (JP) / Planet Puzzle League (US) / Puzzle League DS (UK)
Platform: DS
First Release: 4/26/07
Panel de Pon makes its way to the DS as part of the Touch! Generations brand. This game is probably the most different from its predecessors, with changes not limited to touch controls and some mechanical changes. Fortunately, for fans of previous games, all these options can be altered to make the gameplay identical to that of previous versions, and operate with button controls. Though the lack of Story Mode and characters are still lamented, this is a pretty packed version of the game, with significant new features like Online Play, Download Play for up to 4 players, new types of Puzzles, and customizable visuals (including a Japanese-exclusive Panel de Pon theme featuring Lip and her theme music). Although some weren't thrilled about the aesthetic direction of the series, it remains a solid entry.
Chotto Panel de Pon (JP) / Puzzle League Express (US) / A Little Bit of... Puzzle League (UK)
Platform: DSiWare
First Release: 1/29/09
Another mini version of Panel de Pon, this time based on the DS version. There are no Puzzles or Multiplayer in this version, but it's nice to have a downloadable version of Panel de Pon to take with you wherever you go. Still, with Pokemon Puzzle Challenge available on 3DS Virtual Console, this game is a bit of a hard sell to any 3DS owners, with its main advantage being visible CPU fields and additional controls and settings.
- - - - -
So, that's more or less the current state of the series. I'm personally very surprised that it's been over 6 years since a new entry in the series (really 8, given the DSiWare version is just a cut down port). I have no idea how well the games do or anything like that, but I doubt they're particularly large endeavors. At the very least, I'd love a new version I could play online (and another character-focused one, if I'm being greedy).
Though this may not come as a surprise due to the number of releases the series saw up until 2007, Intelligent Systems themselves seem to have been pretty invested in the series. Over the course of a decade, they managed a Panel de Pon homepage, featuring official assets like sprites, art and music, tutorials, fan-submitted art, stories and videos, and even endorsed fansites and Panel de Pon tournaments. Sadly, support for the site, and the community as a whole, seemed to fall off a cliff around the release of the DS game. It's a shame, but I had no idea a community for the game even existed until just recently, so I just think it's cool that it was there at one point.
I suppose there's not really a whole lot to talk about in regards to the series due to its current status, but I figure it might be fun to reflect on it, for any fans. I suppose it's possible to do netplay games, but I've never attempted anything of the sort lol. But yeah, feel free to share your thoughts on the series, hopes for the future... whatever!
For starters, Panel de Pon is a series of puzzle games published by Nintendo and generally developed by Intelligent Systems. Though it's gone by many, many different names (at least outside of Japan), Panel de Pon's gameplay has remained virtually identical. Like many other puzzle games, the goal is to clear blocks of the same color by lining three or more of them in a row. The twist is, unlike puzzle games of its ilk, there are no falling blocks for you to place. Instead, rows of blocks rise from the bottom of the screen, and you control a cursor that can move freely around the board and swap the position of any two blocks horizontally. As a result, Panel de Pon is a very action-heavy, fast paced puzzle game with the potential for players to create huge combos on the fly. Arguably, the meat of the game is played competitively, either vs. a computer or another player, where players can drop garbage blocks on the other by clearing 4 or more blocks in a row, or creating combos.
Panel de Pon (JP) / Tetris Attack (US/UK)
Platform: SNES, Wii VC (JP), Wii U VC (JP)
First Release: 10/27/95
The beginning of the series, as well as the brand confusion. Panel de Pon stars the flower fairy Lip, whose fairy friends have been cursed by the devil king Thanatos. Lip sets off to free them of their curse by besting them in puzzles, and then going to take on Thanatos. For a puzzle game, Panel de Pon came packed with a number of modes and features, including a single player Story Vs. mode, an Endless Play mode, Timed Play, Line Clear, Puzzle Mode, and tutorials, in addition to featuring two player modes.
It was decided that magical fairies and the name "Panel de Pon" likely wouldn't be very marketable outside of Japan, so the decision was made to rebrand the game to release in western territories. Nintendo decided to utilize the Tetris license and name the game "Tetris Attack" (which has caused issues for potential rereleases of this version) and altered the majority of the visuals in the game to be themed after Yoshi's Island. Rather than being about Lip and her friends, the story of Tetris Attack involves Yoshi freeing the inhabitants of Yoshi's Island from a curse Bowser placed on them, and also includes some arrangements of tunes from Yoshi's Island. Otherwise, it's essentially the same game.
Brief additional mentions to BS Panel de Pon - Event '98 and Yoshi no Panepon BS-ban, two Satellaview releases which I don't know a whole lot about, aside from the latter being an adaption of the Yoshi-themed Western version.
Yoshi no Panepon (JP) / Tetris Attack (US/UK)
Platform: GB, 3DS VC (JP)
First Release: 10/26/96
Released a year after the SNES version (around the same time as the US release), the Game Boy version of Panel de Pon adopts the Yoshi's Island themed aesthetic for all regions. It's a very similar, albeit less favorable version of the SNES game, with the most noteworthy difference being the absence of computer-controlled fields on screen. Instead, the opponents in the Story Mode have a health bar that is reduced as a replacement for dropping garbage blocks on their field.
Pokemon de Panepon (JP) / Pokemon Puzzle Challenge (US/UK)
Platform: GBC, 3DS VC
First Release: 9/21/00
Panel de Pon once again gets a reskin, this time themed after Pokemon Gold and Silver. Once again, very similar to the last handheld release, but this time with improved gameplay more similar to that of the SNES version, and far superior graphics and sound (including new arrangements of music from Pokemon Gold and Silver). However, Story Mode still uses the health bar from the GB version. New to the series are unlockable characters, which require fulfilling specific conditions in the Story Mode to unlock, and Garbage Mode, which is essentially Endless Mode with garbage blocks continuing to fall on the field.
Interestingly, it's possible this game may have been initially intended to retain the Panel de Pon theming from the SNES game and be Game Boy compatible, as within the game, an early version of Panel de Pon GB is accessible, including visuals and music based on the SNES game. It's even still accessible in the 3DS Virtual Console rerelease, try it out!
Pokemon Puzzle League (US/UK)
Platform: N64, Wii VC
First Release: 10/25/2000
Another Pokemon themed Panel de Pon game, released within days of Puzzle Challenge, but somehow very different! Rather than being based off of the Pokemon games, this game's theme is inspired by the Pokemon anime, and the dubbed version at that (as this game was never even released in Japan). Characters from the first two seasons of the Pokemon anime appear, and the music primarily consists of hilarious MIDI versions of tracks from the 2.B.A. Master CD. New to this version are higher difficulty levels for the computer, a 3D mode with a horizontally-wrapping field, and the ability to make custom puzzles, making this the most packed home console version of the game released in the West.
Nintendo Puzzle Collection (JP)
Platform: GCN (JP)
First Release: 2/7/03
... all in all, though, I'd consider the Nintendo Puzzle Collection version of Panel de Pon to be my favorite out of all of them. Both Dr. Mario 64 and Pokemon Puzzle League were never released in Japan, so enhanced versions of the two, in addition to a new version of Yoshi's Cookie, were packaged together in this collection. The game returns to the setting of the original Panel de Pon, but this time features a new cast of fairies, including the main protagonist Furil, who's... more or less indistinguishable from Lip. In addition to enhanced visuals and music, the most noteworthy change in this version is the addition of up to 4 player multiplayer. One other neat feature of the game is that it came packaged with a GBA/GCN link cable, allowing you to transfer a mini version of the game to your GBA. The GBA version was very barebones, but it's still a neat feature. Sadly, this would not only be the last time a Panel de Pon game retains its original aesthetic, but it's also the last character-focused Panel de Pon.
Dr. Mario & Panel de Pon (JP) / Dr. Mario & Puzzle League (US/UK)
Platform: GBA
First Release: 9/13/05
From here on, the series finally decides to permanently adopt the "Puzzle League" name from Pokemon Puzzle League in the west. Panel de Pon is once again packed in with Dr. Mario, but this time there's not really a whole lot remarkable about it. Though for the first time on a handheld version, CPU opponents have a visible field, there's not much in the way of improvements beyond that. All the features from Pokemon Puzzle Challenge are intact, aside from the replacement of the Story Mode with single rounds against the computer. Additionally, no characters are present in the game. Giving it, if you ask me, a bit of a sterile feel. Still, in the end Panel de Pon is Panel de Pon, right?
Panel de Pon DS (JP) / Planet Puzzle League (US) / Puzzle League DS (UK)
Platform: DS
First Release: 4/26/07
Panel de Pon makes its way to the DS as part of the Touch! Generations brand. This game is probably the most different from its predecessors, with changes not limited to touch controls and some mechanical changes. Fortunately, for fans of previous games, all these options can be altered to make the gameplay identical to that of previous versions, and operate with button controls. Though the lack of Story Mode and characters are still lamented, this is a pretty packed version of the game, with significant new features like Online Play, Download Play for up to 4 players, new types of Puzzles, and customizable visuals (including a Japanese-exclusive Panel de Pon theme featuring Lip and her theme music). Although some weren't thrilled about the aesthetic direction of the series, it remains a solid entry.
Chotto Panel de Pon (JP) / Puzzle League Express (US) / A Little Bit of... Puzzle League (UK)
Platform: DSiWare
First Release: 1/29/09
Another mini version of Panel de Pon, this time based on the DS version. There are no Puzzles or Multiplayer in this version, but it's nice to have a downloadable version of Panel de Pon to take with you wherever you go. Still, with Pokemon Puzzle Challenge available on 3DS Virtual Console, this game is a bit of a hard sell to any 3DS owners, with its main advantage being visible CPU fields and additional controls and settings.
- - - - -
So, that's more or less the current state of the series. I'm personally very surprised that it's been over 6 years since a new entry in the series (really 8, given the DSiWare version is just a cut down port). I have no idea how well the games do or anything like that, but I doubt they're particularly large endeavors. At the very least, I'd love a new version I could play online (and another character-focused one, if I'm being greedy).
Though this may not come as a surprise due to the number of releases the series saw up until 2007, Intelligent Systems themselves seem to have been pretty invested in the series. Over the course of a decade, they managed a Panel de Pon homepage, featuring official assets like sprites, art and music, tutorials, fan-submitted art, stories and videos, and even endorsed fansites and Panel de Pon tournaments. Sadly, support for the site, and the community as a whole, seemed to fall off a cliff around the release of the DS game. It's a shame, but I had no idea a community for the game even existed until just recently, so I just think it's cool that it was there at one point.
I suppose there's not really a whole lot to talk about in regards to the series due to its current status, but I figure it might be fun to reflect on it, for any fans. I suppose it's possible to do netplay games, but I've never attempted anything of the sort lol. But yeah, feel free to share your thoughts on the series, hopes for the future... whatever!
