Review
Release Date: 02.06.2007
Platform:
PSPDeveloper:
Capcom Co., Ltd.Publisher:
Capcom USA, Inc.Reviewed by
Mikey Dowling on 4.4.2007
Capcom sure does love the PSP... at least when it comes to making compilations of older games in a nice portable package. Their recent release,
Capcom Puzzle World, attempts to cash in on the puzzle gaming crowd with three games that are all similar and aren’t technically puzzle games. One game is a rare gem (there’s a pun there!) and a fan favorite in the genre, and one was already released in another compilation.
The game that will ultimately sell the package is
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. The stacking gem game has never been so well represented on a handheld. With CD quality sound and vibrant colors, the simple yet addictive nature of the game is one that all puzzle game fans can enjoy. You’re even given the option of playing it in its three varying forms, which is a nice bonus. Toss in the fact that you can finally save your game data without it magically erasing on you (we’re looking at you GBA port of the game), and you’ve got a winner.
Although
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo will steal the show, the bulk of the package (in terms of how many games are represented) is in the
Buster Bros. games - a series of games that has you popping balloons. That’s right. Balloons. While this may seem interesting, the concept dries up after a few minutes of play.
Buster Buddies tried to spice up the formula by adding in characters with specific playing attributes, but falls short of the ultimate goal of fun. Unless fun is defined by repeatedly popping balloons that turn into smaller balloons while playing in front of jpeg picture backgrounds of famous art. Then it’s a blast.
There's also
Block Block, which was amazingly better when it was called
Arkanoid. The concept is that you slide your cursor around on the bottom of the screen in order to keep up the ball and hit blocks (thus the clever name) at the top of the screen. If the ball falls past your slider, you lose. The problem with the game lies in the sensitivity of the slider. Whether you’re using the analog stick or the digital pad the slider will just zoom across the screen, making it troublesome when the ball starts to pick up speed. Basically,
Block Block can be skipped.
Even with the mother of all cult status puzzle games,
Capcom Puzzle World falls short of its title. Not only that, but compared to recent compilation releases from Capcom, the extras are abysmal at best. While
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded had a bevy of unlockables,
Capcom Puzzle World stops at the hidden characters in
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo and a level select in
Super Buster Bros.. All of the illustrations are unlocked from the word 'Go', further suggesting that it is quite possible Capcom just wanted to find another way to bring
SPFIIT to the masses.
If you absolutely need a copy of
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo on the go,
Capcom Puzzle World is for you. The price isn’t too bad and the sound of the gems falling never gets old. But if you’re looking for a quality puzzle collection, you may just have to look elsewhere.
