Still tastes great together
Sometimes things that shouldn’t work end up working the best. This is the case with Puyo Puyo Tetris. A combination of two completely unique ideas that somehow work extremely well together. This is why there is a sequel and I am here to tell you that more of this idea is always welcome. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 doesn’t just return with a sequel for sequel’s sake. This new version actually introduces new modes and ways to enjoy the wacky mixup of games making it once again a must play.
For those not in the know, Puyo Puyo Tetris is exactly what the name implies. It is a puzzle game that mashes up the two popular franchises for a unique take on the genre. Players can opt for either mode, or a mix of the two, which is certainly more enjoyable. I liked meshing the two styles together for the added challenge.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: XSX (reviewed), XSS, PS5, XB1, PS4, PC, Switch
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
The core single player mode remains adventure mode as it once again delivers a quirky story to explain why these vibrant characters are battling it out in puzzle form. The story is as outlandish and hilarious as the first game with some excellent localization and a cast of returning characters. It is weird that they have to reintroduce themselves for yet another adventure, but that only adds to the charm. The adventure mode is lengthy and I had a blast with it. I never once found myself skipping a cut scene, which is a sentence I did not think I would ever utter about a puzzle game.
So what is different? If you are like me and have already jumped in on the fun that is Puyo Puyo Tetris, you might be wondering why there is a need for a sequel. One of the biggest changes is the new Skill Mode. This puts two teams of three against each other in a battle that implements health bars. As each line is dropped it does damage to the other team. This is a fun take on the formula and only adds more complexity to the already dense combo. I had a ball with this mode and even more fun playing locally with others.
Characters also level up in this mode similar to an RPG. This allowed me to give them new boosts and stats for future games. It is a wonderful carrot-on-a-stick that even shows up in Adventure mode. If there is one minor gripe though it is that Adventure mode continues to hit walls from time to time. There is no simple way to progress outside of getting better. There are definitely challenging foes along the way and if you want to see all it has to offer, you are going to have to master the art of puzzling. Plain and simple.
Online is of course included in the package and it has a host of private and public match types to toy around with. I found matches pretty regularly, and got owned pretty regularly. The community that plays this game online is very, very good. I held my own in a few matches, but for the most part I got dominated on a regular basis.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a solid sequel that is worth checking out for Skill Battle alone. For those that skipped the first game it is a must, for anyone who has exhausted it, it might be wise to give it time to go on sale. Either way the game is a blast and one of the premiere puzzle games currently available. It helps that it is available on everything, so no matter where you play, there is a cute quirky puzzler you can enjoy.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
