Pokémon Puzzle League

Pokémon Puzzle League is a puzzle video game in the Puzzle League series developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It came out in North America on September 25, 2000, and in Europe on March 2, 2001. The game focuses on puzzle-based strategy using a grid format, where players solve puzzles to advance through levels and battle trainers and gym leaders, much like in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.

As one of several games based on the Pokémon anime, it features popular characters such as lead protagonist Ash Ketchum, his Pikachu, along with companions Brock and Misty, the Kanto Gym Leaders, and other familiar faces from the series.

The game received mostly positive reviews from critics. A companion puzzle game called Pokémon Puzzle Challenge was also released for the Game Boy Color in 2000. Later, Pokémon Puzzle League was re-released in 2008 for the Wii via Virtual Console, and again in 2022 on the Nintendo Classics service.

Gameplay

Main articles: Tetris Attack and Puzzle League § Gameplay

Pokémon Puzzle League plays like Panel de Pon. The goal is to clear blocks by lining up three or more in a row, either horizontally or vertically. Blocks keep coming from the bottom, and if they reach the top, you lose. You can slow down the blocks by scoring combos, and in battles, this also hurts your opponent by adding blocks to their screen.

The game has both regular 2D play and a special 3D mode where the board is shaped like a cylinder. You can play alone or against a computer opponent. There are many ways to play: beat tough opponents to become the Puzzle Master, compete against a friend, try to survive as long as you can, race against the clock, clear a certain number of lines to move to the next stage, or solve tricky puzzles with limited moves. There are also learning modes where Professor Oak teaches you how to play, and Tracey Sketchit helps you practice.

Characters

See also: List of Pokémon anime characters

You can play as 16 characters from the Pokémon anime and games, such as Misty, Brock, and Giovanni. Ash Ketchum is the only character you can use in the single-player story, while other characters are for two-player battles. Depending on the difficulty, you’ll face different final opponents, like Giovanni or Mewtwo. Each character has their own team of Pokémon and music, but these only change how the game looks, not how it plays. Other characters like Professor Oak and Nurse Joy help guide you through the game.

Plot

Ash and Pikachu are taking a break when Professor Oak calls. He tells Ash that he has been chosen to join the Puzzle League Tournament. Excited, Ash and Pikachu head to the Pokémon Puzzle League Village.

In the tournament, Ash faces his first rival, Gary, and then defeats seven of the eight gym leaders from the Kanto region, earning their badges. They also learn about a famous competitor called the Puzzle Master. After fighting Team Rocket and defeating someone named Giovanni, Ash wins the last badge. He then beats the Elite Four, including Gary, who is the current champion.

After defeating Gary, Ash becomes the new champion and receives a trophy. This leads to a final challenge against the real Puzzle Master, Mewtwo. Ash defeats Mewtwo and is sent back to his vacation. He finds the Pokémon Puzzle Master trophy that Mewtwo gave him, proving it wasn’t a dream.

Development

Pokémon Puzzle League started as a game called Panel de Pon 64, a sequel to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game Panel de Pon. It was later changed to include characters from the Pokémon franchise. The music in the game is mostly taken from the 1999 album Pokémon 2.B.A. Master, with some songs from Pokémon: The First Movie. The game also has animated scenes and voice acting from the Pokémon anime cast.

Reception

Pokémon Puzzle League got good reviews from many people. One reviewer, Fran Mirabella III, from IGN, said they were very excited about the game. Blake Fischer from NextGen said it was fun, even if it looked a bit too cute, and that it was one of the best puzzle games for the Nintendo 64. Miss Spell from GamePro said the game was made for younger players and helped them think creatively, which parents liked. Another reviewer, Human Tornado, said even though it was like other puzzle games such as Tetris, it had many game modes and took time to master.

The game was also nominated for an award for the best puzzle game on a console in the year 2000, but another game, Mr. Driller, won instead.