Puzzle de Pon FAQ v1.8
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, Poln here.  I've decided to take over this FAQ with permission from
Carl Chavez, the original writer, to update this FAQ as necessary.  You can
e-mail C. Chavez or Poln (at the address below) for comments or concerns, but
the best advice is to go to the arcade(s) (that have this game) and ask around
and hopefully, they can help you with this game.  You can also take the time
and watch the monitor as it will show you how to play (which is common on many
if not all of the games made by Taito eventhough Taito licensed PB/BAM to
Visco Corp. to create this game). For home systems, check your game manual.
Thank you for your time.  Enjoy reading this FAQ.  Have a great day.

This is not one of our favorite games, but the FAQ is there just to be on
file.


                       ************************

                        Puzzle de Pon FAQ
                        version 1.8
                        written by Carl Chavez
                        [email protected]
                             &
                         Poln  [email protected]
                       ************************


Puzzle de Pon (PdP) is a Puzzle Bobble/Bust-a-Move (PB/BAM) sequel of sorts.
Taito licensed the gameplay of PB/BAM to another company, Visco Corp, and
that company created an inferior product for the Neo-Geo. The graphics are
pretty, and the sound's OK, but the game is rather boring.

Not a good beginning for a FAQ, I hear your mind shouting...
Well, just because I'm writing a FAQ for a game doesn't mean I like it! :)

This FAQ is on file at http://www.bubandbob.com *or* http://www.gamefaqs.com

Anyway, here goes...


********
Gameplay
********

The game is played like PB/BAM. Aim the launcher toward a spot on the
play area, and press FIRE to launch a bubble there. Three or more like
colors in a row or adjacent group will cause the pop of all like bubbles
connected, and drop all bubbles not connected to any other bubble(s).

Unlike PB/BAM, there are NO characters from Taito, no Bub and Bob
assisting in moving an object.  Just you and the controller.

To beat a board, you do NOT have to pop all the bubbles. All you have to
do is drop the odd-looking thingy (Michael Gaudet calls it a drop token)
that sticks out like a sore thumb off the board.

You have 2 minutes (120 seconds) to complete/beat the board. The board
must be beaten in a certain amount of time. There is a timer on the left
of the screen. If you beat the board before the timer starts displaying
numbers (30 seconds left), you get bonus points (1000 * seconds over 30).
The maximum bonus awarded is 99,999 [much like PB/BAM maximum bonus points
awarded which is 50K.
Unlike PB/BAM, the board does not descend upon your launcher.  If you
complete/beat the board with less than 30 seconds left, you will get NO
Bonus earned.  You will need to beat the board before timer reaches zero
(0).  If the timer reaches zero, game is over.  No compensation if the
ball is inches from the area that you want to aim for.


There are several different items in PdP. These are:

* barrier bubble - looks like a boiling glob of snot. Can't be popped,
 but can be dropped or blown up.


* star - the star pops all bubbles on the screen which match the color of
 the bubble which the star touches.

Q: Does it affect the barrier bubbles?
A: No, it does not affect the barrier bubbles. If a star hits a barrier
  bubble, then it will disappear, see a 1, and award you 1 point.
  That's it.


* bomb - the bomb destroys all bubbles, including barrier bubbles,
 adjacent to the spot the bomb hits.

* arrow - fire this anywhere and you will get a line that shows you where
 a bubble will go for about 5 shots. You will earn 1 point just to get it
 started.


*******
Scoring
*******

Basically, if you clear 3 bubbles you will score 3000 pts, 4 bubbles scores
6000 pts., 5 bubbles awards 9000 pts and so on. It progresses further, but
larger pops depens on having the bubbles set up beforehand.


************************
Notes for PB/BAM players
************************

It may take a while to get used to the aiming. In my opinion, it seems
that the launcher is a pixel or two off to the right during aiming.

The bubbles are much 'stickier'. It is only possible to fire a bubble
between two others if you're firing straight up. Bubbles that would've
slid into a spot between two bubbles off a ricochet are now more likely
to get stuck on the bottom bubble. Example:

             wall
        G     |
     B B  <-- | you want blue bubble here
        G     |

after ricochet, the bubble will probably go where the X is:

        G     |
     B B      |
        G X   |

The bubbles that come out are totally random; it's kind of like playing a
level 7 PB/BAM machine. You may get 20 or 30 bubbles you CAN'T use, and
you just get incredibly frustrated. At least the board doesn't move
downwards! You can just keep shooting the useless bubbles off to one side
in pairs until the right bubble comes along (if it does... I once waited
*25* seconds for a white bubble, and then I was so frustrated I fired it
into the useless pile accidentally).


(from G. Komatsu)
General rule of thumb is to file a bubble into "pockets," which tended to
come in one of four forms:

  1. Pocket formed by a cluster of barrier bubbles in the "middle" (not
     on the side) of the screen.

  2. Pocket formed by barrier bubbles and wall.
  3. Pocket within the shape of a drop token.
  4. Pocket formed by the drop token and wall.


***************
2 Players
***************

Rules for 2 Players....
1. Insert coin, press start.
2. After press start, choose (2 Player Battle Option)

3. The objective is to free the drop token.

4. Watch the level meter in the middle of the screen.  P1 is red. P2 is blue.
  Once, it is filled up, other player get bubbles added.

5. The person who drop the token first, is the winner.  You can also win if
  your opponent threw the ball under the line.

6. Best 2 out of 3 games wins the match. Unlike PB/BAM, when you win a 2
  player battle, game is over. Period (unless you want to continue).

7. There is no time limit so you can take as long as you need to win (unless
  someone else wins first).



****************
GAME OVER
****************

Game is over when
-Time is up
-Ball went under the line

You can continue from where you left off, if you wish.  Unlike other Tatio
games, you can keep your score where you left off and keep it going for as
long as you play (til you beat the game, of course or you decided to quit).



****************
Revision History
****************

v1.1 Initial Release

v1.6 Added 2 player game
    Added time limits
    Added other info that careful eyes could catch

v1.61 Added shameless plugs (websites added)

v1.62 Added company name licensed from Tatio

v1.7 Added scoring and other stuff thanks to Galen T. Komatsu

v1.8 Fixed on scoring
    More info for 2 player mode


*******
CREDITS
*******

Carl Chavez ([email protected]) wrote this.

Carl played PdP at the Drift On Inn at 16708 Aurora Avenue North in
Shoreline, WA, USA. It appears to be the only place in the Puget Sound
area with PdP (1996).


Michael Gaudet ([email protected]) contributed the 1M point-token-wall
info and the "drop token" label.


Galen Tatsuo Komatsu ([email protected]) contributed the
scoring section. Also about other things ["pockets"].


***********
FINAL NOTES
***********

c. 1999

Copyright & copy; (C) 1997, Carl Chavez. No commercial use without permission.
Use by EGM or COP-DN explicitly prohibited.

The Bub and Bob Page is at "http://www.bubandbob.com." Get the FAQs for Bubble
Bobble, Rainbow Islands, Parasol Stars, Bubble Symphony, Bubble Memories,
Puzzle Bobble/Bust-a-Move 1/2/3, Liquid Kids, New Zealand Story/Kiwi Kraze,
Puzzle de Pon and more there!

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