Released for the N64 in Japan only on December 3rd 1997, Puyo Puyo~n Party is an
arcade port of Compile’s classic puzzle game. It is the fouth title in the Puyo
Puyo series, which the title jokes at Puyo-n sounds like Yon, or four in
Japanese. It differs in tone and presentation to the other N64 release, Puyo
Puyo Sun. This game is a little more series and the anime art style is more
realistic and possibly based on the style used in Waku Waku Puyo Puyo Dungeon.
This game was first released on the Dreamcast as Puyo Puyo 4 and was later
released on the Playstation and the Game Boy Colour. The voice acting from the
Dreamcast game was removed and the music was also changed. However it is
possible to unlock more art work for the game with the GB Pak and a copy of the
Game Boy game Pocket Puyo Puyo SUN. However it strangely does not support the
Game Boy game Pocket Puyo Puyo-n!? Additionally the game features a sound test
mode, which the Dreamcast and Playstation games do not. It was also announced
for the 64DD but was later cancelled after the 64DD's unsuccessful launch.
This was the first game in the Puyo Puyo series released by Sega, after Compile
was forced to sell the rights to them after filing for bankruptcy in March 1998.
This likely explains while the voice acting was done by "professionals" rather
than Compile employees. It was not released in arcades, unlike many of the other
Puyo Puyo games.
Puyo puyo is an onomatopoeia which means “jelly like”. The player must rotate
falling sets of coloured jellies to form groups of four or more of the same
colour which then “pop” and disappear. If the third column from the left
completely fills up with Puyo, then you will get a game over. The player can
create chain reactions when Puyo fall into each other, this then send Nuisance
Puyo to your opponents screen. Nuisance Puyo can only be erased if other Puyo
are popped next to them. The number of Nuisance Puyo created is dependent on the
length of the chain.
The rules of this game are essentially the same as Puyo Puyo 2 but the new
feature of this game are the character specials that activate after each
character has collected a certain amount of points in their power meter.
Numbered Puyo now appear that required a certain amount of attacks on them to
make them explode. The titular Sun Puyo from the previous game were removed
after fan backlash! However, while the SUN Puyo made the previous games too
fast, the character specials in this game make it too slow! Most of the specials
clear Puyo from the screen so you and your opponent are often just waiting for
more to appear. Additionally the speed at which overhanging Puyo fall down is
also far slower than previous games which slows down the pace of the game quite
often (although it can be changed!). This character special system was not used
in any of the other Puyo Puyo games as far as I know.
The first Puyo Puyo game was reviewed well by the British publication, N64
Magazine who awarded it 80% saying “You didn’t buy your N64 to play this but
it’s still rollicking fun. So if you’re rich, try it on for size.”
Story
Satan (Dark Prince in English) finds a black box in a magical library which
suddenly opens...The next day, Arle and Carbuncle go to see the Puyo Circus
which has arrived in town. There they meet a strange jester named Pierrot.
Carbuncle disappears and Arle must play Puyo Puyo against many opponents in her
journey to find him.
2.Translation Guide
Controls
3D Stick / D Pad - Move the Puyo
A Button - Rotate Puyo clockwise
B Button - Rotate Puyo counter clockwise
C Buttons - Activate your character special
Start Button - Pause
The controls can be changed in the options.
Game Modes
From the title screen you can select the following modes, from top to bottom
Single Player Puyo Puyo
Two Player Puyo Puyo
Tokoton Puyo Puyo
Tokoton Puzzle Puyo Puyo
Puyo Puyo with everyone
Bomb Puyo Puyo
GB Gallery
Options
Single Player Puyo Puyo
This is the story mode. You have three options on this screen, Practice (3
stages), Story (16 stages, see below) and Free Battle. In free battle you can
play as any of the characters.
Two Player Puyo Puyo
Tokoton Puyo Puyo
You can choose the size of the Puyo using the three options. From the top, big
puyo, normal puyo (for beginners), and small puyo.
Tokoton Puzzle Puyo Puyo
Make chains to clear all the Puyo in this 1 player puzzle mode. There are
multiple difficulty levels, from the top, extremely sweet, sweet, a little spicy
(20 puzzles), spicy, extremely spicy!
Puyo Puyo with everyone
This is the 4 player mode.
Bomb Puyo Puyo
Bomb Puyo explode after a certain amount of time. Make sure you push the bombs
to your opponents side before they explode!
GB Gallery
You can view pictures won in the Game Boy game Puyo Puyo Sun with the GB Pak in
this mode.
Options
The following options are available
Button Settings
Difficulty Settings
Number of games needed to win a multiplayer battle
Turn off the dialogue between characters
Sound - stero or mono
Reset the options to the default setting
Extras - Sound Test
Go Back
When you pause in game you are given three options, Return to the game, quit and
Change the game type.
3.Characters
Here are the characters and their special as listed on the character select
screen. The shrine maiden, Chico is an original character who first appears in
this game, and A-chan appears from the PC-98 version of "Great Magic Strategy
Story".
The first chain that you erase using a character special will not be added to
your score or fill your special meter. Additionally if you erase two or more
chains with a special skill, the multiplier will not be applied to the erasing
bonus, and the next erasing bonus will stop. But if you use a feat to cause two
or more chains, a multiplier bonus will be applied.
Top Row
Satan - Satan's Cross
Erases the Puyo in the field in a cross shape, including connected Puyo. The
chains have 1.25 times the attack power.
Dragon - Gogagogogo!
Changes the highest row and the puyo connected to that row to Puyo in the most
present colour group. If the amounts are the same they will be randomised. The
chains have 0.4 the attack power.
Harpy - All Change!
Randomly changes all the Garbage Puyo in the field into one of 4 colours.
The chains have 0.4 times the attack power
Kikimora Big Clean Up!
Erases all Garbage Puyo. The chains have 1.25 times the attack power.
Chiko Gaia Cube
Changes the 4th and 8th rows and the Puyo connected to those rows to the Puyo
colour group with the most colours. If the numbers are the same, the Puyo are
randomised. The chains have 0.8 times the attack power.
Nohoho - Nohoho Slot Machine
Turns the field into a vertical rotation slot machine, which stops randomly.
The chains have 1.25 times the attack power.
Panottone - I'm going to do mischief!
Erases all isolated Puyo. The chains have 1.25 times the attack power.
Shenzo Areyado Special
Erases the Puyo from the bottom of the field to the 6th row in an X shape,
including all connected Puyo. The chains have double the attack power.
Middle Row
Witch - Foreign Thunder
Erases the highest row and all the Puyo connected to that row. The chains have
double the attack power
Draco - Draco Burning
Erases all Puyo of the same colour as 1 Puyo 1 colour (including Gabage Puyo) in
the highest row. The chains have 0.8 times the attack power.
Seriri - Make friends with everyone!
Changes Puyo in the least present colour group to Puyo in the most present
colour group. If the amounts are the same they will be randomised. The chains
have 2/3 the attack power.
Bottom Row
Leroux The True Queen of Boisterous Dancing!
Turns the field upside down to erase all Garbage Puyo.
A-Chan - Homing Shot
Randomly erase 12 Puyo. The chains have 4 times the attack power.
Skeleton-T - Super Dynamic Tea Bomber
Each time you pile up Puyo without rotating, your attack power increases by 10%
(up to 4 times). Rotating Puyo even once will end the special.
Walleye Pollock - Finish
Changes Puyo in the most present colour group to Puyo in the next most present
colour group. If the amounts are the same they will be randomised. The chains
have 1.25 the attack power.
Hidden characters
Doppelganger Arle - Void Hall
Stops falling Garbage Puyo for 30 seconds. When used continuously, the length of
time halves each time.
Carbuncle Gugugu (Carbunclo beam)
Randomly change all Puyo in the field into one of three other coloured Puyo. The
chains have 2/3 the attack power.
4.Story Mode
This time there is only one Story Mode character, Arle, and you cannot use her
Special because of some story McGuffin. The Story mode has 16 stages, and each
stage has a different rule set or condition. Usually you are given a different
character to use and you can try out their special ability. You can save your
progress through the story mode, so you can come back to the game later.
Circus
No effect
1 Skeleton-T
2 A-chan
3 Kikimora
Volcano stage
The maximum number of Garabage Puyo that can fall at one time is 6 (1 row).
4 Panottone
5 Draco
Underwater stage
The falling speed of overhanging puyo is considerably slowed down.
Aerial city stage
Depending on the height of the field, the score when erasing Puyo is multiplied.
The more you erase higher Puyo, the more points you get, and more puyo will fall
onto your opponent.
8 Walleye Pollock
9 Harpy
10 With
Ruins stage
The bottom of the field is pre-laid with hard puyo and scoring puyo. If you
breaking through to the scoring puyo at the bottom and use them, you can fill up
your Special meter a lot.
11 Dragon
12 Chiko - Garbage Puyo change to hard Puyo
13 Shenzo - Garbage Puyo change to hard Puyo
Astroman Stage
The rows of Puyo on the left and right ends of the stage are connected to each
other.
Circus Entrance
The maximum number of Garabage Puyo that can fall at one time is 6 (1 row).
Depending on the height of the field, the score when erasing Puyo is multiplied.
The more you erase higher Puyo, the more points you get, and more puyo will fall
onto your opponent.
14 Leroux
Different Dimension
15 Satan - Arial City effects are on. No other characters can be used.
16 Doppelganger Arle - All stages effects on. Garbage Puyo change to Hard Puyo.
Spoilers for the ending below!
When Arle finally defeats Satan he is freed from the curse of the black box and
it's owner, who is revealed to be Pierrot. In a double twist Pierrot is revealed
to be Doppelganger Arle, and they play Puyo Puyo to decide who will be allowed
to exist! Arle wins and Doppelganger Arle fades away, Carbuncle reappears. The
gem on his head starts to shine and suddenly a huge beam of light shoots from
it, ending the game on a cliffhanger.
