| Puzzle Master | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Metropolis Digital |
| Publisher | Metro3D |
| Platform | Game Boy Color |
| Release | 11 November 1999[1] |
| Genre | Puzzle |
| Mode | Single-player |
Puzzle Master is a 1999 video game developed by Metropolis Digital and published by Metro3D. It is a puzzle video game in which players must arrange falling blocks in a row to clear levels with fantasy elements. Upon release, the game received average reviews.
Gameplay
[edit]
Puzzle Master is a in which players must align groups of one to five falling blocks that represent various elements, including fire, water, wood and stone.[2] Arranging three of the same element in row clear them from the play field, and increase a meter that, when filled, completes the level.[3] Players collect power-ups in a queue that, when used, assist the completion of segments: knives take out a column of pieces, keys and bombs remove parts of a level, and hearts complete a group.[2] Levels also include items that interact with falling pieces, such as items that provide players with power-ups, or remove pieces.[2] There are several game modes, including Quest, Time Challenge and Training.[3] In Quest mode, there are monsters and fantastical creatures in levels that cause tiles to fall or place unremovable pieces, which can only be defeated with knives or bombs.[2]
Reception
[edit]Some critics remarked that the game's design was atypical for a ,[3][5] although others felt the game was derivative of games such as Tetris.[4][2] Nintendo Power considered the game built on Tetris by introducing "refreshing elements" that gave the player "more to do on each level", and greater variation across levels.[4] Craig Harris of IGN stated the game was a "decent title" that tried "something new in a familiar genre", but the fantasy elements felt "out of place".[2] Brett Alan Weiss of Allgamer felt the game was a "curiosity" in the genre, stating its mechanics were "interesting", but it lacked the "focus and intensity" of Tetris.[3] Stating that it was a "shame it's not better known", Retro Gamer stated Puzzle Master introduced an "array of different things" atypical to the puzzle genre, including item collection, traps and interactive elements.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "New Releases". Game Informer. No. 80. December 1999. p. 33.
- ^ a b c d e f g Harris, Craig (10 December 1999). "Puzzle Master". IGN. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Alan Weiss, Brett. "Puzzle Master". Allgame. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ a b c "Puzzle Master". Nintendo Power. No. 126. November 1999.
- ^ a b "Minority Report". Retro Gamer. February 2016. p. 60.