Nintendo Puzzle Collection

Gameplay

Nintendo Puzzle Collection is a compilation of three Nintendo-published puzzle games that were originally released on earlier Nintendo consoles. All the games support both single-player gameplay and competitive local multiplayer for up to four players simultaneously. In addition, Nintendo Puzzle Collection supports GameCube-Game Boy Advance connectivity, allowing the player to use a Game Boy Advance as a game controller. Downgraded versions of each game can also be downloaded and played independently on the Game Boy Advance. Each game is stored in the Game Boy Advance memory and will remain until the handheld is shut down.

Dr. Mario

Dr. Mario (Dr.マリオ) is a port of Dr. Mario 64, originally released in 2001 for the Nintendo 64. Like all Dr. Mario games, the gameplay focuses on eliminating colored viruses from the playing field by matching them with colored capsules.

Dr. Mario was directed by Hitoshi Yamagami and Yoshiyuki Kato and the music was composed by Manabu Fujiki and Seiichi Tokunaga. The downloadable Game Boy Advance version is an emulation of the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Dr. Mario.

Yoshi's Cookie

Yoshi's Cookie (ヨッシーのクッキー, Yosshī no Kukkī) was originally released on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Famicom, and Game Boy consoles in 1992.

Yoshi's Cookie was directed by Yasuhiro Minamimoto and Azusa Tajima, and the music (based on the original Yoshi's Cookie soundtrack) was arranged by Ai Yamashita. The downloadable Game Boy Advance version is an emulation of the NES version of Yoshi's Cookie.

Panel de Pon

Panel de Pon (パネルでポン, Paneru de Pon) is an update to the 1995 Super Famicom game Panel de Pon: Puzzle Action Game, which was rebranded as Tetris Attack outside Japan. It contains more features, but presents itself as a sequel following the descendants of the original cast of characters. It is based on the Nintendo 64 version that went unreleased in Japan but was released internationally as Pokémon Puzzle League.

Panel de Pon was directed by Hitoshi Yamagami and Yukimi Shimura and the music (based on the original Panel de Pon soundtrack) was arranged by Masaru Tajima.

Development

Nintendo Puzzle Collection was co-developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Intelligent Systems had previously developed Panel de Pon, one of the available games, for the Super Famicom in 1995. Before its announcement in December 2002, the game was tentatively titled Masterpiece Puzzle Collection. Nintendo Puzzle Collection was playable at E3 2003, where releases in North America and Europe were announced. The plans were eventually cancelled.

Reception

Due to the game's Japan-exclusive release, reception of Nintendo Puzzle Collection is limited. The game holds an aggregate score of 75% on GameRankings based on two reviews. Michael Cole of Nintendo World Report, reviewing an imported copy, scored Nintendo Puzzle Collection 8 out of 10. Cole felt that Dr. Mario was the weakest selection of the three games available, with "uninspired" graphics and "unforgiving and honestly quite frustrating" gameplay. He remarked that while Panel de Pon was the best selection in regards to gameplay, Yoshi's Cookie had the most beautiful graphics. NowGamer scored the game 7.5, calling Panel de Pon the "highlight of the disc", but remarking that it's "hard to shake the feeling that this is little more than a cheap cashin."

Defunct Games placed Nintendo Puzzle Collection 44th on its list of The 50 Compilations That Rocked The World. While it called the selections "solid" and "just as addictive now as they ever were," it remarked that the title would have ranked higher on the list if more games had been included.