Pokemon Puzzle Challenge (Europe) (GBC)

Pokemon Puzzle Challenge is an engaging puzzle game based on the mechanics of Panel de Pon (also known as Tetris Attack in the West), but set within the Pokémon Gen II universe. The primary objective of the game is to prevent a rising stack of colored blocks from reaching the top of the screen. Players control a cursor that can move horizontally to swap the positions of two adjacent blocks. To clear blocks, players must align three or more blocks of the same color either horizontally or vertically.

A distinctive feature of Pokemon Puzzle Challenge is its emphasis on creating combos and chains. When a group of blocks is cleared, the blocks above them fall down. If this fall results in a new alignment of three or more blocks, it creates a combo. Chains occur when clearing one set of blocks causes a cascade effect, leading to the clearing of other blocks without direct player intervention. Executing combos and chains yields higher scores and can send "garbage blocks" to an opponent's screen in versus modes.

The game offers several different modes to challenge players. The Story Mode allows you to journey through the Johto gyms, facing off against gym leaders and then the Elite Four, using your puzzle-solving skills to defeat them. Each victory helps you collect Pokémon. Marathon Mode is a survival challenge where you try to last as long as possible as blocks continuously rise. Time Attack requires players to achieve the highest score within a limited time. Additionally, there's a Puzzle Mode, where you must solve specific puzzles with a limited number of moves, and a Vs. Mode, allowing you to compete against friends or AI to see who is the fastest puzzler.

With charming pixel graphics and familiar music from Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokemon Puzzle Challenge delivers a fun and addictive puzzle experience for both Pokémon fans and puzzle game enthusiasts. The ability to choose different Pokémon as your companions is also a nice touch, as each Pokémon might offer unique effects or abilities in certain modes.