Mendel Palace (USA, Europe) (Namco Museum Archives Vol 2)

Mendel Palace is a unique action-puzzle game for the NES, distinguished by its innovative gameplay mechanics. Players control the main character, Candace (or Bon-Bon in the Japanese version), in a colorful dream world. The primary objective is to rescue Candace's boyfriend, Gene, who has been trapped by a girl named Nightmare.

Each level takes place on a grid-based stage composed of numerous tiles. The core gameplay revolves around "flipping" these tiles. As Candace walks over a tile, it flips over, revealing an image or a special effect. Enemies in the game typically appear on these tiles and can be defeated by flipping the tile they are standing on, causing them to be pushed back or knocked off the screen. Players must carefully time their movements and positioning to push enemies into hazards such as pits or special effect tiles.

The game features a variety of different enemy types, each with unique movement patterns and behaviors, requiring players to adopt suitable strategies to overcome them. Additionally, there are several special tile types that provide different effects:

• Normal tiles: Simply flip over.
• Cracked tiles: Break after a few flips, creating a pit.
• Bomb tiles: Trigger an explosion when flipped.
• Spring tiles: Propel Candace or enemies across the screen.
• Warp tiles: Teleport the player to another location on the screen.

Intelligent use of these tile types is key to completing levels.

Mendel Palace also introduces power-ups hidden under tiles, including:

• Invincibility star: Makes Candace immune to damage for a short period.
• Speed shoes: Increase movement speed.
• Extra life: Grants an additional life.

These items can significantly alter the course of a level and help players overcome difficult challenges.

The game is divided into multiple worlds, each with its own theme and culminating in a boss battle. Boss fights typically require players to utilize the tile-flipping mechanic to discover the boss's weaknesses or to avoid their attacks. With its colorful graphics, cheerful music, and addictive gameplay mechanics, Mendel Palace offers a challenging yet fun action-puzzle experience for NES players.