Palamedes (USA)

Palamedes is a captivating puzzle game released for the NES system, featuring a unique dice-matching mechanic. The primary goal for players is to arrange and match dice faces with the same number to score points and clear the board.

In Palamedes gameplay, players control a cursor at the bottom of the screen to select one of six dice faces currently displayed. Once selected, the player must move that die up onto the playfield and place it in a suitable position. The game requires quick thinking and calculation to create effective matching chains. When three or more dice with the same number are aligned horizontally or vertically, they disappear, creating space and awarding points to the player. Players strive to create larger combos to receive higher bonus points.

Palamedes offers two main game modes. "Solo Mode" is a single-player experience where you must reach a target score or clear a certain number of lines. This mode typically features increasing difficulty levels, with faster dice drops and more complex patterns. "Versus Mode" allows two players to compete directly or one player against the computer. In this mode, the objective is not just to score points but also to push dice onto the opponent's screen, making them unable to make further moves and leading to their defeat.

The game also introduces several special elements to add depth to the gameplay. For instance, there are "Wild" dice that can substitute for any number, making it easier for players to create combos. Additionally, dice faces can automatically change their numbers after a certain period, requiring players to react quickly and constantly adjust their strategy. With simple controls using just the D-pad for movement and A/B buttons to select or drop dice, Palamedes delivers an addictive and challenging puzzle experience.