Pokémon Puzzle League
| Pokémon Puzzle League | |
|---|---|
 Pokémon Puzzle League's North American boxart | |
Basic info | |
| Platform: | Nintendo 64 Wii (Virtual Console) Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Classics) |
| Category: | Puzzle |
| Players: | 1-2 simultaneously |
| Connectivity: | None |
| Developer: | Nintendo Software Technology Intelligent Systems |
| Publisher: | Nintendo |
| Part of: | Generation Ispin off |
Ratings | |
| CERO: | N/A |
| ESRB: | E |
| ACB: | G |
| OFLC: | N/A |
| PEGI: | 3 |
| GRAC: | N/A |
| GSRR: | N/A |
Release dates | |
| Japan: | N/A |
| North America: | September 25, 2000(N64)[1][2] May 5, 2008(Wii VC) July 15, 2022(Nintendo Classics) |
| Australia: | December 2000[3][4](N64) March 30, 2008(Wii VC) July 15, 2022(Nintendo Classics) |
| Europe: | March 2, 2001(N64)[5] May 30, 2008(Wii VC) July 15, 2022(Nintendo Classics) |
| South Korea: | July 15, 2022(Nintendo Classics) |
| Hong Kong: | N/A |
| Taiwan: | N/A |
Websites | |
| Japanese: | N/A |
| English: | Pokemon.com Official site (archive) Nintendo.co.uk Nintendo.com |
Pokémon Puzzle League is a Pokémon-based version of the gameTetris Attack for theNintendo 64. It has aGame Boy Color counterpart,Pokémon Puzzle Challenge.
It was originally released in North America on September 25, 2000, in Europe on March 2, 2001, and in Australia in 2001. It was later released for theWiiVirtual Console in North America on May 5, 2008, and in Europe and Australia on March 30, 2008 and was released on Nintendo 64 -Nintendo Classics application forNintendo Switch worldwide on July 15, 2022.[6]
It is the first Tetris Attack-style game to allow editing puzzles, and introduced a 3D mode of play. The game takes place inPuzzle Village. Within Puzzle Village, there are nine different places to go to. The title "Puzzle League" would go on to be the official non-Japanese name for all future games in thePanel de Pon series.
LikePokémon Yellow, it is based directly onPokémon the Series.
Story
Ash andPikachu are on vacation (presumably after having competed in theOrange League) when they are called on the phone byProfessor Oak, who tells Ash that he has been selected as one of the challengers for the Official Puzzle League Tournament. Ash excitedly accepts the offer, ready for a new challenge, and heads off toPuzzle Village to compete.
To succeed in the tournament, Ash has to earn eightBadges from theKantoregion which allow him to proceed to theElite Four and, eventually, the Puzzle Champion. He can do so by fighting the respective KantoGym Leaders in puzzle matches. Other characters, such asTracey orTeam Rocket, interrupt him on his way and also challenge him to a fight.
After earning seven Badges, Ash encountersGiovanni, who claims to be the Puzzle Champion. However, his old friendRitchie informs him that Giovanni hasn't even seen the true Champion. Ash challenges Ritchie, who is the first of the Puzzle League's Elite Four, eventually beating the members and encounters the Puzzle Champion, who turns out to be none other thanGary, his rival and very first opponent.
In another puzzle match, he manages to beat Gary, replaces him as the Puzzle Champion and is rewarded with a trophy. While celebrating his victory, Ash and his Pokémon are suddenly teleported away. They are welcomed byMewtwo, who reveals that he is the Puzzle Master, and he set up the Puzzle League to find a worthy foe and clones Ash's Pokémon. They challenge him to a last fight, from which Ash emerges victorious once again. However, upon his victory, Ash is transported back to where he started his adventure.
It seems as though all of it was a dream, but Ash soon discovers a trophy given to him by Mewtwo beside him.
Blurb
Master a new challenge!
Discover the most frantic, frenzied, fun-filled Pokémon challenge ever - Pokémon Puzzle League! Line up three or more blocks of the same type to clear them off the screen. Create chains and combos to send garbage to your opponent. Collect badges from other Pokémon trainers to earn the right to enter the ultimate competition... a battle against the mysterious Puzzle Master!
- A puzzle game with a Pokémon theme! Ash and Pikachu are off to the Pokémon Puzzle League Tournament to defeat the mysterious Puzzle Master.
- Six different modes in 2-D or 3-D! Train at Professor Oak's Lab or Mimic Mansion, then challenge a friend or the computer in the Main Stadium. Build endurance in the Marathon Field. Solve puzzles at the Puzzle University, race against the clock in the Time Zone, and battle Team Rocket at the Spa.
- Defeat all 15 Pokémon trainers! Win all their badges to become the Pokémon Puzzle Master!
Play Modes
- Prof. Oak's Labs -Professor Oak will give the player a tutorial here.
- 1p Stadium - The arena for the game's main "story" mode. This is whereAsh battles theGym Leaders for the title of Puzzle Champion.
- Theplayer cannot complete the entirety of the story initially. More and more of it is revealed in the later difficulties as more and more stages are added.
- Easy:Giovanni is the final opponent.
- Normal:Bruno of theElite Four is the final opponent.
- Hard:Gary is the final opponent.
- Very Hard and Super Hard:Mewtwo is the final opponent.
- Theplayer cannot complete the entirety of the story initially. More and more of it is revealed in the later difficulties as more and more stages are added.
- 2p Stadium - The arena for multiplayer battles.
- Mimic Mansion - A practice arena hosted byTracey.
- Time Zone - Here, the player has to clear the board within a limited time.
- Spa Service - This "spa" is actually run byTeam Rocket, and they will challengeAsh to a line clear game to get hisSquirtle andBulbasaur back.
- Marathon - An endless game. The object is to score as high as possible before the screen fills completely with blocks.
- Puzzle University - A training arena hosted byRitchie. The object is to clear all the blocks on the screen in a set number of moves. After clearing the first class, the player can play the second class and third class hosted byLorelei andBrock, respectively.
Playable Characters
- Ash Ketchum (2.B.A. Master)
- Gary Oak (Pokémon World)
- Brock (Viridian City)
- Misty (Catch Me if You Can)
- Lt. Surge
- Erika (What Kind of Pokémon Are You?)
- Koga
- Sabrina (Everything Changes)
- Blaine (My Best Friends)
- Tracey Sketchit
- Team Rocket:Jessie,James, andMeowth (Double Trouble)
Unlockable Characters
- Giovanni
- Ritchie (Together Forever)
- Sparky (as aPikachu)
- Zippo (as aCharmander)
- Happy (as aButterfree)
- Lorelei (Pokémon (Dance Mix))
- Bruno
- Mewtwo (temporarily unlockable in VS. mode by entering a code; Player 1 will be forced to play as Ash)
Non-Playable Characters
Badges and Trophies
 | This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: The trophy after beating Mewtwo |
In addition to Badges, the player can also earn three Elite Medals and two trophies for defeatingElite Four members andMewtwo.
 Boulder Badge |  Cascade Badge |  Thunder Badge |  Rainbow Badge |
 Soul Badge |  Marsh Badge |  Volcano Badge |  Earth Badge |
 Ritchie Elite Medal |  Lorelei Elite Medal |  Bruno Elite Medal |  Gary Champion Trophy |
Localization changes
- The hidden developer love message depends on if the game is the Japanese or international version.
Staff
- Main article:Staff of Pokémon Puzzle League
Trivia
- The majority of the soundtrack features rearranged midi instrumentals of tracks fromPokémon 2.B.A. Master, with additional instrumentals fromPokémon the Series: The Beginning andMewtwo Strikes Back.
- Lorelei is referred to by her correct name in this game, despite being called Prima inPokémon the Series.
- In this game, Jessie and James are seen with aGolbat, a Pokémon they have never owned in the animated series.
- Similar to the above instance, Gary Oak owns aKingler, which he has never owned in the animated series. However, he did own its pre-evolved formKrabby. Similarly, he also owns aNidoran♀ in this game, while inPokémon the Series, he instead owns its evolved form,Nidoqueen.
- Several members of the Puzzle League are shown to own Pokémon which they do not own inPokémon the Series, despite the game being based on it:
- This is the first game in which Pokémon fromGeneration II (Marill andTogepi) appear outside of Japan.
- It is possible, while playing, to encounter a glitch in which puzzle blocks will keep appearing forever and it is impossible for any player to make any block combinations or lose.[7]
- Getting a high enough chain combo will result in a question mark displayed as the number of chains the player has performed. Changing the options in thePokémon Center can make the display change to the word "Special" instead.
- The internal files for this game contain two unused voice lines. They are Japanese and English audio files of unknown developers declaring their love to their significant others.
- This game originally began development as "Panel de Pon 64", a sequel to the original "Panel de Pon", but this version went unreleased and was instead re-skinned with a Pokémon theme. However,Panel de Pon 64 would later be completed and released onNintendo GameCube as part ofNintendo Puzzle Collection.
References
Related articles
 | This article is part ofProject Sidegames, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |
