Quality Puyo. Budget Price.
Puyo Puyo Champions is a Puyo title that has all the features you want but at a budget price. For only $10, this puzzle game is a steal. Featuring both rulesets from Puyo Puyo 2 and Puyo Puyo Fever, Champions essentially acts a compilation of the best of both worlds. From the main menu, the player can hop into a game with one tap or drill down deep into the options screen, customizing gameplay at will. Without any nonsense, Champions is designed to keep gameplay fast and constant.
The game constantly keeps track of all player stats, both online and offline, and even automatically saves every game in the Replay section, more of which can be downloaded from the best players online. Fans will also appreciate the subtle visual adjustments made available in the options screen. For example, the player can choose between dozens of puyos, one of which features Sonic shapes that explode into rings when popped, and many different background vignettes. There are also language options, the player can adjust AI handicaps before each game, and team battles are also available during multiplayer. Everything here are features fans will appreciate. The Trophies/Achievements are also linked to in-game objectives, rewarding players for playing well and spending time with the game.
I also learned a couple thing when playing online. First and most importantly, my experience playing online on PS4 was completely lag free. This is fantastic news for any serious Puyo competitor and makes it easy to see that Sega is trying to make this into an esport. Second, I didn’t realize I suck at Puyo Puyo so bad. My love for Puyo Puyo started way back on Super Nintendo with Kirby’s Avalanche and have been playing it ever since. Never thinking I was great but perhaps better than average, I was a bit taken back from the very first game I played online. Getting smoked is common when playing online as the competition is fierce. Tournament mode is also available for the harder core players.
While this might not be the best Puyo game ever made, it is definitely one of the best. All the expected features are here, online play is lag free and competitive, and this download only costs $10. The HD visuals are also eye-poppingly colorful and the soundtrack features dozens of tracks. My only complaint comes from playing 3-player; the screen doesn’t scale as it still places four wells on screen instead of spreading out three. A small complaint in a game filled with quality options, always fun gameplay, and the competitive online community fans desire. Even if you never played a Puyo Puyo game before, this is no excuse for not jumping in.
Also available on Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
SCORE: 8/10
Also Try: Puyo Puyo Tetris
Check Out: the options menu for a visual history of the Puyo franchise
Wait For It: Puyo Puyo Battle Royle
By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com
Twitter: @ZackGaz
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