On this day 25 years ago, Japan was introduced to one of Nintendo's greatest and most competitive offerings - Panel de Pon... however you may know it as Puzzle League or even Tetris Attack (despite it having nothing to do with Tetris).
The series has been far from consistent with its branding donning the Yoshi IP, Pokémon and even Animal Crossing. However no matter what it's called or what it looks like, there's nothing quite as frantic and exhilarating in the puzzle genre.
We're joined by special guests Scott Wozniak and Shesez of Boundary Break to go over the entire history of the series and figure out what makes it so special 25 years later.
Let us know what the franchise means to you in the comments below! Panel de Pon is available right now on the Super Nintendo app through Nintendo Switch Online for those who have yet to experience its delights!
Comments 36
So good. Versus matches are the next. Amazing music too.
I do like Panel de Pon. Animal Crossing’s Puzzle League thing was hilarious too. I hope it makes a comeback but New Horizons does seem to have cut quite a lot of the small details and little in-jokes.
I slam every person I play at this game, I will say I like Tetris Attack better for the visuals though and that is more nostalgic to me. Pokemon Puzzle League was really good too.
Panel de pon...whatev-SCOTT???
Dude I love Panel De Pon so much please tell me more
Hey all, Scott here.
Scott the Woz was a pleasant surprise! But now that he's admitted to piracy, we have no choice but to hit that 'Cancel' button and boycott him hard.
Ah Panel De Pon, how I love you. I play this all the time on my switch through SNES online.
Honestly, it’s kinda nuts that Nintendo hasn’t made a mobile version of this yet. While I’m not one for micro transactions in games, PDP is perfect for cosmetic DLC. Give mobile and switch users the base Panel De Pon (and maybe Tetris Attack) themes to start and then lock new themes based off of popular Nintendo franchises behind a pay wall or experience system. People could pay for a Pokémon Puzzle League theme, an Animal Crossing Skin, or even wackier stuff like an Earthbound or Star Tropics theme.
I dunno, I’d be into it.
Isn't Scott the Woz the guy who has 30 copies of Donkey Kong Barrel Blast?
My first introduction was playing Tetris Attack back in 1996 or so (probably before Scott was born, lol). But it was the DS game, Planet Puzzle League, where I became truly addicted to it. PPL was like the perfect Panel de Pon game, because it worked so well with the DS stylus and touch screen.
Come Mr. DJ. Some Pon de Panel.
Scott the Woz is the best! Watching his videos regularly hes very funny.
@HotGoomba dont forget fling smash
I have to think that if Nintendo hadn't renamed Panel de Pon in the West, we'd have the Western version on NSO. I miss those Yoshi's Island visuals.
I uploaded my copy of Pokemon Puzzle challenge as my profile image that I got when it came out ( I was 8).
Can you tell that I used it a lot...
I wish they'd have thrown Tetris Attack onto the Nintendo NES Online app instead of Panel De Pon for obvious reasons, but I've still been having some fun with what we did get.
And yes I understand the reason they used PdP instead of TA is probably to avoid complaints for using the Tetris name again but it's not like they couldn't have given the game its Japanese name. Didn't the Yoshi reskin release later in Japan anyway? (Even if it was only on that Satellaview thing?) They could've used the graphics for that. Our just make a new title screen logo for Tetris Attack and simply name it Puzzle League, or Yoshi's Puzzle League or something.
.... too much effort probably. Eh well. Good game either way.
Scott Wozniak is without a doubt my all time favourite youtuber. We share the same kind of sense of humour, the same kind of background and the same kind of opinions on most things. I really wish I was cool enough to be in his gang.
@bluemage1989 I really don't think that "coolness" is whats going to get you into Scott's circle.
Scott is awesome. So glad to see others enjoying his work as well. Definitely a great game historian and all around clever fella. Hope he keeps up the great work he’s doing for a long time.
I have it for my SNES and is amazing. It's better on VS but nobody I know enjoy these games -_-
Tetris Attack is permanently placed on my Super Nintendo.
I hope they make a battle royale version of Panel De Pon/Puzzle League one day.
I really regret that, in our day and age, people still don't know this as they should. When I was a boy, I played this SO MUCH with my brother, and when he got bored I still continued and here we are, 25 years later STILL PLAYING THAT GORGEOUS game.
*donning, not dawning.
I first played Tetris Attack way back when I got it for the SNES. (Don't remember when, it's been too long, lol) I loved it back then and I love it today - it's easily my favorite puzzle game. Really glad that Panel de Pon came out on NSO's SNES catalog. And yes, I'd LOVE a Panel de Pon battle royale too!
Oh, Panel de Pon ^^ , my favorite puzzle game, many memories playing the SNES versions and the Pokemon versions.
I like the dynamics of this game and how additive it is, especially when playing the VS and "garbage" modes, that is, where you receive obstacles that harm you but also benefit you.
And although it is good to see that we recently had the grace to receive the original version of the SNES on the Switch online, even so, it feels a bit sad that this game is not taken into account much and worse for the original characters, who have been replaced by Yoshi, Pokemon and even Animal Crossing, and well, "Nothing", yes, the versions where there were no "skins" only the original soundtrack the only thing that kept those versions.
I hope this game will give a little more relevance and also its characters in the future ^^
When I saw "Panel De Pon" in the title, I knew Jon Cartwright had to be included within it somehow.
Just bought pokemon puzzle league last week.
I like how Panel de Pon made the hardest Pokémon games. X) But man, talk about a series that went downhill quick, after the Pokémon stuff...
Saw this and thought, "Gotta be Jon"
@bluemage1989 @Desrever yeah I've never seen "virgin" spelt with a C, two O's and an L either
If you haven’t already, Puzzle League fans should check out Flipon (Switch & Steam)!
Great video, loved it!
I got the GameCube one and a Freeloader which came with my Action Replay that allows me to play it. All three games on the collection were fantastic, still would nice if Nintendo also include their other three puzzlers in there too such Yoshi's Egg, Wario's Woods, and Kirby no Kirakira Kids (Kirby's Super Star Stacker).
So this is where all the virgins are hanging out 😆
@Desrever just walk around with a copy of donkey kong barrel blast and you'll be IN in no time
Actually the cursor and button controls were not removed entirely from the DS game and its DSiWare counterpart. In the Options menu, it is possible to change the screen settings to display horizontally, and, even if displayed vertically, button controls are still usable with the cursor, though a bit awkward in vertical display, making it possible to play the game in its original style. Also, it is possible to turn off hints in the Options menu, so you can still have "a satisfaction of landing combos yourself."
P.S. - I did not know that a vertical display option existed in the GBA version.
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