 A very addictive puzzler |
| Review Date: May 29, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| Mario's Picross could be one of the last great games for classic Game Boy. Granted, puzzle games aren't for everyone, but I think this title offers a perfect blend of quickness with pure logic. The premise is very simple (as with most great games): First, a blank grid is displayed, either 5x5 (very easy), 10x10 (beginners), or 15x15(standard). At the top of each column and to the left of each row is a series of numbers indicating the number and length of "tiles" to be chipped away. So, assuming the 15x15 grid, if a row indicates "7 7", seven tiles should be chipped, a pristine tile should be left in the middle, and then another seven tiles chipped. When one considers the possible combinations of sequences (both horizontal and vertical), one realises the great opportunity to exercise skills in pure logic and deduction. I'm sure this would be one of Sherlock Holmes' favourite games. But I did mention quickness, didn't I? The game only allows 30 minutes per grid, which sounds like a lot, until one starts to make mistakes. The first mistake costs two minutes, the second four minutes, and all the rest eight minutes. So what makes this fun? Well, the action seems to go quickly, as opposed to other purely logical games, like Boxxle (okay, I actually liked Boxxle enough to finish it, but it is SLOW going). Oh, and did I mention that the finished grid makes a picture, too? Stuff like animals, vehicles, and famous Nintendo characters start to emerge with progress. What also makes the game fun is the ability to "mark" or "scratch" a tile with an X without busting it. Why would anyone do this? When solving the grids, knowing where a chipped tile cannot exist is just as important as knowing where it can exist. So, Mario's Picross even has Taoist elements (light/dark, Yin/Yang, being/non-being) inherent in good play, but this is my own personal observation. As a reward for completing every grid, a time trial mode appears that starts the clock at zero and counts up. This mode doesn't penalise the player on incorrect chippings. At first glance, this seems great, but the player will never know the miss is really a miss until things suddenly don't jive up anymore. This is definitely a challenge and it's hard to explain. The least you need to know: Mario's Picross is a fast-paced puzzle game against a ticking clock to uncover pictures by busting tiles. The game is easy to pick up, but takes some time to become proficient. The graphics are bold and easy to see, so they are also simplistic. The in-game music is forgettable so I usually listen to other music whilst playing. If you are into puzzle games, do yourself a favour and pick it up. |
Quirky But Very Fun
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| Review Date: January 4, 2002 |
| Reviewer: , Blairsville, Pennsylvania |
| This game is very different than anything that you have ever played before. There is a grid with varying amounts of columns with numbers above them, and you must cross-reference the numbers to clear certain blocks and ultimately reveal a hidden picture. Yes, it sounds about as fun as pulling your toenails off and sticking them up your nose, but is actually quite fun. This game is very frustrating at first but once you understand it, it is simpler to do but the puzzles are still difficult. A must buy for any puzzle-freak who has a Game Boy. Even if you don't like puzzles, you should try this game. |
This game is responsible for my picross obsession!
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| Review Date: June 24, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Vinster, Jersey City, New Jersey |
I picked this game up at the time of it's release. Since then I feel I need to attend weekly meetings due to my addiction.
that was many years ago. Since then Picross has become a way of life for me, it's right up there with breathing and eating. Yes, I'm a nerd. The puzzle grid is small, due to the small screen of the GBA, so some may experience eye strain. Again, owing the the small grids in which to solve any given puzzle, it's easily suited to the newbies to this type of puzzle gaming (some of the earlier puzzles are really lame-- but they eventually progress in complexity).
Since I first discovered this game I've moved onto getting the imported version of Mario Picross 2 (a great game!), purchasing Japanese monthly puzzle magazines w/ hundreds of puzzles per issue, getting World of Puzzles magazine for their similair "Paint-by-Numbers" puzzles, and importing all the titles I could afford which contain there titles.
Also, if you are a big fan of picross/nonograms,
you may want to visit your local Japanese bookstore (here in NY I go to Kinokuniya) and ask for their "Illustrated Logic" books.
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An essential puzzle game
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| Review Date: June 8, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Robert P. Inverarity, Silicon Valley, California, United States |
I've played many puzzle games over the years. I keep up with the current crop, get the best of breed games now and again. Few games, though, have ever been as enjoyable as Mario Picross, for ye olde Game Boy.
It's a contemplative puzzler, as opposed to action-puzzlers (Tetris, Meteos, Lemmings). Oh, there's a time limit, but it's quite generous, and even towards the end of Star Mode you have to screw up more than twice to time out if you're working reasonably fast. You probably will, but not frustratingly often. The focus, though, is on thinking, reasoning, and understanding the rules of image-based puzzling.
This is a pretty generous package for a Game Boy games, with three levels of difficulty and unlockable modes of play. I admit, it's quite easy. You'll be through the main game in less than ten hours if you have any skill, but... well, I've been dipping into the other modes now and again for almost fifteen years. It has legs.
Unfortunately, this won't play on any current systems. However, the Nintendo DS has its own version coming: Picross DS - complete with user-editable and shareable puzzles and internet connectivity. While many sequels and clones of this game were published in Japan, this is the only version the West got. I'm glad that, at long last, that's finally going to change. |
Great puzzler game for the Game Boy
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| Review Date: January 3, 2010 |
| Reviewer: K. Krulak, Washington, DC |
| I bought the Japanese version of this game. I first learned Picross using a pencil. This version is more fun and less messy! The implementation is excellent -- the controls are easy to use and game play is intuitive. After I finished all the puzzles, I longed for more. All in all, a puzzler well worth having. |
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