Being a big Nobuo Uematsu fan myself, MTO USA doesn't really have to market a $4.99 downloadable PSP puzzle game featuring his work in my direction. Were I not a fan, however, MTO USA marketing guy Scott Pelland would have had me at "ham sandwich." Pelland hypes up Kurulin Fusion in a post on the official PlayStation blog.

Did I mention that the game is now available for a mere $4.99? Let's put that into perspective. That's less than the cost of a ham sandwich here in Seattle. So, the question really is this; would you rather play an engaging game with world-class, imaginative music and endless replay value…or have a sandwich?

I vote GAME, and I've been a huge freaking sandwich fan for years - but I'd rather have fun than be fat.

So that's our marketing message: Have fun. Don't eat.

He makes a good point.

I'd discuss the game's mechanics, it's earlier incarnation filled with cute doggies, and the Johann Sebastian Bach connection, but Pelland does it all so much better. Read all about Kurulin Fusion at the link below.

Kurulin Fusion for PSP Available Today on PSN [PlayStation Blog]

Developed by Cyclone Zero and published by Arc System Works, O-D Beat Drop is your standard block-dropping puzzle game with a rhythmic twist. Players drop their pieces to the beat of music, clearing the board with combos for big points. More than 100 stages of single player gameplay and four different difficulty levels should keep the solo gamer occupied, while cooperative and versus online play for up to four players should ensure you never play alone.

The niftiest feature of the game, however, is the ability to import your own music. The game will analyze your tunes and let you play along to a beat you might be more comfortable with. Once again it is time for my Infected Mushroom collection to thrive!

O-D Beat Drop will be available on Wednesday for 800 Microsoft points.

This week on Arcade: 0D Beat Drop [Major Nelson]

Mark November 18th on your calendar, and then set the rest of the week busy. That's the date that Square Enix and Popcap bring the blend of puzzle game and RPG pioneered by Puzzle Quest to the next level, adding collectible monsters to the mix. Gyromancer has you summoning monsters to fight other monsters in Bejeweled Twist flavored puzzle battles. As if that weren't bad enough, your monsters also gain levels as you fight with them, much like they do in Pokémon, and they come on pretty little cards that you'll want to collect until you pass out dead on your couch or in your computer chair.

Maybe it's just me, shaking with anticipation here. If I disappear after November 18th, call the police. Better yet, call Dominos and have them deliver cheesy bread.

In a bleak world, legend tells of a child queen who will one day rise to give hope to a world filled with despair. In Drawn, you must unlock riddles and solve puzzles as you work your way to the top of The Painted Tower in order to save the young girl who would be queen. I'm completely surprised that this is the first I've heard of this title, because it's right up my alley - a gorgeous art style, point and click adventure gameplay, and puzzles aplenty. I may not have heard of it before, but now I am drooling.

Luckily I won't have long to wait for the release. Drawn: The Painted Tower is being released at 12:01am Pacific time this Friday at BigFishGames.com for the low, low price of $6.99.

I reviewed the Xbox Live Arcade version of Droplitz, finding it a rather addictively little puzzle game that quickly invades your subconscious to the point where you'll dream about it. The PC version is comparable, while the iPhone version is a bit harder to control but similarly engaging. If it sounds compelling, now would be a great time to pick it up, as the Steam version is on sale until the 28th for a mere $1.99 - 80% off the normal $9.99 price.

The iPhone version has been discounted as well in order to celebrate the release of the free trial version, making upgrading from Droplitz Lite to Droplitz proper an investment of only $.99.

Punch-Out!! for the Wii pits Bronx-born pugilistic protagonist Little Mac and his trainer Doc Louis against a bizarre cast of characters that often out-power and outweigh our hero. That includes the return of quirky characters like the voluminous King Hippo, the mystical Great Tiger, and frail French fighter and perennial punching bag Glass Joe. The Wii version packs thirteen contenders, most of whom are plucked from the original game, with one brand new original character in the flamboyant Disco Kid.

The Next Level Games-developed Punch-Out!! also includes obligatory motion control, with options for Wii Remote and Nunchuk-style boxing, Wii Balance Board support, and simplified, old-school NES-style controls for players who actually want to beat the game.

Should Wii owners throw down some cash for Punch-Out!!, or should they simply throw in the towel?

Loved
Beautiful, Old-School Gameplay Refined: The Wii version isn't simply a remake of the NES or arcade games that also bear the Punch-Out!! name, it's an exploration of the gameplay mechanics that worked so well in the originals. Little Mac's opponents give audio and visual cues to indicate their trademark attacks are incoming, with the player having to learn when to dodge, block and duck—or preempt attacks to secure stars for powerful punches—all with split second timing, just like they used to. But each enemy's arsenal of punches, headbutts and elbows has expanded, as has Little Mac's typically shallow well of strategy.

Brilliant Puzzle Solving: The Punch-Out!! formula, more puzzle-based than sporting, is simple, but the amount of depth that developer Next Level Games has added to a returning cast impresses. Players, like myself, conditioned to dodge left for almost every attack, will be forced to adjust. And they'll be forced to root out new opportunities to land punches against once-familiar foes. Each contender is unique, some outlandishly so, as characters like the bobbing and weaving Aran Ryan and Great Tiger add variety to the lot of stand-and-swing challengers.

Title Defense: The Minor, Major and World Circuit won't pose much of a challenge to the old-school Punch-Out!! fan who TKOed Mike Tyson back in the day. It's quite possible to blow through those thirteen fighters in just a few hours. But when Little Mac is forced to defend his World Circuit championship belt in Title Defense mode, things get interesting. And they get brutally hard. When Glass Joe seeks revenge, you'll likely be amazed at how challenging he is the second time around. Punch-Out!! resets your expectations in the second half, sometimes to the point of controller-tossing frustration, but shows how brilliant this re-imagining really is. Good luck with Bald Bull II. He's a nightmare.

Control Options: The timing is spot on, as are the old-school controls, making it hard to accuse anything but your own reflexes for causing you to fail. If you really want to, you can play with a Wii Remote and Nunchuk, swinging your way to victory. For extra novelty, you can stand on a Wii Balance Board to dodge. Just don't expect to use the motion control scheme during Title Defense or Exhibition modes. But the type of player who would actually tolerate these control options probably has little interest in ever beating Mr. Sandman the first time around anyway.

Achievements: When all is said and done, with the World Circuit's has-beens defeated twice over, there's still plenty to do in Punch-Out!!, thanks to the game's Exhibition mode. It's the game's equivalent of Achievements, with more than 80 medals to acquire by unlocking Punch-Out!!'s most heavily guarded gameplay secrets under a set of conditions. Some, like landing every punch against Von Kaiser are easy. Others, like defeating Super Macho Man in the first round with no Star Punches feel impossible. But they're do-able.

Character And Caricature: The original Punch-Out!! featured a cast of contenders bordered on stereotype, a few steps away from culturally insensitive. And that was great. Even greater is that little of this has been changed. In fact, it has been improved upon. Sushi floats around Piston Hondo's head when dazed, with croissants orbiting Glass Joe's noggin while being pummeled. Bear Hugger is extremely Canadian and Disco Kid is... let's just call him flamboyant. Punch-Out!! sense of humor is only marginally softened in certain areas, but remains full of charm. Character specific music nods add nicely to the stereotypes.

Hated
No Classic Controller Support: The game supports simple Wii Remote controls, but not the option to use the more comfortable Classic Controller, with its larger directional pad and buttons. That's disappointing, as is the reliance on the Wii Remote to point for all menu choices, but that helps to explain why Classic Controller support wasn't added.

Some Boxer Cues Feel Cheap: There are certain points in the Title Defense mode where the fun comes to a halt and the rote execution of memorized patterns kicks in. (Let me show you my Soda Popinski notes sometime.) The argument can obviously be made that I was simply not skilled enough to breeze through the expert level matches, but some of the fraction-of-a-second timing and attack guesswork—I'm looking at you Don Flamenco II—might just incredibly piss you off too.

Punch-Out!! for the Wii is an amazing success. The gameplay is solid, with a suite of modes and options that reflect modern day expectations. A holographic practice mode and the option to restart matches ensure that the game's difficulty is kept in check somewhat, letting players fail on their own merits, not due to technical limitations that require things like 10-digit codes to save player progress.

The other modern-day design concession, a two-player mode that pits Little Mac against Little Mac, is probably the least welcome option, as it adds little to the tight Punch-Out!! experience, especially for anyone hardcore enough to play through every single-player aspect of the game. Minor quibbles aside, Punch-Out!! comes highly recommended—if you think you're up to the challenge.

Punch-Out!! was developed by Next Level Games and published by Nintendo for the Wii, released on May 18th. Retails for $49.99 USD. Completed all circuits and Title Defense mode. Tested Head-to-Head and Exhibition modes.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Droplitz, also being released for the PC, is a puzzle game involving getting water from one end of a set of pipes to the other. The pipes are set into hexagonal blocks, which must be rotated to create paths for the falling water, with creating combos to achieve high scores being the order of the day. It looks like a game that could start off relaxing and quickly have you tearing out your hair.

Droplitz drops in late spring, and marks Atlus' debut in North America as a publisher of downloadable titles, as well as their first appearance on both the PlayStation 3 and iPhone. Sure it's a puzzle game and not a quirky Japanese role-playing game that requires the main character fish for dates in a magical pond. Everybody has to start somewhere.

Atlus is mastering the art of the delay lately, having pushed back the DS title Class of Heroes to June just a few short days ago. Now it's Steal Princess' turn, being delayed so as to make sure more people purchase it, which seems like a pretty wise decision.

"Releasing a few weeks later gives us more time to familiarize gamers with this creative, original title," stated Tim Pivnicny, VP of Sales and Marketing at Atlus. "Because Steal Princess will be available through fewer sales channels and in smaller quantities than other Atlus releases, finding the optimal launch conditions is critical to ensuring that this daring new release avoids getting lost in an already busy April."

In the meantime, Atlus offers us a glimpse at the lovely mini-poster pack inside every copy, perfect for decorating your favorite mini-wall.

To learn more about Steal Princess, visit the game's official website, preferably before the new May 19th release date, lest they delay it again.

Sure, Proper Games' creation might be the only UFO animal herding puzzle game created by human hands, but that just makes the statement even more valid. This trailer demonstrates the different seasons that Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC players will be able to herd animals during, reminding me of what my mother always used to tell me. "An alien shepherd's work is never done," she'd tell me, before turning out the lights and staring at me with her frightening glowing red eyes until the sheer terror was no longer enough to keep me awake.

Flock drops in early April for PC, Xbox Live Arcade, and PlayStation Network.

Henry Hatsworth, due out March 17th for the Nintendo DS, is an interesting combination of puzzle game and platform adventure, in which the titular character uses the energy collected by matching puzzle blocks to fuel his amazing abilities. While the concept of a puzzle game mixed with just about anything is enough to get my hands shaking with anticipation, the chance to become Super Exciting Robot Juice completely seals the deal. It's all I ever wanted out of life.

Minesweeper Flags joins 3 On 3 NHL Arcade on Xbox Live Arcade this week, offering up the the same mine-clearing goodness we've been enjoying for free on Windows-based PCs since 1992, with 400 Microsoft points worth of extra added excitement. Developer TikGames has enhanced the Minesweeper logic-puzzle experience with new game modes, online multiplayer, non-square playing fields, and a rather pleasant 3D isometric perspective that it sure to simultaneously amuse and confuse stalwart fans.

I cannot download this game, as you folks would never see me again.

In a post over at PlayStation.Blog, Creat Studios producer Olga Sokolova discusses the new 3D puzzle game, available "soon" on the PlayStation Network for $9.99. Cuboid is a game that involves maneuvering a 3D block through a series of mazes, with various obstacles placed throughout each level in order to make things much more difficult to get from point A to point B. You'll encounter teleporters, switches, and weak tiles that crumble away as you traverse them, meaning a well-planned route is your key to victory.

The game will be released with 66 different levels, with premium packs promised to add to the challenge. Along with the puzzling fare comes the promise of lovely graphics and "soothing music", which is quickly become the hallmark of an original PSN title. Check out the link for more screens and a video of Cuboid in action.

Cuboid Coming Soon Exclusively to PSN [PlayStation.blog]

In case you are wondering what Crayon Physics Deluxe is all about, you can check out the new website where Petri's posted a neat video of the gameplay in action. It's a little bit The Incredible Machine, and a little bit Simon, whose things he draws come true. It's brilliance.

Crayon Physics Deluxe [Official Website]

-18 years old (or older), with valid ID
-interested in action, puzzle, and strategy games.
-in the SF Bay Area and free July 10th, from 1-5pm.
-able to travel to the aforementioned fabulous Capcom HQ on your own.

A secret puzzle action strategy game plus prizes and maybe cookies? I could not think of a better way to spend an afternoon. Hit the link for how you can get a chance to do these secret things they wish you to do.

Bay-Area Gamers: Capcom Wants You! [Capcom Blog]

"Roogoo is a fun, family friendly puzzle game that is as addictive as it is cute," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. "Not only does the game get progressively more challenging to play, but it also gets harder and harder to put down."

The PC version, which retails for $19.95 (boxes aren't free!), and features all 45 levels of the XBLA version, as well as split-screen multiplayer. Awww, remember back when we used to play multiplayer games together on the PC? We were such dorks back then.

ROOGOO NOW SHIPPING FOR PC

SouthPeak's Critically Acclaimed Xbox LIVE® Arcade Puzzle Game is Available Now Wherever PC Games are Sold

MIDLOTHIAN, VA - June 25, 2008 - SouthPeak Games today announced that its puzzle game Roogoo is now available for Windows PC. Roogoo, which was previously released on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, features 45 levels as well as two-player split screen.

"Roogoo is a fun, family friendly puzzle game that is as addictive as it is cute," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. "Not only does the game get progressively more challenging to play, but it also gets harder and harder to put down."

Taking place in the fantasyland of Planet Roo, you star as one of the last Roogoo’s still uncorrupted by the evil King Goo. King Goo can think of nothing but power and uses his influence to make other Roogoos believe that greed is the way of life. He starts to steal joyful meteors from the sky and uses their powers to build bigger and more powerful cities. After a fair amount of stealing, many of the kingdom’s once cute and innocent Roogoos have turned into wicked Meemoos. It is your job to stop King Goo from collecting the remaining meteors and to turn the Meemoos back into Roogoos before it’s too late.

In order to accomplish your quest and save Planet Roo, you must guide falling meteors, in the form of different shape blocks, through rotating platforms. When matched correctly, the blocks are allowed to reach their intended destination. Each meteor you guide correctly gets you one step closer to your goal.

Roogoo is available now for $19.99 at retailers everywhere. It is rated E for Everyone.

The Game Factory Snatches Rubik's Cube for the Nintendo DS™ and Wii™ Systems and Secures Licensing Agreement with Seven Towns Limited

New 3D Puzzle Games Allow Players to Step 'Inside' the Iconic Rubik's Cube

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The Game Factory, an international publisher of family-friendly and casual videogames, today announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Seven Towns Limited to publish Rubik's World, a 3D puzzle game experience for the Nintendo Wii™ and DS™ systems, both inspired by the Rubik's Cube.

"The Rubik's Cube is one of the most well known icons in the gaming and entertainment industry," said Henrik Mathiasen, president of the Game Factory. "We're honored that Seven Towns Limited has chosen us to take the Rubik's experience to the next level with Rubik's World. We feel confident that we have created a concept for the whole family that is innovative, challenging and addictive, offering a new twist in the puzzle genre while keeping the Rubik's Cube core values alive."

"We're pleased to be working with the Game Factory to enhance the Rubik's brand with Rubik's World," said David Hedley Jones, for Seven Towns Limited, a London-based company that has introduced hundreds of successful original games and toys throughout the world in the past 35 years. "We're confident that everybody will enjoy this video game experience."

Step Inside the Cube' with Rubik's World

For those who have always wondered what the inside of a Rubik's Cube looks like, the Game Factory will deliver Rubik's World in the Fall of 2008. Designed for players aged eight and older, this otherworldly game will look and play like no other game on the market. A collection of extremely addictive, easy-to-play puzzle games will increase in difficulty as the player delves deeper into this 3D world. Each version of Rubik's World will host its own unique and original series of games. Players will test their brainpower by constructing 3D shapes and objects, navigating through mazes and even creating their own soundtracks. The DS™ version will allow players to connect to a community of Rubik's World enthusiasts through the platform's wireless connection. The Wii™ version accommodates up to four players and will feature an online message board.

SouthPeak Make It Two For LIVE Innovative, Charming Puzzle Title Coming To Xbox LIVE Arcade and PCs This Spring Tuesday 12th February/...SouthPeak Games has announced it will be releasing Roogoo for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PC this spring. Developed by Spidermonk Entertainment, Roogoo uses geometric shapes and rotating discs to craft a frenetic, exciting puzzle game framed within an imaginative storyline and a delightfully realised fantasy universe and is the second title SouthPeak have announced for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360.

Roogoo tasks players with guiding meteors in the form of shaped blocks though a series of rotating disks as a means of saving the planet Roo and the entire Roogoo race. If aligned correctly, the disks allow the blocks to reach the ground and scores are awarded. However, it's not as easy as simply rotating the disks to form a neat tunnel. Various obstacles and enemies will impede the blocks' transit and with the flow of meteor blocks steadily increasing as the game progresses, players will have to think on their feet to save the Roogoo and rack up seriously high scores.

"Roogoo is a rare breed of puzzle game that combines compulsive play with an engaging storyline and a wonderful fantasy world," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. "With its accessible gameplay, unique charm and high production values, Roogoo is set to carve its own niche when released for Xbox LIVE Arcade and PC. Gamers will definitely have loads of fun mastering its unusual depth and trying to become the guru of Roogoo."

"We set out to build an addictive, casual game that would be easy to play yet difficult to master," said Scott March, President at SpiderMonk Entertainment. "SouthPeak gave us the freedom to push the limits of creativity and it resulted in a game that is truly different and has something for everyone. Not only do we have solid gameplay mechanic, but we have added a story element to the experience to really keep players engaged."

Roogoo will be released for Xbox LIVE Arcade and PC this spring.

According to Mr. Takeshita, Zak and Wiki takes it's inspiration from the old PC point and click adventure games of years past. But they didn't want to create just another retro style game, they wanted to take the formula and improve upon it, allowing the player to do things they previously couldn't do due to the restrictions of a 2D environment. They also wanted to create a game that would appeal to not only regular game fans, but families and kids as well, providing an experience that would allow parents and kids to play together. I asked Mr. Takeshita if he thought the marketing of the game towards kids would turn off a lot of the adult gamers out there (which is admittedly a larger market) and he said that what will really sell the game is not it's graphics or title, but it's content and I have to say I agree. Despite the wonderfully cartoony graphics, the gameplay is solid and the puzzles are fun and more challenging than they would seem on the surface.

Of course I couldn't let the opportunity to go by without asking Mr. Takeshita about the name change. Treasure Island Z was short, sweet and to the point. Why change it to something so ridiculously long and rather juvenile? To start he said that Treasure Island Z was out because they couldn't secure the international right to the name because of the book. They went through almost two hundred other names before settling on Zak and Wiki. They figured that using the names of the main characters made sense and that adding the subtitle would let players know what the game was about. As for the length, he said the first name they settled on was even longer, but was shortened to the one they have now, although he couldn't recall what that longer name was. But ultimately, the name needed to appeal to kids and so was given a name that sounded similar to something one might hear attached to a animated show.

If you've had the good fortune to have played a demo of Zak and Wiki, you know how fun it is. It will be a shame if this game gets overlooked due to its quirky title and cartoony graphics although if Capcom plays it's cards right, this game will definitely be a great candidate for a new, intriguing franchise. Mr. Takeshita and his team have created an innovative game for the Wii that deserves a life as long as it's title.

Now a mobile version, available already in Europe, is coming to North America, featuring 80 levels of mind-bending puzzle goodness.

Between this and Miner 2049er the mobile gaming industry has pretty much guaranteed that my next cell will be gaming capable, and I will start spending a lot more time in the bathroom. Michael Fahey

Vivendi Games Mobile Gets Inventive with Classic Brain Teaser The Incredible Machine

Popular PC Title Now Available on Mobile Phones Around the World

PARIS - June 6, 2007 - Vivendi Games Mobile, a division of Vivendi Games, today announced it is bringing the classic brain teaser The Incredible Machine™ to mobile subscribers worldwide. The mobile version of the game is based on Sierra Entertainment's original PC title and is now available for mobile phones throughout Europe and is coming soon to North America.

"This mind-bending, brain-squeezing, neuron-twisting puzzle with real-time physics and rich graphics allows players to be the inventor and build The Incredible Machine with the only limitation being the imagination," said Paul Maglione, president of Vivendi Games Mobile. "Gamers are sure to enjoy this ultimate test of mind over matter as they attempt to create innovative contraptions and make their way through 80 levels of challenging gameplay."

The Incredible Machine is an intuitive and engaging puzzle game that eases players into increasingly complex levels. As the tasks become more difficult, players must solve each puzzle using the 50+ wacky objects and tools which includes scissors, fans, tubes, balls, pulleys and lasers to name just a few. The Incredible Machine offers players two unique modes: "classic play" in which players progress through each level after correctly solving the puzzle and unlock exciting new content and bonus material along the way; "free play" gives players the flexibility to play as they wish and experiment at will with the seemingly endless variety of devices and parts found throughout the game.