The adorable blobs and addictive blocks are set to invade TVs again this December 8th in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, and I was able to check out a preview of the game to get a taste of what’s to come.
Right off the bat, the most noticeable difference is the ability to play Endless Mode from the title screen of either Tetris or Puyo Puyo. As a fan of the first game, this is a welcomed addition and can be seen as a quick practice round before exploring this new title.
For those returning to the world of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (PPT2), you can expect the same “Saturday Morning Cartoon” feeling from the story. The visuals are just as entertaining as well with their vivid colors and themes. I almost expected a theme song to break out at some point during the different cutscenes, but am happy to settle for the upbeat soundtrack and sound effects. While sometimes the story trails away from any type of plot, I still prefer the absurdity of these adventures over some of the gigantic epics taking place in most video games. All that aside, there are plenty of characters coming and going in PPT2, and that’s all I can say for the moment.
The newest addition is the Skill Battle Mode, which allows the player to form teams using different characters and skills that are mapped to different face buttons as you play. You can also unlock and equip cards to make your team even stronger. I still find myself getting destroyed in Puyo mode against the CPU, but the Lessons can help explain everything in great detail in all modes including this new one.
I can see the aforementioned additions being very welcomed by veterans and possibly overwhelming for newcomers, but thankfully not a requirement in every outlet of multiplayer. Aside from multiplayer aspects, there’s plenty to unlock as you progress in the game with your credits, making victories feel even more crucial.
Playing PPT2 on the Switch feels right at home in handheld mode, and part of that may come from growing up with Tetris on a GameBoy and Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine on the Game Gear. The size of the screen is reasonable even for 4-player insanity, though I cannot imagine 4 people trying to gather around an undocked Switch.
Overall, I’m excited to explore all that Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 has to offer both off and online even if it means getting my butt handed to me in more ways than one. This amazing mash-up of puzzle superstars is sure to keep fans hooked for a while.
