Renketsu Puzzle Tsunagete Pon! Color (Japan)
About Renketsu Puzzle Tsunagete Pon! Color (Japan)
Renketsu Puzzle Tsunagete Pon! Color (Japan) is a puzzle game released for the NEO-GEO Pocket Color. It's the color version of a monochrome original, made by SNK for their handheld. This Japan-exclusive title came out during the system's late-1999 to early-2000s window, a time when SNK was pumping out colorful arcade-style games for the platform. The genre is straightforward: a falling-block puzzle game where you connect pieces to clear them, similar in spirit to titles like Puyo Puyo or Tetris but with its own visual style. If you own a NEO-GEO Pocket Color and enjoy classic puzzle action, this is a solid pick-up. Just don't expect a deep story or anything beyond the core loop.
The gameplay involves colored blocks dropping from the top of the playfield. You move and rotate them to form connected groups of the same color, which then vanish and send junk blocks to your opponent if you're in versus mode. The mechanics are simple to learn - tap the D-pad to shift left or right, hold down to drop faster, and use the A button to rotate. The pace stays brisk, and the screen fills up fast, so quick thinking and pattern recognition matter more than combo memorization. Menus are in Japanese, but the layout is standard for NGPC puzzle games: a title screen, an options menu (likely for sound and difficulty), and a single-player mode plus a possible two-player versus mode if you have a link cable. New players should start in single-player to get a feel for the drop speed and how blocks connect.
What makes Renketsu Puzzle Tsunagete Pon! Color worth trying today is its place in the NEO-GEO Pocket Color library - it's a competent puzzle game that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. If you're a collector or someone who enjoys the system's arcade heritage, this title offers a quick, satisfying fix without overwhelming mechanics. It's not a classic on the level of Puyo Puyo or Magical Drop, but it's a solid entry for fans of the genre. The color graphics pop nicely on the NGPC screen, and the sound effects are catchy. Just be aware that it's entirely in Japanese, so non-speakers might need to experiment with the menus. If you already have a NEO-GEO Pocket Color and want a no-fuss puzzle game, this is a good bet.
How to Play Renketsu Puzzle Tsunagete Pon! Color (Japan) Online
Getting Started
This is a falling-block puzzle game where you connect colored blocks to clear them from the screen. When you start the game from the title screen, you'll see a Japanese menu with options for single-player, versus (likely two-player via link cable), and settings. Press the Start button to begin a single-player game. Blocks of various colors drop from the top - use the D-Pad to move them left or right, and press the A button (mapped to X on your keyboard) to rotate. Your goal is to line up three or more blocks of the same color in a row, either horizontally or vertically. When you do, they disappear and any blocks above them fall down, possibly creating chain reactions.
The core loop is about speed and pattern recognition. As you clear lines, the drop speed increases, forcing you to think and react faster. You also have a special button that drops the block instantly to the bottom - this is mapped to the B button (mapped to S on your keyboard). The game ends when blocks stack up to the top of the playfield. If you want a two-player match, connect a link cable to another NGPC and select the versus mode from the menu. The rules are similar, but clearing lines sends junk blocks to your opponent's field.
Since the menu text is entirely in Japanese, you may need to experiment. The first option is almost always single-player, the second is versus, and the third is options. In options, you can adjust difficulty and sound. Stick with the default settings first. The controls are responsive, so focus on keeping your stack low and looking for chains - clearing multiple groups at once is the key to high scores. If you're new to puzzle games, start with a slow speed setting if available, and gradually work up to faster speeds.
Renketsu Puzzle Tsunagete Pon! Color (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button
- S: B button
- Z: Y button
- A: X button
- Q: L shoulder
- E: R shoulder
- Enter: Start
- V: Select
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