SEGA’s Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is another world-breaking combination of gaming’s two most popular puzzle games. Paired with adorable characters, quirky dialogue and a catchy plot, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 will be sure to capture the hearts of players of all ages.

Even if you haven’t played the first iteration, you’ll catch on quickly. Immediately, you’re dumped into the Puyo universe with Ringo Ando. It’s not long until she meets a young boy named Tee, who is mysteriously out of place in her world. Together, and using the powers of Puyo and Tetriminos, they battle enemies and gather friends to solve what may be the greatest puzzle in the universe.

For purists, players have the option to choose marathon free play for Puyo Puyo or Tetris. As for those here for the story, Adventure mode’s plot ties in wonderfully with the two puzzle modes. This also brings in the new skill battle, giving unique character skills to the gameplay. In addition, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 possesses a dynamic “auto difficulty” option that scales with a player’s ability. This really helps to keep things challenging.

Prior to this game, I had no exposure to Puyo Puyo. I was extremely familiar with Tetris, so I assumed it would be Tetris with a Puyo Puyo re-skin. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 would utilize the two puzzle styles seamlessly. At first, I thought the “joining” of the two puzzles was jarring and forced, but as I kept playing, it just worked for the plot. The bright, round Puyos contrasted with the harsh angles of Tetriminoes, making for a unique playing experience. Is this next battle Puyo Time or Tetris Time?

The animation style is that of simple RPGs, but with bright, eye-catching colors in both the character sprites and backgrounds. Just enough detail was fleshed out that it wasn’t overly simple, but not so much that it was distracting. In addition to this, the bubbly background music compliments the game, being present, but not overwhelming. Finally, the exaggerated voice work brings a comical effect to the story and the gameplay.

Just like the original Puyo Puyo Tetris, the game offers multiplayer for up to four players. There’s several additional modes here, including Swap, Party, Fusion, and Big Bang. All these modes bring something interesting to the table, changing up the gameplay a bit. For those looking to challenge the world, they can even go online to battle it out with another player. If you were having a good time with the Adventure mode, then jumping online will help to continue a lot of the fun.

Overall, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is an endearing game for puzzle lovers and the young at heart. With colorful characters, quirky dialogue, and familiar puzzle interfaces, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 offers an addicting experience anyone will enjoy. The game will even have more fun as Sega adds free post-launch DLC, so it’s something to look forward to.

Final Score: 9 Puyo blobs out of 10

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