{{Short description|Series of puzzle video games}} {{Infobox VG series |title = Gunpey |image = Gunpey logo.gif |caption = Logo of the WonderSwan version |genre = Puzzle |platforms = Arcade, WonderSwan, WonderSwan Color, PlayStation, Nintendo DS, mobile phone, PlayStation Portable, iOS, Android |developer = Koto Laboratory<br>Q Entertainment<br>Art Co., Ltd<br>TOSE Co. Ltd |publisher = Bandai<br>Bandai Namco Entertainment | first release version =''Gunpey'' (WonderSwan) | first release date =March 4, 1999 | latest release version =''Gunpey'' (PSP) | latest release date =November 14, 2006 }} {{Nihongo|'''''Gunpey'''''|グンペイ|Gunpei|lead=yes}}, often written as '''''Gun Pey''''' or '''''GunPey''''', is a series of puzzle video games released by Bandai. It was originally released for the WonderSwan, and has been ported to WonderSwan Color, PlayStation, Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable. The game was named as a tribute to the developer of the game, Gunpei Yokoi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/22/tgs-2006-gunpey|title=TGS 2006: Gunpey|website=IGN|date=November 2, 2006|access-date=March 23, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323104850/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/22/tgs-2006-gunpey|url-status=live}}</ref> He is known for developing several handheld consoles such as Nintendo's Game Boy, Virtual Boy, and Bandai's Wonderswan system. In the series, players move line fragments vertically in a grid in order to make a single branching line connect horizontally from one end to the other. The objective of the game depends on the selected game mode.
==Gameplay== thumb|left|144px|Screenshot of "Stage Mode" ''Gunpey'' features a 5×10 cell grid and line fragments spread across it varying from shapes such as caret (∧), inverted caret (∨), left slash (\), and right slash (/). The player controls a cursor that can be moved around the playing field. The cursor only ability is to flip vertical adjacent cells, allowing the player to move line fragments or switch them with another segment. The goal of the game is to piece the broken lines together to form a connected line that connects horizontally from one end to the other. After a line is completed, the line will temporarily flash and disappear. The player can connect additional branching segments while it's flashing to achieve a combo bonus. A bonus is also awarded when all of the line segments are cleared from the playing field.<ref>{{cite book |title=Gunpey manual|publisher=Bandai/Koto Laoratory |pages=5–7}}</ref>
* "Endless Mode" features line fragments appearing from the bottom of the grid and gradually move to up to the top as more pieces appear. The rate at which the new pieces scroll up from the bottom increases as the levels go on. The game ends if any line fragments reach the top of the screen before they have been assembled into a full line.<ref name="manual-endless-stage">{{cite book |title=Gunpey manual|publisher=Bandai/Koto Laoratory |page=9}}</ref> * "Stage Mode" bears a resemblance to Endless Mode. The goal is to clear lines using a specific number of line fragments as they appear from the bottom of the grid. Once the number of lines has been cleared, the player can move on to the next stage. The number of used line fragments needed to clear a stage and the rate of new line fragments appearing increases as more stages are cleared.<ref name="manual-endless-stage"/> * "Puzzle Mode" features a specific number of lines are set per each stage. All the line fragments must be connected without a single line remaining.<ref name="manual-puzzle-story1">{{cite book |title=Gunpey manual|publisher=Bandai/Koto Laoratory |page=10}}</ref> * "Story Mode" is a mode where the player battles against the CPU in order to progress the story. The goal is to clear lines with a certain number of lines similar to Puzzle Mode, however the CPU adds several mechanics that may affect progress such as shadowed-panels, side-scrolling grid, and falling bombs that can be thrown upwards against the CPU.<ref name="manual-puzzle-story1" /> A vertical gauge is also featured. If the gauge is filled completely, the shadowed-panels disappear.<ref name="manual-story2-free">{{cite book |title=Gunpey manual|publisher=Bandai/Koto Laoratory |page=11}}</ref> The Story revolves around a frog named Vincent as he saves a cat named Sherry from a group of outlaws. In ''Tarepanda no Gunpey'', the story revolves around Tarepanda as he rolls around reaching specific destinations around the Earth and collecting photos of different Tarepanda slowly becoming a pile of Tarepandas. * "VS mode" allows two players to battle against each other. Players can choose difficulties between High, Normal, Low, and Poor. "High" rewards less SP per clearing a line as "Poor" rewards more SP.
==Predecessor== ''Gunpey'' was preceded in 1997 by an LCD game called ''Henoheno'' ({{langx|ja|へのへの}}),<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of KOTO |url=http://www.koto.co.jp/english/history.html |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=History of KOTO |language=en}}</ref> which is a shortened form of the Japanese phrase Henohenomoheji that describes faces made from Japanese Hiragana characters, in a similar but more freeform way than emoticons. This is reflected in the game's name that looks like a pair of glasses.
==Games== {| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="4" | Original series |- style="border-top:3px solid brown;"| ! style="width:35%;"| Title ! style="width:16%;"| Release dates ! style="width:7%;"| Platform ! style="width:42%;"| Notes |- |''Henoheno''{{efn|{{nihongo||へのへの|Henoheno}}}} |{{vgrelease|JP|1997<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of KOTO |url=http://www.koto.co.jp/english/history.html |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=History of KOTO |language=en}}</ref>}} |LCD game |Predecessor to ''Gunpey''. |- |''Gunpey'' |{{vgrelease|JP|March 4, 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/serial/2003/03/07/364,1047015949,11347,0,0.html|script-title=ja:第21回 スワンクリスタル受注生産へ！ ワンダースワンのこれまでとこれからを探る！【見習い記者の取材日記】|language=Japanese|publisher=Famitsu|date=March 8, 2003|access-date=April 22, 2014|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214839/http://www.famitsu.com/game/serial/2003/03/07/364%2C1047015949%2C11347%2C0%2C0.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} |WonderSwan |Launch title for the WonderSwan. A special memorial pack version was released in celebration of reaching 200,000 sold copies. |- |''Tarepanda No Gunpey''{{efn|{{nihongo||たれぱんだのぐんぺい|Tarepanda's Gunpey}}}} |{{vgrelease|JP|December 9, 1999<ref name="tarepanda">{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=20632|title=たれぱんだのぐんぺい WS|language=Japanese|publisher=Famitsu|access-date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323031447/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=20632|url-status=live}}</ref>}} |WonderSwan |The game features Tarepanda theme. A special edition bundle was also released containing the game and a Tarepanda-themed WonderSwan.<ref name="tarepanda" /> |- |''Gunpey'' |{{vgrelease|JP|December 16, 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=4598|title=グンペイ PS|language=Japanese|publisher=Famitsu|access-date=April 22, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322115648/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=4598|url-status=live}}</ref>}} |PlayStation, Arcade |An enhanced port of the original WonderSwan version by TOSE.<ref name="tarepanda"/> This version received its own arcade port by Banpresto in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/gunpey/3030-13414/ |title=Gunpey (Game) |access-date=2019-11-12 |archive-date=2019-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112124722/https://www.giantbomb.com/gunpey/3030-13414/ |url-status=live}}</ref> |- |''Gunpey EX''{{efn|{{nihongo||グンペイ EX|Gunpei EX}}}} |{{vgrelease|JP|December 9, 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/nowon/2000/12/09/now03.html|title=WS『GUNPEY EX（グンペイ EX）』|language=Japanese|publisher=Famitsu|access-date=April 22, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322090817/http://www.famitsu.com/game/nowon/2000/12/09/now03.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} |WonderSwan Color |Launch title for the WonderSwan Color. The game features new colored-base puzzles. The game is compatible with the Wondergate peripheral allowing players to play in multiplayer mode online and includes a new quit-restart function so players can take breaks,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swan.channel.or.jp/swan/software/line_up/index_GNP03.html|title=GUNPEY EX|language=Japanese|publisher=Bandai|access-date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322114822/http://www.swan.channel.or.jp/swan/software/line_up/index_GNP03.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but the Story Mode feature has been removed.<ref name="Gamedefunct-Gunpey-ex">{{cite web|url=http://www.defunctgames.com/review/1042/gunpey-ex|title=Gunpey EX Review|publisher=DefunctGames|author=Tom Lenting|date=August 27, 2011|access-date=March 22, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322151819/http://www.defunctgames.com/review/1042/gunpey-ex|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |''Gunpey'' |{{vgrelease|JP|October 4, 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/corporate/press/bandainetworks/news/index.php?view=22&ref=200503 |title=NTTドコモ「iモード」コンテンツ『バンダイ コレクション』10月4日よりサービス開始 |language=Japanese |publisher=Bandai Namco Games |access-date=April 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324141208/http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/corporate/press/bandainetworks/news/index.php?view=22&ref=200503 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} |NTT DoCoMo |Cell phone version based on ''Gunpey EX''. |- ! colspan="4" | ''Gunpey Rebirth'' |- style="border-top:3px solid brown;"| ! style="width:35%;"| Title ! style="width:16%;"| Release dates ! style="width:7%;"| Platform ! style="width:42%;"| Notes |- |''Gunpey DS''{{efn|{{nihongo|''Oto o tsunagou! Gunpei Riba~su♪''|音をつなごう!グンペイりば～す♪|lit. "Connect the Sound! Gunpey Rebi-rth♪"}}}} |{{vgrelease|JP|October 19, 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2936|script-title=ja:音をつなごう！グンペイりば〜す♪|language=Japanese|publisher=Famitsu|access-date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=April 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412174425/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2936|url-status=live}}</ref>|NA|November 17, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/games/gunpey-839710/nds-839709 |title=Gunpey DS |website=IGN |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325053054/http://www.ign.com/games/gunpey-839710/nds-839709 |url-status=live}}</ref>|EU|March 30, 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/games/gunpey-ds |title=Gunpey DS |website=Eurogamer |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323092406/http://www.eurogamer.net/games/gunpey-ds |url-status=live}}</ref>|AUS|April 13, 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/connect-the-sounds-gunpey-reverse/ |title=Gunpey DS |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325055124/http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/connect-the-sounds-gunpey-reverse/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}} |Nintendo DS |Players have the option of using the touchscreen slide pieces up or down, or go with the classic using the D-Pad. There are two modes called Music Box, and G-Note, which add a slight variety to gameplay. There are nine playable characters, each with a different skin, and different sounds during gameplay. |- |''Gunpey''{{efn|{{nihongo|''Gunpey-R''|グンペイ・リバース|lit. "Gunpey Rebirth"}}}} |{{vgrelease|NA|November 14, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/games/gunpey-839710/psp-839708 |title=Gunpey PSP |website=IGN |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302015018/http://www.ign.com/games/gunpey-839710/psp-839708 |url-status=live}}</ref>|JP|January 11, 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2935|script-title=ja:グンペイ リバース|language=Japanese|publisher=Famitsu|access-date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323125539/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2935|url-status=live}}</ref>|EU|March 30, 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/games/gunpey |title=Gunpey PSP |website=Eurogamer |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323092042/http://www.eurogamer.net/games/gunpey |url-status=live}}</ref>|AUS|April 13, 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/gunpey-r/ |title=Gunpey-R PSP |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325053016/http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/gunpey-r/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}} |PlayStation Portable |Reminiscent of ''Lumines'', and has a total of 40 skins, which slightly "alter" gameplay. It offers two modes of play, "Original" and "Break". Break mode differs from original in that any line segments above a completed line will drop down after that line has been cleared. Additionally, the player is given the option in the main menu to play a 10 x 10 grid versus the default size for added difficulty. |- |''Gunpeyard Flower Carnival''{{efn|{{nihongo|''Gunpey Hana no Kānibaru''|ぐんぺい 花のカーニバル|lit. "Gunpey Flower Carnival"}}}} |{{vgrelease|JP|February 27, 2017<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.famitsu.com/20170228_983261/ |title=【新作】名作パズルゲーム『ぐんぺい』がキュートに生まれ変わってスマホに登場！ |publisher=Famitsu |date=February 28, 2017 |language=Japanese |access-date=March 8, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602182634/https://app.famitsu.com/20170228_983261/ |url-status=live}}</ref>|WW|March 28, 2017<ref>{{cite web |url=https://appadvice.com/app/gunpeyard-flower-carnival/1213205224 |title=Gunpeyard Flower Carnival |publisher=AppAdvice |date=October 13, 2017 |access-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902215258/https://appadvice.com/app/gunpeyard-flower-carnival/1213205224 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} |iOS<br>Android |Developed by Namco Bandai. The game uses worms to represent line segments. It was discontinued on December 13, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gamebiz.jp/?p=195593 |title=【バンナム、『ぐんぺい 花のカーニバル』のサービスを2017年12月13日をもって終了 |publisher=Gamebiz.jp |date=October 16, 2017 |language=Japanese |access-date=March 8, 2019 |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173243/http://gamebiz.jp/?p=195593 |url-status=live}}</ref> |}
==Reception== {{VG series reviews | fam = yes | gr = yes | game1 = Gunpey | fam1 = 33/40<ref name="autogenerated112">{{cite journal|title=ワンダースワン - GUN PEY（グンペイ） |publisher=Weekly Famitsu.|issue=915 |page=112|date=30 June 2006}}</ref> | mc1 = - | gr1 = - | game2 = Tarepanda no Gunpey | fam2 = | mc2 = - | gr2 = - | game3 = Gunpey EX | fam3 = | mc3 = - | gr3 = - | game4 = Gunpey DS | mc4 = 70/100 | gr4 = 70.19% | game5 = Gunpey (PSP) | mc5 = 62/100 | gr5 = 65.78% }}
''Famitsu'' magazine scored the WonderSwan version of the game a 33 out of 40.<ref name="autogenerated112"/> ''Retro Gamer'' ranked the original WonderSwan game #2 on its "Top Ten WonderSwan Games" praising its simplicity and variety of modes it offers.<ref name="retro-gamer-36">{{cite journal|title=Wonderswan: Perfect Ten Games|journal=Retro Gamer|issue=36|year=2007 |pages=72, 73}}</ref> Modojo gave ''Gunpey EX'' a 3 out of 5 giving it a mix review stating: "The fact is ''Gunpey''{{'}}s focus on individual circuits instead of complex combos coupled the clunky vertical shuffling of the wires made it an experience I couldn't lose myself in, like so many other titles. Still, it's good to see that the puzzle genre still has life left, and ''Gunpey EX'' is a fairly robust package".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.modojo.com/reviews/gunpey_ex|title=Gunpey EX Mobile Review|publisher=Modojo.com|author=Justin Davis|year=2006|access-date=March 24, 2014|archive-date=March 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325042948/http://www.modojo.com/reviews/gunpey_ex|url-status=live}}</ref>
NintendoLife gave the game a 6 out of 10: "The concept just isn't compelling or addictive enough to grant the game classic status and the developers haven't really added anything to change that".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/04/gunpey_ds_ds |title=Review: Gunpey DS |publisher=Nintendolife |author=Damien McFerran |date=April 12, 2007 |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323105557/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/04/gunpey_ds_ds |url-status=live}}</ref> ''GameSpot'' gave both the DS and PSP version a 7.7 out of 10: "Not only is it fun and challenging, but it's got a crazy sense of style and a rewarding level of difficulty".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gunpey-review/1900-6162115/|title=GunPey DS/PSP Review|website=GameSpot|author=Kevin VanOrd|date=November 21, 2006|access-date=March 22, 2014|archive-date=June 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608010731/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gunpey-review/1900-6162115/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Eurogamer'' gave the PSP version 7 out of 10, praising its level designs and difficulty but criticizing the time it takes to play the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/gunpey-review|title=Gunpey Review: Yokoi-ing to like this|website=Eurogamer|author=Dave McCarthy|date=February 25, 2007|access-date=March 23, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323092153/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/gunpey-review|url-status=live}}</ref> ''IGN'' gave the game a 6.1 out of 10: "''Gunpey'' is a somewhat fun puzzle game, but it'll never reach classic status because it's one of those games that relies too much on random placement of tiles".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/30/gunpey-ds-review |title=Gunpey DS Review: A Wonderswan puzzler hits the Nintendo DS with a bizarre presentation. |website=IGN |author=Craig Harris |date=November 29, 2006 |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323092118/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/30/gunpey-ds-review |url-status=live}}</ref> ''IGN'', however, gave the PSP version a less favorable review criticizing the gameplay for it being dull and boring.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/14/gunpey-review |title=Gunpey Review: Boring and slow, this puzzler never takes off. |website=IGN |author=Ed Lewis |date=November 14, 2006 |access-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323104612/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/14/gunpey-review |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== ;Notes {{notelist}}
;Citation {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.bandaigames.channel.or.jp/list/gunpey/index.html ''Gunpey'' official site] * [http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps02485.html ''Gunpey'' PlayStation page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329215508/http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps02485.html |date=2014-03-29 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140517092722/http://gunpey-rebirth.com/ ''Gunpey Rebirth'' (DS/PSP) portal]
{{Bandai Namco franchises}}
Category:Falling block puzzle games Category:Music video games Category:Nintendo DS games Category:PlayStation Portable games Category:Puzzle video games Category:Q Entertainment games Category:Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:WonderSwan games Category:WonderSwan Color games Category:Video game franchises Category:IOS games Category:Android (operating system) games