# Puzz Loop

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Puzz_Loop
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Puzz_Loop.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puzz_Loop
> Source revision: 1349590940
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|1998 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Puzz Loop
| image = Puzzloop jp.JPG
| caption = Japanese PlayStation cover art
| developer = [Mitchell Corporation](/source/Mitchell_Corporation)
| publisher = '''Arcade'''<br />Mitchell Corporation<br />'''PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|JP|[Capcom](/source/Capcom)|NA|[Infogrames North America](/source/Accolade%2C_Inc.)|EU|[THQ](/source/THQ)}}'''Nuon'''<br />[Samsung](/source/Samsung)<br />'''Neo Geo Pocket Color'''<br />[SNK](/source/SNK)<br />'''iOS'''<br />[Hudson Soft](/source/Hudson_Soft)
| producer = Monte Singman
| designer = 
| released = '''Arcade'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP|December 1998}}{{vgrelease|NA|December 1998}}{{vgrelease|EU|January 1999}}'''PlayStation'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|November 2, 1999<ref name="release">{{Cite magazine |date=2000-01-22 |title=Game Informer Magazine - News Story |magazine=[Game Informer](/source/Game_Informer) |url=http://gameinformer.com/news/news_story.cfm?NEWS_ID=112 |access-date=2023-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000122225931/http://gameinformer.com/news/news_story.cfm?NEWS_ID=112 |archive-date=2000-01-22 }}</ref>|JP|March 16, 2000|EU|October 20, 2000}}'''Game Boy Color'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|November 2, 1999<ref name="release"/>|JP|March 17, 2000}}'''Nuon'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|July 2000}}'''iOS'''<br />{{vgrelease|WW|August 4, 2008}}
| genre = [Puzzle](/source/Puzzle_video_game)
| modes = [Single-player](/source/Single-player_video_game), [multiplayer](/source/Multiplayer_video_game)
| platforms = [Arcade](/source/Arcade_game), [Game Boy Color](/source/Game_Boy_Color), [PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)), [Neo Geo Pocket Color](/source/Neo_Geo_Pocket_Color), [Nuon](/source/Nuon_(DVD_technology)), [iOS](/source/iOS)
| arcade system = Kaneko Super Nova System
}}

'''''Puzz Loop''''' is an [arcade](/source/arcade_game) [tile-matching](/source/Tile-matching_video_game) [puzzle game](/source/puzzle_video_game) developed by [Mitchell Corporation](/source/Mitchell_Corporation) and released in 1998 in Japan and North America and 1999 in Europe. It was later ported to the [Game Boy Color](/source/Game_Boy_Color), [PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)) and [Samsung](/source/Samsung) [Nuon](/source/Nuon_(DVD_technology)) [DVD](/source/DVD) players under the name '''''Ballistic'''''. The original ''Puzz Loop'' game was also known by this title.  In 2008, publisher [Hudson Soft](/source/Hudson_Soft) released the game on [App Store](/source/App_Store_(iOS)) for the [iPhone](/source/iPhone) and [iPod Touch](/source/iPod_Touch). There was a [Neo Geo Pocket Color](/source/Neo_Geo_Pocket_Color) version of the game initially planned to be published by [SNK](/source/SNK), but cancelled due to bankruptcy of the original incarnation of the company.

The original ''Puzz Loop'' was followed by a sequel, ''[Puzz Loop 2](/source/Puzz_Loop_2)'', in 2001.

==Gameplay==

In the game, marbles of different colors roll down a spiral path towards a central goal, which the player must stop by shooting new marbles using a cannon into the oncoming ones. The marbles disappear if player matches three or more marbles of the same color. In addition, marbles will roll backwards to close gaps if they are the same color as the marble on the other side of the gap, potentially causing chain reactions of clearances and setting back the advancing marbles. Also, collecting bonus items attached to marbles can temporarily slow down the rate the marbles advance or cause all the marbles of the same color to disappear. Once the marbles are pushed over the goal threshold, the game is over.

==Reception==
In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Puzz Loop'' on their March 1, 1999 issue as being the eight most-successful arcade game of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|magazine=[Game Machine](/source/%3Aja%3A%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3)|issue=582|publisher=[Amusement Press, Inc.](/source/%3Aja%3A%E3%82%A2%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E9%80%9A%E4%BF%A1%E7%A4%BE)|date=1 March 1999|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref> ''Game Machine'' also listed ''Puzz Loop 2'' on their April 1, 2001 issue as being the thirteenth most-successful arcade game of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|magazine=[Game Machine](/source/%3Aja%3A%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3)|issue=631|publisher=[Amusement Press, Inc.](/source/%3Aja%3A%E3%82%A2%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E9%80%9A%E4%BF%A1%E7%A4%BE)|date=1 April 2001|page=21|lang=ja}}</ref>

Jeff Lundrigan reviewed the PlayStation version of the game for ''[Next Generation](/source/Next_Generation_(magazine))'', rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "OK, so it's an ultimately derivative action puzzler; but give it a shot and we guarantee you won't want to put it down."<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|last=Lundrigan|first=Jeff|title=Finals|magazine=[Next Generation](/source/Next_Generation_(magazine))|volume=3|issue=1|publisher=[Imagine Media](/source/Future_US)|date=January 2000|page=97}}</ref>
<!-- these can be incorporated as reliable sources 
*''[Daily Radar](/source/Daily_Radar)'' (1999)<ref>http://web.archive.org/200101061125/http://www.dailyradar.com/reviews/game_review_353.html {{Bare URL inline|date=April 2022}}</ref>
*''The Next Level'' (Feb 16, 2000)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-nextlevel.com/reviews/handheld/ballistic |title=The Next Level - Game Review |website=www.the-nextlevel.com |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308203942/http://www.the-nextlevel.com/reviews/handheld/ballistic |archive-date=8 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''games xtreme'' (May 27, 2000)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamesxtreme.com/ps/game/ballistic/review.html | title=Ballistic Reviews &#124; Games Xtreme }}</ref>
*''Consoles Plus'' (Jul, 2000)<ref>http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Consoles%20Plus/consoleplus_numero102/Consoles%20%2B%20102%20-%20Page%20128%20(juillet%20-%20ao%FBt%202000).jpg {{Bare URL image|date=April 2022}}</ref>
*''[Computer and Video Games](/source/Computer_and_Video_Games)'' (Jun, 2000)<ref>https://retrocdn.net/images/2/2c/CVG_UK_223.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=April 2022}}</ref>
*''The Adrenaline Vault'' (Dec 18, 1999)<ref>http://www.avault.com/reviews/psx/ballistic-psx-review/ {{Bare URL inline|date=April 2022}}</ref>
*''[IGN](/source/IGN)'' (Nov 02, 1999)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/162/162540p1.html | title=Ballistic | date=3 November 1999 }}</ref>
*''[All Game Guide](/source/All_Game_Guide)'' (1999)<ref>http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20963&tab=review {{Bare URL inline|date=April 2022}}</ref>
*''[Electric Playground](/source/Electric_Playground)'' (Dec 05, 1999)<ref>{{cite web |url=www.elecplay.com/review_1670.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001205175100/http://www.elecplay.com/review_1670.html |archive-date=2000-12-05  | title=Ballistic - electric playground: Coming at you with news, reviews, previews, and interviews from the world of video gaming. Broadcasting from behind the scenes of the videogame industry }}</ref>
*''[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)'' (Nov 19, 1999)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/ps/puzzle/ballistic/review.html | title=Ballistic Review }}</ref>
*''[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)'' (Jan 28, 2000)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/gbc/puzzle/ballistic/review.html | title=Ballistic Review }}</ref>-->
==Legacy==
===Sequel===
'''''Puzz Loop 2''''' is an [arcade](/source/arcade_game) [puzzle game](/source/Puzzle_video_game) by [Mitchell Corporation](/source/Mitchell_Corporation) released in 2001 on [Capcom](/source/Capcom)'s [CPS-2](/source/CP_System_II) hardware.

Gameplay is exactly the same as its predecessor, with the player needing to deplete all the colored balls before they hit the center of the screen. The most popular feature of ''Puzz Loop 2'' was the two-player versus mode.

===Clones===
The success of ''Puzz Loop'' led to a number of [clones](/source/Video_game_clone) with identical or nearly-identical gameplay from other companies including ''[Zuma](/source/Zuma_(video_game))'', the ''[Luxor](/source/Luxor_(computer_game))'' series, ''[Tumblebugs](/source/Tumblebugs_(video_game))'', ''[Potpourrii](/source/Potpourrii)'', ''Butterfly Escape'', ''Loco'', ''Bonsai Blast'', and ''Bonbon Factory''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game-group/puzz-loop-variants |title=Puzz Loop variants |publisher=[MobyGames](/source/MobyGames) |accessdate=2010-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Games |publisher=JVL Labs |url=http://www.jvlhome.com/games.html |accessdate=2016-09-24 |archive-date=2016-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408055646/http://www.jvlhome.com/games.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mitchell alleges that ''Zuma'', one of the more popular clones, directly infringes on their intellectual property.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insertcredit.com/features/hitofude/ |title=Feature: shokkingu hitofude |publisher=Insertcredit.com |accessdate=2010-02-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615105044/http://www.insertcredit.com/features/hitofude/ |archive-date=2006-06-15 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1797/soapbox_ripping_off_japan__.php?page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227104256/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1797/soapbox_ripping_off_japan__.php?page=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 27, 2008 |title=Soapbox: Ripping Off Japan - Japanese Video Game Copyright Protection & Preservation (Or Lack Thereof) |publisher=Gamasutra |date=2006-10-24 |accessdate=2021-09-20}}</ref> In reply, ''Zuma'' developer [PopCap Games](/source/PopCap_Games) asserts that their game is "not an exact clone", but an elaboration of Mitchell's original idea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003221540 |title=Casual game biz serious about growth |publisher=Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=2010-02-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930232038/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003221540 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref>

Mitchell itself released a version of the game for the [Nintendo DS](/source/Nintendo_DS) called ''[Magnetica](/source/Magnetica)'' in 2006. A [Wii](/source/Wii) version of ''Magnetica'' was released via [WiiWare](/source/WiiWare) in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gonintendo.com/?p=40410 |title=Minna de Puzzleloop/Magnetica WiiWare dated |publisher=Gonintendo.com |date=2008-04-16 |accessdate=2021-09-20}}</ref>

==See also==
* [''Zuma'' (video game)](/source/Zuma_(video_game))

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{KLOV game|id=9165}}

Category:1998 video games
Category:Arcade video games
Category:Capcom games
Category:Game Boy Color games
Category:IOS games
Category:Marble video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Nuon games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:SNK games
Category:Tile-matching video games
Category:Video games developed in Japan

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Puzz Loop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puzz_Loop) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puzz_Loop?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.