Puzznic

{{Short description|1989 video game}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2012}} {{Infobox video game |title = Puzznic |image = Puzznic Cover.jpg |caption = Home computer cover art |developer = {{collapsible list | title = Taito | Taito Animation 20 (JP Arcade, Towns) ZX Games (Windows) Software Creations (Amiga) }} |publisher = {{collapsible list | title = Taito | Taito Ocean Software Altron IGS Ving Games }} |engine = |platforms =Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Game Boy, PC-98, NES, PC Engine, ZX Spectrum, PlayStation, X68000, FM Towns |released = {{collapsible list | title = October 1989 | '''Arcade''' {{vgrelease|JP|October 1989<ref>{{cite web |title=Puzznic |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M731786 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |language=ja |access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>|WW|Late 1989}} '''Amiga, C64, CPC, MSX, ST, Spectrum''' {{vgrelease|EU|1990}}'''FM Towns''' {{vgrelease|JP|1990}}'''Game Boy''' {{vgrelease|JP|1990}}'''PC-98''' {{vgrelease|JP|1990}}'''PC Engine''' {{vgrelease|JP|1990}}'''X68000''' {{vgrelease|JP|1990}}'''NES''' {{vgrelease|NA|November 1990<ref name="NintendoList">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=August 9, 2015 |title=NES Games |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014 }}</ref>|PAL|April 25, 1991|JP|July 19, 1991<ref>{{Cite web | title=パズニック (FC)の関連情報 {{!}} ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com | url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/20099/ | access-date=2025-08-26 | website=www.famitsu.com}}</ref>}}'''MS-DOS''' {{vgrelease|NA|1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/merced-sun-star/126501922/Newspapers.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618111732/https://www.newspapers.com/article/merced-sun-star/126501922/Newspapers.com|title=Taito unveils new products|newspaper=Merced Sun-Star|page=23|archivedate=June 18, 2023|date=June 7, 1990|accessdate=June 16, 2023|via=Newspapers.com|url-status=live}}</ref>}}'''PlayStation''' {{vgrelease|JP|March 22, 2001|EU|February 27, 2003|NA|May 12, 2003}} }} |genre = Puzzle |modes = Single-player |arcade system = Taito L System }}

{{nihongo|'''''Puzznic'''''|パズニック|Pazunikku}} is a tile-matching video game developed and released by Taito for arcades in 1989. It was converted to the Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, PC Engine, X68000, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, and ZX Spectrum between 1990 and 1991. Home computer ports were handled by Ocean Software; the 2003 PlayStation port was handled by Altron. The arcade and FM Towns{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} versions have adult content, showing a naked woman at the end of the level; this was removed in the international arcade release (but not the US one{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}) and other home ports{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}. The completed Apple IIGS port was never officially released, but subsequently leaked, after Taito America shut down.<ref>https://www.whatisthe2gs.apple2.org.za/puzznic.html</ref>

''Puzznic'' bears strong graphical and some gameplay similarities to Taito's own ''Flipull/Plotting''.

==Gameplay== ''Puzznic'' is a game which challenges players to clear blocks by matching identical patterns in straight lines. What starts out simple becomes increasingly complex as block movement is hindered by solid barriers and shifting platforms. Players can choose from multiple puzzle paths after the initial levels, ensuring that getting stuck does not halt progress altogether.<ref name=the_one/>

==Reception== {{Video game reviews | rev1 = ''The One'' | rev1Score = 88%<ref name=the_one>{{cite web |url= https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-26 |title= Puzznic |type= journal |date= November 1990 |publisher= EMAP |pages = 108 |language=en}}</ref> }}

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Puzznic'' on their December 1, 1989 issue as being the fourth-most-successful table arcade unit of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=369|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 December 1989|page=29|lang=ja}}</ref>

The game was ranked the 34th best game of all time by ''Amiga Power''.<ref>Amiga Power magazine issue 0, Future Publishing, May 1991</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041016105629/http://mudduckgames.com/games/games-puzznic.html ''Puzznic''] at Mud Duck Productions * [http://www.puzztrix.de/puzznicstory.shtml History of ''Puzznic''] * {{WoS game|id=0003947}} * [http://www.puzznic.com Website puzznic.com]

Category:1989 video games Category:Amiga games Category:Apple IIGS games Category:Amstrad CPC games Category:Altron games Category:Arcade video games Category:Atari ST games Category:Commodore 64 games Category:Eroge Category:FM Towns games Category:Game Boy games Category:Information Global Service games Category:MSX games Category:NEC PC-9801 games Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games Category:PlayStation (console) games Category:Puzzle video games Category:X68000 games Category:TurboGrafx-16 games Category:Ocean Software games Category:Taito arcade games Category:Taito L System games Category:ZX Spectrum games Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Single-player video games