Cosmo Gang the Puzzle
A falling-block puzzle game with aliens and spheres.
Cosmo Gang the Puzzle is a 1992 falling block puzzle video game developed and published by Namco for arcades. It is the third game in the Cosmo Gang series, following Cosmo Gang the Video. The game was later ported to the Super Famicom and reworked as Pac-Attack for international markets.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Namco
- Director
- Kohji Kenjoh
- Series
- Cosmo Gang
- Platforms
- Arcade, Super Famicom, mobile phone
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Cosmo Gang the Puzzle is a falling tile puzzle game similar to Tetris and Puyo Puyo. Players drop descending blocks and pink-colored aliens called Jammers into a vertical playfield. Blocks are cleared by forming complete horizontal rows of six. Jammers cannot be cleared by rows; instead, a blue sphere with an arrow indicating its direction is placed on or near them, defeating any Jammers in its path. The sphere disappears when no Jammers remain. Defeating Jammers fills a meter at the screen's center; when full, a star drops and clears all Jammers beneath it. The game ends when objects reach the top. A multiplayer mode replaces Jammers with white Pipopapo-Tai robots. In this mode, clearing more Jammers than the opponent causes enemies to fall onto the opponent's side, and the game ends when a player's screen fills.
Development
Development of Cosmo Gang the Puzzle kicked off right after Cosmo Gang the Video wrapped up. Much of the same crew returned, with Koji Miki directing and several artists on board. The shift from a shoot 'em up to a falling-tile puzzle game came from the success of Tetris and Hatris; puzzle titles were easy to market thanks to their simple, flexible appeal in arcades and on home consoles. Production started in mid-1992 on a tight deadline. To speed things up, the team reused and tweaked graphics from The Video. One artist found it tough to keep the characters' cute look while working within a 16x16 pixel grid. Though the team aimed for a beginner-friendly design, Namco executives pushed for higher difficulty to suit arcade players. Mie Arakawa composed the soundtrack, making sure it kept the series' silly, comedic tone.
Release
Namco released Cosmo Gang the Puzzle in November 1992 for the Namco NA-1 arcade system. A Super Famicom port followed on February 26, 1993, which included a Genius Book detailing strategies. Namco considered an overseas release but decided against it due to the Cosmo Gang characters' lack of popularity outside Japan. Instead, Namco Hometek retooled the game into Pac-Attack. Two mobile phone versions were released in Japan: one for i-Mode in 2005 and another for Yahoo! Keitai in 2007. The Super Famicom version appeared on the Wii Virtual Console in 2008, followed by the arcade version in 2009. A retooling with Katamari Damacy characters, Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy, was released for DSiWare in 2009. The Super Famicom version was re-released on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2015 and outside Japan via Nintendo Classics in September 2024. Hamster Corporation released the arcade version for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in January 2024 as part of Arcade Archives.
Reception
Cosmo Gang the Puzzle was only moderately successful in arcades, receiving the 16th Annual Hit Game award from Gamest based on reader vote. A Sinclair User writer praised its addictive quality and mechanics, calling it a solid take on the Tetris formula despite lacking originality. For the Super Famicom version, critics often found the gameplay less gratifying than other puzzle games. Famitsu's four reviewers felt it lacked the refinement of Puyo Puyo and the simplicity of Tetris. Andy Lowe of GamesMaster said it had more involved gameplay than Tetris but lacked substance and features. Super Play's Matt Bielby criticized the difficulty as too easy and the gameplay as tedious, calling it cupboard-fodder. Both Lowe and Bielby found the price too high for the content. Critics appreciated the game's novelty and concepts. Lowe noted it had a wider scope than other Tetris clones and featured devilishly strategic touches. Bielby found its depth innovative. Famitsu and Super Famicom Magazine liked the multiple gamemodes, with Famitsu praising the Vs. Mode for its relaxing pace. Lowe and Bielby enjoyed the puzzle mode for its strategy and depth. The graphics, character animations, and soundtrack received praise. Super Famicom Magazine concluded that Puzzle was a nice addition to the console's library, outclassing the arcade original with new features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Cosmo Gang the Puzzle?
Cosmo Gang the Puzzle was directed by Kohji Kenjoh.
Is Cosmo Gang the Puzzle single-player or multiplayer?
Cosmo Gang the Puzzle offers single-player and multiplayer play.
More in Namco Games of the 1990s 1-24
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