SNES Panel de Pon vs. Tetris Attack: Which Version do You Prefer?

[Scotty Scotty]

In October of 1995, Nintendo released "Panel de Pon" for the Super Famicom.

This is a puzzle game similar to "Puyo Puyo" in the sense that you're aiming to deal massive combos against the computer by moving these colorful blocks. It's straightforward, addicting as hell once you've gotten the hang of setting up combos and it is accompanied by one of my all-time favorite SNES soundtracks.

Another aspect about this game that I love is the art style. If the vibrant color scheme didn't catch your eye, then the appealing character designs most certainly will. Lip, as well as the other fairies she encounters, look great and so is the sprite work for each of these characters in the game's "VS" mode. Fans of "Super Smash Bros." may also recognize the flower (er, "stick") that Lip has.

The game was an instant hit in Japan. So naturally, Nintendo decided to localize it for western audiences... but with a twist.

Similar to many other Japanese developed games from the 80s and 90s, the game was reskinned in order to satisfy the American audience. During this process, the game was renamed to "Tetris Attack" (despite it having very little to do with "Tetris" aside from it being a puzzle game with blocks) and every character was replaced with characters from "Yoshi's Island". Some sound clips and music tracks were also changed (For example, Lip's theme was replaced with a remixed version of the Yoshi's Island introductory theme).

This version was released here in America in August of 1996 with a European release following about a couple months later in November. It would also see a Japanese Satellaview release under the name "Yoshi no Panepon".

(A comparison between both "Panel de Pon" and "Tetris Attack")​

Alright, now that my brief history lesson is over, I suppose I should give you guys my opinion on this particular reskin. While I don't hate it, I DO prefer the original Japanese version. Yoshi and company just don't mesh quite as well with the game's world (at least in my opinion). Still, it is not a bad alternative if you (for some reason) don't have access to the Japanese version or the excellent fan translation for it.

Where do you guys stand? Lip or Yoshi?

 

[X y b e r - S k u ll]

Personally, I've always preferred it as Panel de Pon. I just it think it works better as its own series/franchise as opposed to some weird tack on to the Yoshi series. I know fundamentally they're identical in terms of gameplay, but I just think the general aesthetic works much better as Panel de Pon.

 

[plaindillo]

Panel de Pon. I wont knock the pretty visuals and impressive job reskinning the original as a cute yoshi game. But I mean, i find it ultimately lame to reskin a game that was once something unique into something like mario. theres plenty of mario games. panel de pon can shine as it's own thing. i think its cool both versions exist though.

 

[shaggi]

I choose Panel de Pon. It feels strange to see Mario characters in that game.I like Yoshi as character but personally i think he won't fit in that game at all.

 

[WallachiaResident98]

 

[otogirisou]

Panel de Pon no contest

 

[Rocket2049]

it's not tetris at all and actually how i ended up owning the game thinking it was tetris
still love it though, just feel like i got tricked lol
playing through "panel de pon" version later was interesting to say the least.

 

[Ikagura]

Panel de Pon because I prefer non-reskined version of games (like Decap Attack and Magical Hat).

Also the name Tetris Attack is misleading and as much as I appreciate Yoshi's Island's aesthetic I always felt like I played a reskined game (like Kirby Avalanche and Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine vs Puyo Puyo).

Also Yoshi already got his fair share of puzzle games with Yoshi's Cookie and that weird NES puzzle game that was like Hatris

Yoshi (video game) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Yousef Yousef]

No way in any blue hell would I pick Tetris attack when the original PDP is literally right there.

Also the name Tetris Attack is misleading

That still trips me up even now, even more frustrating when people smudge together different puzzle games that have nothing in common, like when some retro reviews try to describe Puyo Puyo as being “Tetris but you do this and that…”, a little clunky, methinks.

 

[Ikagura]

No way in any blue hell would I pick Tetris attack when the original PDP is literally right there.

That still trips me up even now, even more frustrating when people smudge together different puzzle games that have nothing in common, like when some retro reviews try to describe Puyo Puyo as being “Tetris but you do this and that…”, a little clunky, methinks.

I think match-3 tile games should never be called "Tetris-inspired" even if they're falling block ones like Puyo and Columns.

They regretted the name Tetris Attack

https://www.destructoid.com/e3-09-tetris-ceo-regrets-tetris-attack/

 

[Scotty Scotty]

it's not tetris at all and actually how i ended up owning the game thinking it was tetris
still love it though, just feel like i got tricked lol

Apparently, Henk Rodgers, co-founder of the Tetris Company, went on record saying that he regrets giving Nintendo permission to use the Tetris name when marketing this game.

 

[Ikagura]

Apparently, Henk Rodgers, co-founder of the Tetris Company, went on record saying that he regrets giving Nintendo permission to use the Tetris name when marketing this game.

And probably why nowadays the rules about Tetris games are even more strict (which is why the Magical Tetris Challenge and Tetris Battle Gaiden couldn't really be made nowadays).

But let's not digress too much.

I still wish to see a Panel de Pon Versus Puyo Puyo since both are tile matching puzzle games (Tetris was too advantaged in PPT).

 

[Advil Lavs]

I like how both versions look but I kinda wish Lip go to star in more games, maybe something else other than a puzzle game and a cameo in Captain Rainbow

 

[Ikagura]

There was a Dr. Mario + Panel de Pon compilation on the GBA, I liked it but kinda felt dry because no fairies. The DS game at least had a cool cyberspace aesthetic going on.

Nintendo Puzzle Collection's highlight was Panel de Pon (which is actually the N64 game ported on it) and I liked Pokémon Puzzle Challenge on the GBC more than Puzzle League on the N64.

I have the romhack to put back Panel de Pon on the GBC at least.

 

[-------]

I think Tertis Attack is my thing.