Puyo Puyo~n | March 4, 1999

 

Puyo Puyo~n is a falling block puzzle game released by Sega for the Dreamcast on March 4, 1999. It is the fourth installment in the Puyo Puyo series, with the title combining "Puyo Puyo" and "yon" (meaning "four"). The title logo prominently features the number "4." Abbreviations include "Puyoyon" or "Yo~n."

In the same year, it was ported to Nintendo 64 as Puyo Puyo~n Party and to PlayStation as Puyo Puyo~n: Karakun to Issho. In 2000, a heavily reworked version exclusively for Game Boy Color, titled Poketto Puyo Puyo~n, was released. Furthermore, since 2006, it has been released as a mobile game bundled with Sega's Columns (1990). In 2017, the PlayStation version became available through the PlayStation Store's game archives.

Developed by Compile, Puyo Puyo~n introduces a "special skill" concept that affects the player's field, as well as a "stage" concept that activates certain effects during matches. However, this system was not carried over to subsequent titles. Unlike previous installments, this game was not ported to arcade or Windows platforms, and the single-player mode could only be played from the 1P side (left side).

During battles, character selection and individual chain voice lines were retained, but the screen format was revamped, featuring a small character in the center performing detailed actions based on chains and damage. Cut-in animations, which are single illustrations, occur during special skill activations or victories. Unlike previous titles, where characters had similar effects when clearing Puyos, each character in this installment has distinct abilities and effects. The actions of the Kavanku crew, present in previous games, were displayed only on the Dreamcast version via the Visual Memory Unit, and were largely removed from other platforms, except for Toko Ton Puyo Puyo. The demo for "Puyo Puyo Alone" has also been changed from the previous versions to feature a larger illustration rather than a detailed animation of modified characters.

This game was released after Compile filed for bankruptcy in March 1998 and sold the intellectual property rights of the Puyo Puyo series to Sega (later Sega Holdings). Thus, Sega has held the copyright from the beginning.

Each character can use a "special skill" that grants unique effects on their field. The effect of the special skill varies by character, and each character has its own unique traits.

The "SP" required to use special skills is displayed in the center of the screen with a number and character face icons. When there is at least one face icon (meaning SP is 1 or more), players can activate the special skill by pressing the designated button while manipulating falling Puyos. Using a special skill consumes one face icon and decreases the SP by one. If there are no face icons or the icons are not lit, the special skill cannot be used.

At the start of the match, SP starts at 1.00 (one use) and can be increased by clearing Puyos, up to a maximum of 3.00 (three uses). The amount by which SP increases when clearing Puyos differs for each character’s special skills, and the increase rate gradually decreases each time a special skill is used during a match.