History VideoGame / MagicalDrop

* SpeedRun: ''III'' gives out a time bonus for finishing off a CPU opponent quickly. Though this may seem like the optimal method of gaining a high score in Challenge mode, it actually isn't; the scoring formula changes once a chain gets large enough and pays out way more than even a [[CurbStompBattle 5-10 second bonus]].

* {{Gainaxing}}: In addition to World's memetic victory animation, Empress's and Judgement's chests also bounce in their animations. The game generally gets slapped with a Teen [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingBoard ESRB]] rating precisely because of this.

** The Empress as well. A [[HellBentForLeather Leather clad]] FemmeFatale with a NoblewomansLaugh, [[{{Gainaxing}} bouncy breasts]] [[WhipItGood and a whip]]...

Compare ''Money Puzzle Exchanger'', a Neo Geo game that is ''Magical Drop'' [-[[RecycledInSpace WITH COINS AND MAGICAL GIRLS]]-]. So much so that Data East actually took its developer to court.

* ''Magical Drop VI'': Published by Forever Entertainment, the sixth mainline entry is currently slated for release on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

* ''Magical Drop VI'': Published by Forever Entertainment, the sixth mainline entry is currently slated for release on the UsefulNotes/NintenoSwitch.

Forever Entertainment, a studio known for ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon: Remake'', has obtained a license from current rightsholder G-Mode to develop a new ''Magical Drop'' game. Nothing is known about the project beyond a mention at a 2020 investor's meeting.

* WelcomeToCorneria: Each character only has one or two pre-battle lines in the arcade version of ''III''. This is taken UpToEleven in the non-Japanese versions, where there are only a handful of pre-battle lines in general regardless of the characters involved.

* ''Magical Drop VI'': Forever Entertainment, a studio known for ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon: Remake'', has obtained a license from current rightsholder G-Mode to develop a new ''Magical Drop'' game. Nothing is known about the project beyond a mention at a 2020 investor's meeting.

* DependingOnTheWriter: Due to the series' checkered localization history, the way the characters are presented vary wildly. Data East consistently and aggressively [[CutAndPasteTranslation scrubbed any dialogue that implied that the cast has characterization beyond being eager tournament participants]] in their in-house localizations, the Aeon Genesis translation of the Super Famicom port of ''II'' gives the cast a variety of verbal quirks (such as Fool meowing, Star being a ValleyGirl, and High Pristess speaking in old English), ''Magical Drop Pocket'' and the Swing! Entertainment translation of [=PSX=] ''III'' are more direct translations that only translate a few of the characters' quirks, and ''V'' plays with the characters' personalities based on what the developers read on the ''Magical Drop'' wiki of the time.

* ZettaiRyouiki: Fortune in V sports grade A.

** The World, who is not only Ms. Fanservice, but, ironically enough, the ribbon that strategically covers her takes away from a more accurate representation.

* ContemptibleCover: [[http://i.imgur.com/lwEHsD5.jpg The cover of the European PSX version of III]], the "highlight" being an adult (and busty) version of the canonically ''7-year-old'' Daughter Strength. The left side of the cover would be reused for the PAL version of the Game Boy Color ''Magical Drop''.

Like [[VideoGame/{{Tetris}} a certain other wildly-popular puzzle game]], ''Magical Drop'' has roots in Russia: Data East employees came across a compilation of small-scale Russian computer games and noticed a puzzle game by the name of ''Drop-Drop''. ''Drop-Drop'' is a simple affair where columns of tiles descend from the ceiling of the playfield, and players attempt to clear the field by grabbing and tossing individual tiles until several with the same picture are lined up vertically. Seeing potential in this obscure DOS game, Data East obtained a license and put their own spin on the title to create their entry into the competitive puzzle subgenre kickstarted by ''[[VideoGame/PuyoPuyo Puyo Puyo Tsu]]''. Instead of as many as seven different unique pieces, there are four color balloons and "special" field-clearing balloons that correspond to each color. Instead of ''Drop-Drop[='=]s'' minimalist aesthetic, the game is drenched in TarotMotifs, with a cutesy cast similar to ''Puyo Puyo[='=]s'' wacky stable of dungeon crawler characters. Instead of solo play, the game is a battle against the CPU or another player.

* {{Gainaxing}}: In addition to World's memetic victory animation, Empress's and Judgement's chests also bounce in their animations. The game generally gets slapped with a Teen [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingsBoard ESRB]] rating precisely because of this.

* UpdatedRerelease: The first ''Magical Drop'' received one named ''Magical Drop Plus 1!'' that introduces an "endless" single-player mode. The English version, ''Chain Reaction'', is based on ''Plus 1!'' rather than the original.

* PragmaticAdaptation: The Super Famicom ports of the first two games use six columns in their playfields instead of the arcade version's seven, as the only other option would be to shrink the puzzle pieces in order to fit the console's resolution.

* LuckBasedMission: Dedicated ''Magical Drop'' fans have discovered that there is actually [[DownplayedTrope very little]] randomness involved in the competitive modes. The intricate attack formula introduced in ''Magical Drop 3'' appears to be a way to make damage lines far less predictable.

** The Empress is a clever interpretation; her default, dominatrix persona is a representation of the ''reversed'' arcana, which twists motherly love into smothering and controlling. Breaking her free from that corruption in II will revert her back to the motherly persona she originally had, associated with the upright arcana. Her personality swap is also integrated into her victory animation in III.

** The Empress as well. A [[HellBentForLeather Leather clad]] FemmeFatale with a NoblewomansLaugh, [[{{Gainaxing}} bouncy breasts]] [[WhipItGood and a whip]]... Can we really deny that?

* DynamicDifficulty: In addition to the AntiFrustrationFeature mentioned above, ''Magical Drop III'' attempts this by sending the player to different opponents based on their clear time. We say "attempt" because [[DifficultySpike you have to face]] [[WakeUpCallBoss Hermit regardless of what branch you're on]].

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: In higher difficulties, your opponent moves via ''teleportation''. The game openly admits to this in V.
** ''III'' in particular absolutely ''loathes'' the idea of a NoDeathRun. On the standard difficulty, the game makes the player face 2-4 characters that are almost mathematically-impossible to beat without [[AntiFrustrationFeatures dumbing down the AI via continuing]], with the exact number varying based on how well you've played up to that point. It doesn't help that three of those four characters are [[PurposefullyOverpowered ridiculous regardless of their AI]].

A series of color-matching puzzle games created by the now-defunct Creator/DataEast. The original game was released in arcades in 1995. The second and third games were created for the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo MVS system; ''Magical Drop III'' was Data East's final UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame. The fourth game, ''Magical Drop F'', was a UsefulNotes/PlayStation exclusive released in 1999. ''Magical Drop V'', developed by Golgoth Studio, was released on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} in November 15th, 2012.

''Magical Drop'' games put far more emphasis on characters than other puzzle games that make it to the U.S. territory. While other puzzle games have only small animated window dressing around the playfield, if they have characters at all, Magical Drop Uses characters as the background, and in VS. mode, each has several animations to coincide with the action and each even has unique voice samples (At least in the Japanese version).

The characters also control what special moves are available to the player and what chains are needed to execute these special moves. These moves are typically based on the Tarot Card the character is themed for. For example, The Chariot has offensive style special moves, especially in two player. In contrast The Empress is mostly defensive and The Fool's special move does nothing except grant extra points!

Another is the lenient combo system. While other games of this type such as ''[[VideoGame/PanelDePon Tetris Attack]]'' check to make sure that one group of pieces is DIRECTLY responsible for another matching up before issuing any kind of bonus or streak, ''Magical Drop'' is like ''VideoGame/{{Klax}}'' in that ANY new match is counted into the "chain" until the animation is done and all parts resting on the vanishing blocks fall into place.

However, easy chains do not make this game easy. The game accounts for and even DEMANDS it. Depending on the mode and difficulty, the game will not last long without near-endless chains.

In January 2021, a Japanese gaming news site reported that Forever Entertainment, known for ''VideoGame/PanzerDragoon: Remake'', has acquired a license from rightsholder G-Mode to develop ''Magical Drop 6''.

!Start!

* SequelDifficultySpike: Not only does the AI in ''Magical Drop III'' start [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard bending the rules]] sooner than its predecessor[[note]]Teleporting is exclusive to [[TrueFinalBoss Black Pierrot]] in II's default difficulty, but the AI will start using it much earlier in III[[/note]], the fact that less balloons are sent in general means that it'll take much more to down the opponent. ''Magical Drop F'' [[SequelDifficultyDrop goes in the opposite direction]] by downplaying character-specific traits outside of {{Limit Break}}s, reducing the playfield by a column, and using much simpler color patterns. But it is played straight again in ''Magical Drop V'' (at least after the final update), as despite the rampant ArtificialStupidity, attack power is nerfed so much that it takes expert-level chaining to win matches via clogging the opponent's field.

** The Empress as well. A [[HellBentForLeather Leather clad]] FemmeFatale with a NoblewomansLaugh, [[GainaxBounce bouncy breasts]] [[WhipItGood and a whip]]... Can we really deny that?

** The Empress is a clever interpretation; her default, dominatrix persona is a representation of the ''reversed'' arcana. In II, it is revealed she has a nurturing and motherly persona as well, which is the upright arcana.