History VideoGame / PanelDePon

[[caption-width-right:350:“Now, let’s go play together... under the clearest of [[VideoGame/YoshisIsland blue skies.]]"]]

Gameplay is simple. You have a screen full of differently colored blocks (also marked by different shapes). You can swap the blocks freely horizontally, but you cannot swap them vertically. Get three or more of the same block in a row, and they vanish. Get more than 3 in a row, clear multiple sets of 3 at once, or create a chain -- the blocks that fall in to replace the ones that you just cleared form more sets of 3 or more -- and you get more points. However, the stack of blocks is constantly growing, and if it reaches the top of the screen, you lose. While a simple formula, it lends itself well to many variants: Play until you lose, score as many points as possible in a limited time, clear all the blocks on screen with limited moves, face off against a CPU to see who loses first (with unclearable "garbage" to speed up the process)...

The original ''Panel de Pon'' came out for the Super Famicom in 1995. The plot, [[ExcusePlot such as it was]], starred a flower fairy named Lip trying to rescue her fellow fairy friends from monsters, who are using evil magic to possess them and flood their homeland with an endless rainstorm.

Since it was believed that no self-respecting Western gamer would buy a game featuring 'girly girls' in those days, instead of [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore roughing the marketing up]] like ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'', Nintendo decided to do the infamous palette and name swap, the same way they did to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2''. The US version was {{dolled up|Installment}} as ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}} Attack'' in 1996 with identical gameplay but with a ''very'' superficial ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' theme[[note]]much of the original game remains intact visually, with only character art, the title screen, and a few musical pieces being changed[[/note]], a few extra options and character profiles, and ''[[InNameOnly nothing to do with Tetris at all.]]''[[note]]but since Yoshi had starred in previous falling blocks games like ''Yoshi'' and ''Yoshi's Cookie'', the idea of using ''Yoshi's Island'' characters is not too far-fetched[[/note]] This version was simultaneously released for the Super NES and Game Boy, and was also brought back to Japan as ''Yoshi no Panepon''.

* SirensAreMermaids: Referenced by Neris, a mermaid-like fairy whose name means "siren" backwards.

Since it was believed that no self-respecting Western gamer would buy a game featuring 'girly girls' in those days, instead of [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore roughing the marketing up]] like ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'', Nintendo decided to do the infamous palette and name swap, the same way they did to ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2''. The US version was {{dolled up|Installment}} as ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}} Attack'' in 1996 with identical gameplay but with a ''very'' superficial ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' theme[[note]]much of the original game remains intact visually, with only character art, the title screen, and a few musical pieces being changed[[/note]], a few extra options and character profiles, and ''nothing to do with Tetris at all.''[[note]]but since Yoshi had starred in previous falling blocks games like ''Yoshi'' and ''Yoshi's Cookie'', the idea of using ''Yoshi's Island'' characters is not too far-fetched[[/note]] This version was simultaneously released for the Super NES and Game Boy, and was also brought back to Japan as ''Yoshi no Panepon''.

[[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/o0256022414133110657.png]]
[[caption-width-right:256:“Now, let’s go play together... under the clearest of [[VideoGame/YoshisIsland blue skies.]]"]]

* BalefulPolymorph:
** Mangari, Mingiri and Hindari from the ''Nintendo Puzzle Collection'' version can transform fairies into things like dolls, though they will quickly shake it off.
** [[spoiler:Kain]] is a victim of this, first appearing as [[spoiler:Lion]].

* AmbidextrousSprite: They switch sides depending on whether player one or two chooses them but if a character is holding something but everything will be in the same position regardless.

* ScoreMultiplier: Gameplay is highly reliant on combo-based multipliers, as the game moves at a relentless pace and requires such chains both to keep up and to keep the opponent at bay.

* FinalBoss: ''Pokémon Puzzle League'' has Giovanni at the end, with his speed at level 45 and in 3-D. Unlike the FinalBossPreview with Cassidy and Butch, you have to beat him in order to progress any further.

* CryCute: Both Lip and Furil have this going on in the GameOver screens of their respective ''Panel de Pon'' games -- looking up at the player with tearful expressions and blocks falling down around them -- [[SlapstickKnowsNoGender some dropping onto their heads]] -- as [[SimpleScoreOfSadness sad music-box versions of their theme music]] play.

* DarkReprise: Losing in ''Panel de Pon'' has a [[https://youtu.be/UAXQR1VRrUA sad music box rendition]] of the normally-upbeat [[https://youtu.be/C-SJElsFT5Y Lip's theme]] on the GameOver screen -- punctuated by [[CryCute Lip herself crying.]]

* NintendoHard:
** Making chains (especially "active"/"skill" chains), which are the basis of huge attacks and high scores, is very difficult.
** Try getting a "x?" (x14 and higher) chain in single-player Endless Mode! (The game acknowledges how many "x?" chains you made after the Game Over screen though, along with the other combo / chain counts.)
** Beating [[FinalBoss Corderia]]/[[DolledUpInstallment Bowser]] on Hardest mode is exceedingly difficult.
** Corderia/Bowser can't even be fought ''on Normal'' in the Super NES version. You have to be on Hard or Hardest to face them. The same is true for Lance in ''Pokémon Puzzle Challenge'' and Gary's rematch in ''Pokémon Puzzle League'', and Mewtwo in the latter requires no less than Very Hard.

* AdaptationalBadass: Richie in ''Pokémon Puzzle League'' goes from the first trainer who managed to end Ash's league run to the first member of the Elite Four.

* AmbidextrousSprite: They switch sides depending on whether player one or two chooses them but if a character is holding something but everything will be in the same position regardless.

* AutoPilotTutorial: Usually optional.

* BlushSticker: Pupuri has permanent pink cheek marks.
* BonusBoss: ''Pokémon Puzzle League'' has Cassidy and Butch, who are faced between level 3 and level 4 of Spa Service Mode. The speed of their stage starts at level 45 (close to as fast as possible), and you only get one chance to beat them. However, [[TheBattleDidntCount the outcome of the level is irrelevant]], since the story continues as if nothing happened whether you win or lose. The only thing you miss by losing is a short anime cutscene where Cassidy and Butch get arrested. In addition, they're a FinalBossPreview, since Giovanni also has his speed at level 45 (although you have to beat him to progress, and you can try as many times as you need to).

* TheDragon: [[ADogNamedDog Dragon]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent a literal fire breathing dragon]] to Thanatos. [[spoiler:(He is an illusion.)]]

* EasyModeMockery: The "story" modes of the SNES/GB versions wouldn't let you fight the "final" enemies on Easy. You don't even get credits -- just an AWinnerIsYou congrats screen. If you stick around to see if it has any {{Easter Egg}}s... [[spoiler:it yells at you for thinking you could find anything like that after beating Easy mode]].

* SongsInTheKeyOfPanic: As your (or your opponent's) well starts to approach the top of the screen, the music will change to a "panic" variant, warning you of possible danger.

* ThisCannotBe: If you clear Tetris Attack 1P VS. mode on Hard or Hardest and Yoshi never suffers a defeat, Bowser is absolutely ''baffled'' that Yoshi trounced him so badly.

* RememberTheNewGuy: If they don't appear in the anime, some of the opposing trainers in ''Pokémon Puzzle League'' have their teams based on the Pokémon they use in the RPGs. But never have the Team Rocket trio ever used a Golbat in any continuity.

* FinalDeath: In story mode, if you lose while playing as anyone but the main character, they're gone from your party for good.

* IGotThis: After being freed from the spell that turned them against her, the other fairies will insist Lip let them fight the monsters responsible for her. Whether she consents or not is up to the player.

** ''Pok&eacute';mon Puzzle League'''s Easy mode has you winning against Giovanni for the Earth Badge, and his music and quotes have definite final boss vibes about them, only to be treated to no credits and a shot of a bunch of the series' iconic Pokemon dancing. Starting on "Normal", your next opponent, Ritchie, basically says "Giovanni hasn't even ''seen'' the Puzzle Master!" and reveals you're pretty much only a little over halfway by fighting Giovanni, and you don't even see the ending or the credits until "Hard".

** ''Pok&eacute';mon Puzzle League'''s Easy mode has you winning against Giovanni for the Earth Badge, and his music and quotes have definite final boss vibes about them, only to be treated to no credits and a shot of a bunch of the series' iconic Pokemon dancing. Starting on "Normal", your next opponent, Ritchie, basically says "Giovanni hasn't even ''seen'' the Puzzle Master!" and reveals you're pretty much only a little over halfway by fighting Giovanni, and you don't even see the ending or the credits until "Hard".

** The original Japanese name, which translates to "Pong in the Panel," also doesn't make sense. ''VideoGame/{{Pong}}'' isn't about trying to clear a series of blocks in a well, it is about trying to shoot a ball into the opponent's field, more similar to tennis than this game.

* SomeDexterityRequired: Unlike most other {{Match Three Game}}s like ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'', this one allows the player to manipulate their stack while a chain is going on; making new chains this way is called a Skill Chain. One might thing this is simply an AntiFrustrationFeature, but it is in fact ''required'' for high level play, even outside of the competitive scene; not knowing how to Skill Chain on the fly is a good way to get kicked around by the CPU and especially lifebar-based bosses.

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: A subtle in-game example; the ''Panel de Pon'' garbage blocks are dependent on the character who created them and most have cheerful smiles on them. In ''Tetris Attack'', the garbage blocks are uniform and all have angry, grimacing faces on them. Likewise, [[AdaptationalJerkass Yoshi is much more of a snarky trash-talker]] than usual in ''Tetris Attack'' -- especially compared to the tomboyish but much friendlier Lip -- not unlike Kirby's similarly ruder and more smart-alecky MascotWithAttitude portrayal in ''VideoGame/KirbysAvalanche''.

* LostWoods: Thiana's stage, though it's pretty pleasant looking with the numerous fruit-bearing trees. The music's pleasant too, until someone starts to lose.

* SuperNotDrowningSkills: Even the non-water fairies seems just fine in Elias, Neris, Cecil and Nathia's stages, which are submerged.

* FinalDeathMode: In story mode, if you lose while playing as anyone but the main character, they're gone from your party for good.