Then you'll like COIN PUZZLE MOUJIYA!
This here is a great little gem for the Saturn.
I know 3 people who own this game, and all 3 like it very much.
Make that 4 now.
CPM is 1996 Virgin/FPS puzzler that features coins -- yen.
The object is to match up yen, combine them and, ultimately, make a 1000 bill to make it disappear for good.
Those cats are variations of "Maneki Neko." They're those infamous cats with their paw raised... the "good fortune" creatures for our Asian friends. You might have seen them around at the local mall, an Asian restaurant, etc.
http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/~mono93/cat/english/what_e.html
There are 6 different coins:
1 (blue)
5 (yellow)
10 (red)
50 (green)
100 (magenta-ish)
500 (purple)
Just like Money Puzzle Exchanger. EXCEPT instead of Magical Drop style, it's Puyo Puyo style. Two coins drop at a time. Also, CPM won't cost you an arm and leg! Always a plus, right?
Form 5 blue ones to get 1 yellow one, as 1+1+1+1+1 = 5. And 5 is represented by yellow. Not only did you clear up some clutter but you have bigger money on your playing field now in a more accessible manner.
(you cannot add a blue yen [$1] to a green one [$50] and expect anything to happen as it is... however, convert the 1 to 5... then 10... then 50... it touchs and wham 100!)
Confused? Do not be. It's simple once you get the hang of it. And addicting.
Yellow + Yellow = 5+5 which equals 10. (you now have a single red coin, representing $10)
Got it? No? Here's some visuals for ya:
notice the yellow ($5)
now it's consolidated in one 10 yen (red)!
And so forth.
You also get a cat head icon that operates as the "clear all" on whichever yen you wish to drop it on. The thing I like about this is that as it descends, whichever block it currently targets, all respective blocks of that will light up... giving you eye-candy to contemplate where to drop the almighty clear-all icon.
Then again, when the game's speed picks up this is void and null.
BTW, HOW you get a clear-all icon is NOT random. There's an empty cat body at the bottom of the screen, and as you score points it fills up. Once full it'll flash and your next icon is the clear-all.
Cool huh?
Yes, think of it like the power bars found early on in fighting games. (e.g. SSF II Turbo, Darkstalkers, World Heroes Perfect)
Most (if not all) puzzlers the clear-all thing is assigned randomly, whereas CPM awards advance players and punishes rookies.
There's also another cat icon... this one turns all coins of the same color into 500 yen! How convenient. Observe:
Let the transformation commence!
notice the cat grinning... he clearly gets some sick pleasure from this experience...
Transformed into 500 yen! Now you're ready to kick some serious CAT ASS!
There's a VS. CPU mode, a VS. mode and a "stand-alone" mode. I suggest starting on the standalone to get the kinks of gameplay.
Graphics is like any other puzzle game almost -- colorful and bright. Though CPM isn't quite as bright as say, Puzzle Fighter. Still gets the job done though.
Gameplay is, simply, fun and frenetic. Strategy is much involved, with careful planning and trying to nail off some huge combos. It's cool how, say for example you got four 100's and need one more 100 to make a 500 coin.
Your next dropped coins include a 5 and 50.
Rats right?
Not so fast.
Simply drop the 50 on the 100.
Next batch... say you get another 50. Drop the 50 on the previously placed 50 and you made a 100!
Now that 100 touches the four 100's and wah-lah! One 500 coin.
You can visualize the chain ability of this system as we speak, I bet. Well you can, can't you?
This combining and consolidating feature of CPM is what makes it stand out from the crowd. Not to mention what makes it so fun and refreshing.
Music is typical puzzle affair. It can get annoying but it also can be kind of catchy and bob along to the gameplay. You know how it is.
No complains about the controls -- a critical must in puzzle games.
In the VS. modes, if you get chains you'll send over to the opponent's side some debris they must contend with. Typical stuff.
lower left, two 500's have just turned into a 1000 bill and disappeared. Our cat friend is so happy! But wait! Here come cat thieves to spoil the party
Chaining in this game feels great. Some puzzle games you chain and feel "Eh" but in CPM you do feel "cooooooool." So far I've hit several 4-chainers and even a few 5-chainers; it feels sweet lemme tell ya!
My only complaint is the VS. human mode. After one battle you're whisked away to the main screen. A la Saturn Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Unlike Saturn MKT however, the loading in CPM is quick as a cat (no pun intended!) and while a minor annoyance, isn't that major in the end.
Besides, you get a larger window of opportunity to taunt your friend or sibling after you win! (it's all about perspective!)
Oh yeah, the intro's pretty odd in that Japanese way.
CPM -- overall, is a nice little fun puzzle game worth having. For 10-15 bucks I can't see how you can go wrong. Really just a charming addition to the genre.
If you can't afford the Japanese Money Puzzle Exchanger MVS, "settling for this" isn't a bad 2nd option.
It's pretty uncommon but I'm sure a copy or 2 will pop up here and there.
I got mine from YAMATOKU (who else?) and take my word, CPM is a MUST for puzzle fans who own a Saturn capable of playing imports.
I hold this game somewhere in-between the Monster Sliders (average) and the Puzzle Fighters (my favorite) of the world. It easily gets an 8/10 and a stamp of recommendation from me.
Show me DA MONEY!
This here is a great little gem for the Saturn.
I know 3 people who own this game, and all 3 like it very much.
Make that 4 now.
CPM is 1996 Virgin/FPS puzzler that features coins -- yen.
The object is to match up yen, combine them and, ultimately, make a 1000 bill to make it disappear for good.
Those cats are variations of "Maneki Neko." They're those infamous cats with their paw raised... the "good fortune" creatures for our Asian friends. You might have seen them around at the local mall, an Asian restaurant, etc.
http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/~mono93/cat/english/what_e.html
There are 6 different coins:
1 (blue)
5 (yellow)
10 (red)
50 (green)
100 (magenta-ish)
500 (purple)
Just like Money Puzzle Exchanger. EXCEPT instead of Magical Drop style, it's Puyo Puyo style. Two coins drop at a time. Also, CPM won't cost you an arm and leg! Always a plus, right?
Form 5 blue ones to get 1 yellow one, as 1+1+1+1+1 = 5. And 5 is represented by yellow. Not only did you clear up some clutter but you have bigger money on your playing field now in a more accessible manner.
(you cannot add a blue yen [$1] to a green one [$50] and expect anything to happen as it is... however, convert the 1 to 5... then 10... then 50... it touchs and wham 100!)
Confused? Do not be. It's simple once you get the hang of it. And addicting.
Yellow + Yellow = 5+5 which equals 10. (you now have a single red coin, representing $10)
Got it? No? Here's some visuals for ya:
notice the yellow ($5)
now it's consolidated in one 10 yen (red)!
And so forth.
You also get a cat head icon that operates as the "clear all" on whichever yen you wish to drop it on. The thing I like about this is that as it descends, whichever block it currently targets, all respective blocks of that will light up... giving you eye-candy to contemplate where to drop the almighty clear-all icon.
Then again, when the game's speed picks up this is void and null.
BTW, HOW you get a clear-all icon is NOT random. There's an empty cat body at the bottom of the screen, and as you score points it fills up. Once full it'll flash and your next icon is the clear-all.
Cool huh?
Yes, think of it like the power bars found early on in fighting games. (e.g. SSF II Turbo, Darkstalkers, World Heroes Perfect)
Most (if not all) puzzlers the clear-all thing is assigned randomly, whereas CPM awards advance players and punishes rookies.
There's also another cat icon... this one turns all coins of the same color into 500 yen! How convenient. Observe:
Let the transformation commence!
notice the cat grinning... he clearly gets some sick pleasure from this experience...
Transformed into 500 yen! Now you're ready to kick some serious CAT ASS!
There's a VS. CPU mode, a VS. mode and a "stand-alone" mode. I suggest starting on the standalone to get the kinks of gameplay.
Graphics is like any other puzzle game almost -- colorful and bright. Though CPM isn't quite as bright as say, Puzzle Fighter. Still gets the job done though.
Gameplay is, simply, fun and frenetic. Strategy is much involved, with careful planning and trying to nail off some huge combos. It's cool how, say for example you got four 100's and need one more 100 to make a 500 coin.
Your next dropped coins include a 5 and 50.
Rats right?
Not so fast.
Simply drop the 50 on the 100.
Next batch... say you get another 50. Drop the 50 on the previously placed 50 and you made a 100!
Now that 100 touches the four 100's and wah-lah! One 500 coin.
You can visualize the chain ability of this system as we speak, I bet. Well you can, can't you?
This combining and consolidating feature of CPM is what makes it stand out from the crowd. Not to mention what makes it so fun and refreshing.
Music is typical puzzle affair. It can get annoying but it also can be kind of catchy and bob along to the gameplay. You know how it is.
No complains about the controls -- a critical must in puzzle games.
In the VS. modes, if you get chains you'll send over to the opponent's side some debris they must contend with. Typical stuff.
lower left, two 500's have just turned into a 1000 bill and disappeared. Our cat friend is so happy! But wait! Here come cat thieves to spoil the party
Chaining in this game feels great. Some puzzle games you chain and feel "Eh" but in CPM you do feel "cooooooool." So far I've hit several 4-chainers and even a few 5-chainers; it feels sweet lemme tell ya!
My only complaint is the VS. human mode. After one battle you're whisked away to the main screen. A la Saturn Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Unlike Saturn MKT however, the loading in CPM is quick as a cat (no pun intended!) and while a minor annoyance, isn't that major in the end.
Besides, you get a larger window of opportunity to taunt your friend or sibling after you win! (it's all about perspective!)
Oh yeah, the intro's pretty odd in that Japanese way.
CPM -- overall, is a nice little fun puzzle game worth having. For 10-15 bucks I can't see how you can go wrong. Really just a charming addition to the genre.
If you can't afford the Japanese Money Puzzle Exchanger MVS, "settling for this" isn't a bad 2nd option.
It's pretty uncommon but I'm sure a copy or 2 will pop up here and there.
I got mine from YAMATOKU (who else?) and take my word, CPM is a MUST for puzzle fans who own a Saturn capable of playing imports.
I hold this game somewhere in-between the Monster Sliders (average) and the Puzzle Fighters (my favorite) of the world. It easily gets an 8/10 and a stamp of recommendation from me.
Show me DA MONEY!
I can't find my av cord, as I think it got lost in my recent move.
