Puzzle Uo Poko Explained
is an arcade puzzle game developed by Cave and distributed by Jaleco.
Gameplay
Puzzle Uo Poko is a visual matching game in which one player or two co-operative players (represented by cats) try to clear the screen of coloured bubbles in order to progress to the next level.[1] [2] All the action takes place underwater across 30 stages and with each completed level the cats travel deeper in their submarine.[3] [4]
Development and release
Puzzle Uo Poko was solely designed by Toshiaki Tomizawa, a co-founder of Cave whose previous works include the DonPachi series.[5] [6] [7]
Puzzle Uo Poko was released in Japanese arcades by Jaleco in February 1998.[8] Unlike several other releases by Cave, Uo Poko remained exclusive to arcades and did not see a contemporary port for a home console.[9] The title has since been re-released on the AntStream service.[10]
In 2005, Cave released Puzzle! Mushihime-tama, a spiritual sequel to Uo Poko presented as a spin-off of the Mushihimesama series of manic shooters.[11]
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine listed Puzzle Uo Poko on their April 15, 1998 issue as being the twenty-first most-popular arcade game at the time.[12] Game Hihyō also reviewed the game.[13]
Notes and References
- Ishii. Zenji. 紹介 - 魚ポコ. Gamest. 219. Shinseisha. 15 April 1998. 185. ja.
- Ishii. Zenji. 紹介 - 魚ポコ. Gamest. 221. Shinseisha. 30 April 1998. 198. ja.
- Ishii. Zenji. 攻略 - 魚ポコ (10 ～ 19 話). Gamest. 222. Shinseisha. 15 May 1998. 176–183. ja.
- Ishii. Zenji. 攻略 - 魚ポコ (20 ～ 30 話). Gamest. 224. Shinseisha. May–June 1998. 206–207. ja.
- 魚ポコ - 富沢敏明氏. Game Hihyō. 22. Micro Magazine. September 1998. 92. ja. (Translation by Shmuplations.).
- CAVE 15th Anniversary ~Shoot'em All!!~. Monthly Arcadia. 118. Enterbrain. March 2010. 46–55. ja. (Translation by Shmuplations.).
- Dossier Shoot 'em up. IG Magazine. 8. Ankama Presse. May–June 2010. fr. (Translation by Gaming.moe.).
- Book: Akagi, Masumi. ケイブ Cave; ジャレコ（ジャパンレジャー） Jaleco. アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005). 1st. Amusement News Agency. 13 October 2006. 26, 33. 978-4990251215. ja.
- The Unconverted: Puzzle Uo Poko. Retro Gamer. 203. Future Publishing. January 23, 2020.
- Mason. Graeme. The Best Games From Cave - Now on Antstream Arcade. Antstream Arcade. December 10, 2019. 2021-02-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20210213031747/https://www.antstream.com/post/retro-games-from-cave-on-antstream-arcade. 2021-02-13. live.
- Web site: Puzzle! Mushihime-tama. Johnson. Spencer. August 16, 2014. Hardcore Gaming 101. April 12, 2024.
- Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software). Game Machine. 562. Amusement Press. 15 April 1998. 21. ja.
- Arcade Game Pickup - 魚ポコ. Game Hihyō. 21. Micro Magazine. July 1998. 56. ja.
