Platform: PSP

Genre: Puzzle

Number of Players: 1 or 2

Known in Japan as: Kollon

I don't know what the reason is, but if I have a puzzle game on a home console, the novelty wears off in about a day or so. Give me one on a portable though, and I'll play it constantly. For example, I've had Lumines since the PSP launched in the United States, and I still play it every day. There's a new puzzle game in town though that threatens to challenge Lumines reign as the best puzzle game on the PSP.

Ultimate Block Party might be better known to some of you importing PSP games as Kollon, but I can assure you that it's the same game. The objective is quite simple, and is much like many other puzzle titles. You simply need to match up four or more blocks of the same color and eliminate them. Sounds simple, right? Well, at first. Rotating squares of four blocks at once is how you match them, but it gets a bit more complicated. You have other blocks as well. Arrows for example will turn all blocks in the appropriate direction to the same color, and you have a scant few second where you can turn other blocks into a combo for more points. Bomb blocks on the other hand will turn all other blocks around it to the same color while magic blocks will clear all blocks on the same color from the play screen.

Now, I suppose at this point, you're thinking that this all sounds easy, but there's a bit more to the game than just spinning blocks. You have some hazards to look out for. At times, you will find clear blocks are dropped into the play field. This actually can help quite a bit as they will turn to whatever color is near them when a combo is started. You will also get larger blocks, the equal of four, dumped into your field, and that can be a bit more difficult to get around. Other times, your square may grow larger or make every block under it transparent, making it impossible to see the colors. You also may have a series of smaller blocks grow into a large shape. There are also barriers that appear at the bottom of the screen moving your play area up a space or two temporarily. You may even find your controls switched from time to time.

If this all sounds like too much to handle, the game has a training mode for you to get used to how Ultimate Block Party plays. In single player mode, you will also find an endless mode that doesn't feature any of these issue, but simply moving blocks and matching colors. There is also a two-player mode where you can challenge the computer or another player via Wi-Fi, or challenge campaign or arcade mode.

The graphics for Ultimate Block Party are very simple, but for a puzzle game, they don't necessarily need to be complex. There are eight different characters to choose from, all of which have an anime inspired look about them. Each has a different attack that they will use when combos are linked together. It's similar to dropping blocks on your opponent during Tetris. The game visually has a pastel type of theme going for it with the colors that are used, but it's appealing.

Ultimate Block Party is addictive, to a certain extent. It does eventually get a bit old and repetitive and I found myself switching to other games that were a bit more entertaining. Still, it's not a bad puzzle game; it's just not nearly quite on the same level of not wanting to put it down as what Lumines is. It certainly worth a look though, especially if you're not into other types of games, just don't expect this party to go on all night.

-mike-