Back story
Yes, I've stumbled over what is mostly a forgotten puzzler while roaming about old classics on my Nintendo Online subscription. This time, I came across Mario's Picross on Game Boy and SNES.
And I became totally addicted!
I'm vaguely familiar with the GB version as I recall seeing it mentioned in advertisement magazines from Nintendo back in the day. It's admittedly a cool and eye-catching cover with an iconic combination of purple, pink and light blue colour scheme. The SNES release was unknown to me as it never left Japan.
Before delving into these two titles, what even is a Picross and what's it got to do with Mario?
Firstly, the Picross game franchise is developed by Jupiter Corporation and published by Ape Inc. in Japan. Secondly, the Mario tie-in is collaboration between Jupiter and Nintendo. With Mario basically used as a promotion for a puzzler that has nothing to do with him. He's on the cover and the menu options.
While the Picross series spans several Nintendo consoles through the years, the actuals Picross are based on Nonogram puzzles, an invention from Japan in 1987.
Nonogram puzzles, read about them on Wikipedia here, are grid-based pictures that you fill in empty boxes with colour according to the number vertically and horizontally alongside each side of the grid.
The numbers tell you how many boxes along that line or column which need to be filled in, spaces between them are not revealed. Mathematically you need to figure that out by following the vertical and horizontal lines. Think of it as a puzzle in the neighbourhood of a Sudoku.
Nonograms became quite popular in Japan, I'm guessing they popped up in newspapers and magazines, and would eventually find their way to videogames.
In a collaboration with Nintendo, Picross released in 1995 on Game Boy worldwide and was followed shortly after by a SNES release. With the GB version failing to make an impact in the west, the SNES version was limited to Japan only. These Nintendo releases have a Super Mario theme but there's zero to do with platforming much like how Dr. Mario was just a puzzler too.
In Mario Picross instead of filling in squares with a pen like the original Nonograms, there's a theme about carving away the image in stone with a chisel. It suits the puzzle nicely and kind of a satisfying visual effect.
The Picross franchise would continue on various Nintendo platforms through the years including DS, 3DS, Switch and even obscurities like the SNES Intellaview online system. My focus here is the original Game Boy and the SNES sequel.
Let's take a closer look!
Review
Played on: Switch 2 (Nintendo Online)
Released: 1995 (Game Boy)
There's a simplicity to Mario's Picross that probably wasn't easy to convey to consumers back in the day. It's the type of game that would appeal to older players more than a young audience.
That said, I could imagine parents and older players who enjoyed the immensely popular Tetris on the GB, would really enjoy this one! It's perfect little time waster on the go and, unlike Tetris, has a far lower stress level.
Regardless of remembering it being promoted, it would fail to break the western market and as such the Nonogram based puzzles became mostly a Japanese phenomenon. Mario's Picross would do well enough for a SNES port in Japan too.
The controls are super easy; one button to chisel away a block of the hidden image, the other to mark a block as not part of the image. Chisel away a block which isn't part of the image, and you're deducted a penalty from the 30-minute time limit to solve each Picross. Deductions of time become increasingly larger the more errors you make.
The key is to mark non-image blocks, so you don't make a mistake, it's all about working out which blocks to knock away by the Nonogram numbers. It's tricky, especially when there's a lot of numbers for the bigger Picross puzzles.
There's an easy mode which is a 10x10 Picross, and there's normal mode which is 15x15. The latter offers a Mushroom course and a trickier Star course, both with 64 puzzles in each. In addition, the easy mode and time trial mode have 64 puzzles each too, totalling the game at an impressive 256 puzzles!
Despite its simplistic graphics I kinda prefer this one to the SNES version. Simply because Nonograms perfectly align with the black and white screen of a GB and they utilise the screen well for the purpose. You can tell the team built the whole design and layout around the Game Boy and it's two button layout.
My only gripe here is the slight delay when navigating the cursor around and button presses, but it's not a game which requires speed anyhow.
For a handheld it's a perfect fit and great little time waster while on the move.
Review
Played on: Switch 2 (Nintendo Online)
Released: 1995 (SNES)
With the Game Boy version failing abroad, the concept is taken over to SNES for in this sort of sequel or should I say version later the same year. It's a neat way to play more of these puzzles on your TV at home, although I feel perhaps this kind of puzzler is more a handheld suited experience?!
Since this era, the lines between what are heavy titles on home consoles to what lightweight handheld experiences has blurred anyhow, and you can enjoy the SNES and Game Boy as a handheld on the Switch regardless.
New to this SNES version is that Mario mode is divide into puzzle difficulty, initially 1 to 4 but expanding into even more difficulties. In addition, a whole selection of other puzzles are available in Wario mode, also in various sets of difficulties. While Mario mode is identical to the Game Boy title, Wario mode is different; the clock counts upwards and no penalties are given. You must work out yourself which block needs kept and what can be chiselled away to complete the image.
I can't help feeling the visuals are a bit underused potential here. With the higher resolution and bigger screen size, it's kind of weird seeing the actual Picross reduced to a smaller on the amount of screen space. There's a yellow stone, grey in Wario mode, design to the puzzles this time which makes sense as it feels even more like chiselling a stone.
Revealing the image is still black and white but once revealed it they will transform into a colour image which animates slightly. Again, I wonder if they should've gone with a colour image being revealed as you play to take more advantage of the SNES.
That said, the SNES version is a bit snappier when it comes to moving the cursor around and instant button presses.
This version even offers a two-player coop mode; basically, just to people chiselling away at it together. Fine in theory, but I'm guessing it's not that practical as players are thinking a little differently when it comes to solving puzzles.
While it's identical to play as the GB version, I feel it misses a few good opportunities; not increasing the size of the Picross, not utilising a colour image to be revealed as you play and maybe some extra flair when it comes to visuals to take usage of the SNES hardware?
While irrelevant for people playing these on the Switch, I feel it's less of title you typically sit in a living room in front of a TV to play, versus on the move with a Game Boy? I could be wrong, but it seems like a title that would sell better on the Game Boy back in the 90s.
Nevertheless, it's the same fun to play, just be aware that in only comes in Japanese and as such certain texts and menus will be in that language.
Summary
A few of gripes I have with both versions. Firstly, the pause menu has no restart option, it would've been convenient when you mess up. Secondly, they ask you every single time you start a new Picross if you want a hint; I just want to disable it forever. Thirdly, why couldn't it have been more Mario related? With a whole category of Mario themed images to uncover for instance, rather than small handful.
Lastly, there's an obvious exploit; you can brute force your way through puzzles by memorising errors and retry the same puzzle over until you get it right. A complete image randomiser may have been too advanced to make back then but perhaps randomise which one it chooses from a pre-set. That way, they could stop you from retrying the same one instantly.
Both versions are available on the Nintendo Online subscription for Switch 1 & 2. Here you can do save states, although you don't need them. They save each completed puzzle and can store one puzzle you're actively playing in addition. Plus, they're limited in playtime and you have infinite retries.
If you want to play on real hardware, hunting down these down is going to be pricey. They aren't common cartridges and just aren't worth the asking price for a simple puzzler like this.
There are DS and 3DS versions too, and I guess a ton of copycat apps on mobile devices to consider. My focus here was about the Game Boy and SNES originals.
Nevertheless, wherever you end up playing Nonogram or Picross; it's a fun and addictive type of puzzle with just the right amount of difficulty to keep you going to solve just one more. Plus, the picture you reveal is kind of a reward for solving them!