Gunpey loaded for DS, PSP

By Walt Wyman, Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Jul 10, 2006 10:23 am PT

Namco Bandai brings Q Entertainment remake of Gunpei Yokoi puzzler to US later this year.

Portable puzzle fiends are getting a present from Namco Bandai Games this holiday season in the form of a remake of the WonderSwan title Gunpey. The game is currently set for release on the PSP and the Nintendo DS.

Both Gunpey and the WonderSwan were conceived by the late Gunpei Yokoi, who also created the original Game Boy for Nintendo. To bring Yokoi's game back to life, Namco Bandai has enlisted the aid of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Q Entertainment, still riding high after the critical reception of its previous portable puzzlers, Lumines and Meteos.

"This title embraces the signature touches of a product conceived by Yokoi," Namco Bandai Games product group director Naruo Uchida said in a statement. "It is accessible, original, and intuitive, yet a challenge to master. Additionally, it combines the ground breaking music integration that has become Q Entertainment's signature."

Gunpey requires players to arrange line segments to complete lines across five columns, removing the row in the process. However, the lines work their way up the screen, and if an incomplete line should reach the top, the player's game is over.

According to the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, the Japanese releases of the two games will have substantial differences. The Sony PSP version is titled Gunpey-R in Japan, with the DS edition is called Oto o Tsunagou! Gunpey Reverse.

The PSP version will feature interface skins which can be changed at the touch of a button during game play. Aside from supplying different graphics, each skin comes with its own set of sounds. A new mode of play will force the player to solve two boards simultaneously, with each board able to have a different skin.

The DS take on Gunpey will, no surprise, make extensive use of the system's stylus. Players will be able to move an on-screen cursor and erase panels, altering the music. With enough practice, players can time their moves with the background music to create original compositions. The DS has two basic play modes: Endless Mode and Frontier Mode. In Frontier, the player faces a variety of opponent characters, such as Vincent the Space Cowboy. Needless to say, completing rows will disrupt your opponent's side of the screen.

Gunpey is set for a "holiday 2006" release.

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sonyfanboy4eva
Posted Sep 25, 2006 1:26 am PT

The PSP version will be better.
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taboo
Posted Aug 18, 2006 7:59 pm PT

Heh, I hope Q's got a special Virtual Boy inspired skin for the game in store for us. That would just plain win.
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ubj007
Posted Jul 12, 2006 11:21 pm PT

Cool
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playwrite
Posted Jul 11, 2006 10:12 am PT

as his last real notable product i think its good that Gunpey is getting a wider release. goddam you nintendo, why were you so hard on him? he could be alive today had you not guilted him in to leaving. for shame.

so what i'm saying is, R.I.P. Gunpey Yokoi
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ParaParaKing
Posted Jul 10, 2006 10:53 pm PT

This will be good. Since the DS version has this interesting music aspect, I'll get that one.
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rynmls
Posted Jul 10, 2006 6:45 pm PT

i dont know this game, waiting for august releases....
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Vash67
Posted Jul 10, 2006 4:33 pm PT

I got this on the wonderswan also. Probably won't become the next big puzzler but it should get a few fans.
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WolfSkill5544
Posted Jul 10, 2006 3:36 pm PT

cool, I guess
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seg555
Posted Jul 10, 2006 2:58 pm PT

why is it coming to the psp. Gunpei Yokoi is the father of the gameboy. So it would make scnce too lunch it on the ds.
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BobbyBobby85
Posted Jul 10, 2006 2:04 pm PT

Gunpei was also the father of the Panel De Pon (Tetris Attack), Metroid and Kid Icarus, but he is most known for his work on Game and Watch and Gameboy. Of course, he also created the Virtual Boy, but we all make mistakes, right?

And as for this title coming to the PSP, I'm insulted. Sony doesn't deserve to house a title invented by one of the greatest names in handheld gaming.
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MrPuzzlez
Posted Jul 10, 2006 1:31 pm PT

phinsfan
Why is it coming to psp if gunpei yokoi is the father of the gameboy?
IT IS INSANE!

Yes it is...

And speaking of the Great Yokoi, when are they going to honor him with a REALLY GOOD version of Tetris attack?! I hate it that Nintendo Puzzle Collection was only in Japan and also that Dr. Mario/Puzzle League was still solid, but so very bare bones...
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DemonJD138
Posted Jul 10, 2006 1:23 pm PT

Dude, I love Gunpei (or Gumpei) Yokoi. I've read that he was a super cool guy, who always had a smile on his face. I think it's great that this game is coming out to (sort of) honor his memory. Go Namco Bandai/Q Entertainment!
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gskehans97
Posted Jul 10, 2006 1:02 pm PT

Alright i guess
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gcuber123
Posted Jul 10, 2006 1:00 pm PT

Why did they even put this on the PSP.
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comthitnuong
Posted Jul 10, 2006 12:41 pm PT

we'll see how it turns out
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NekoFever
Posted Jul 10, 2006 11:41 am PT

I've got this on Wonderswan. Not a bad game, but it's no Tetris.
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phinsfan
Posted Jul 10, 2006 11:38 am PT

Why is it coming to psp if gunpei yokoi is the father of the gameboy?
IT IS INSANE!
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Sonicplys
Posted Jul 10, 2006 11:18 am PT

ooooooo.... REVOLUTIONfreak said the I word.....
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REVOLUTIONfreak
Posted Jul 10, 2006 11:14 am PT

cool...but old...IGN had this posted almost a week ago
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dwmorrow
Posted Jul 10, 2006 11:10 am PT

Sounds good to me.
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