Nintendo Puzzle Collection

Nintendo Puzzle Collection is a compilation of three Nintendo-published puzzle games that were originally released on earlier Nintendo consoles. All the games support both single-player gameplay and competitive local multiplayer for up to four players simultaneously. In addition, Nintendo Puzzle Collection supports GameCube-Game Boy Advance connectivity, allowing the player to use a Game Boy Advance as a game controller. Downgraded versions of each game can also be downloaded and played independently on the Game Boy Advance. Each game is stored in the Game Boy Advance memory and will remain until the handheld is shut down. It is based on a Nintendo 64 version that went unreleased in Japan, but was modified and released internationally as Pokémon Puzzle League (2000); as a result, many of its features and puzzles are identical to those included in Pokémon Puzzle League. Panel de Pon was directed by Hitoshi Yamagami and Yukimi Shimura and the music (based on the original soundtrack) was arranged by Masaru Tajima. ==Development and release==

Nintendo Puzzle Collection was released for the GameCube in Japan on February 7, 2003. Development of the game was by Intelligent Systems, who prior to which had designed the original Panel de Pon for the Super Famicom, with Nintendo Software Technology assisting with the Panel de Pon portion of the game. Announced in December 2002 under the title Masterpiece Puzzle Collection, the game was made to appeal to women with the inclusion of Panel de Pon, with Nintendo using Japanese actress Asami Abe to help promote the game in television commercials The collection itself was made to re-release the included titles due to most not being available to consumers anymore at the time, and to take advantage of the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable peripheral. In January 2003, a tournament for the game was held at the 17th Next Generation World Hobby Fair in Osaka, where contestants had to get the highest score possible in all three games under a set time limit. A playable demo, under the finalized name Nintendo Puzzle Collection, was presented at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) event, slated for a future release in both North America and Europe, but the game was ultimately never released outside of Japan. ==Reception==

Due to the game's Japan-exclusive release, reception of Nintendo Puzzle Collection is limited. The game holds an aggregate score of 75% on GameRankings based on two reviews. Michael Cole of Nintendo World Report, reviewing an imported copy, scored Nintendo Puzzle Collection 8 out of 10. Cole felt that Dr. Mario was the weakest selection of the three games available, with "uninspired" graphics and "unforgiving and honestly quite frustrating" gameplay. He remarked that while Panel de Pon was the best selection in regards to gameplay, ''Yoshi's Cookie'' had the most beautiful graphics. == Notes ==