Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles

by redspotgames

Product Features

• Introducing the new character: Mr. VMU!
• The game is fully translated into both English and Japanese.
• New Arcade Mode Danger Break system!
• New cutscenes (and more embarassing moments)!
• New extensive manual and packaging for the Dreamcast version!

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001L4RAGQ
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: January 11, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,718 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

With Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles, Yuan Works and redspotgames annouced their latest videogame for the Sega Dreamcast. Originally developed for the GamePark GP2X, this port to the Dreamcast offers a lot of new features and graphics. Developed and ported by Yuan Works.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Hail the Undead Console!, May 29, 2009

By 

B. Harmon (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles (Video Game)

"Wind and Water Puzzle Battles" joins other recent independent Dreamcast titles, proving that the Dreamcast isn't dead. What is most refreshing about "Wind and Water" is that it is not a scrolling shooter, which 90% of the other indy releases are. "Wind and Water" is much more akin to "Puyo Pop" or "Tetris" but with it's own unique rules. The game involves a large cast of characters and a surprisingly fun story. Basically, you play a character within the game who is working with the game's developers to help complete the game's development. Charlie Kaufman would be proud. Level progression takes place on a "Super Mario Bros. 3" like map and includes a number of non-puzzle mini-games. Suffice to say, this game offers a lot in gameplay AND extras. Would you believe the entire game was made by two brothers? Don't hesitate, buy this game!

4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Overpriced, Disappointing Independent Release, April 4, 2009

By 

J. Norman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles (Video Game)

Let me begin this review by stating that I am generally a huge supporter of independent releases like Wind & Water: Puzzle Battles - that is, games that haven't been approved for release by the hardware manufacturer that often has abandoned the system it is played on. In the case of Wind & Water: Puzzle Battles, however, I make exception to that norm not only because the game is incredibly overpriced at $40, but due to the game's excessive similarities with several other puzzle games including Alexey Pajitnov's, (of Tetris fame,) Hexic and Hexic HD.

Wind & Water: Puzzle Battles tries to make its own mark on the tile-flipping puzzle formula by including a competition mode, a time-based point multiplier, "battles" against computer-controlled characters ala Puzzle Quest or Tetris Attack, and a few mindless mini-games. Trouble is none of this is completely original by any means, even on the Dreamcast which wasn't exactly known for having a lot of great puzzle games. In fact, it isn't anything that can't be found in similar $5-$10 downloadable games which brings us to the final point of this review: Wind & Water: Puzzle Battles was originally a ~$12 downloadable game for the little-known portable GP2X system. There the game's low resolution graphics, meandering music, and pick up & play style game play feel much more at home than what is being portrayed now as a full-blow Dreamcast release.

If you must own a Dreamcast puzzle game, for $40 you can easily buy most or possibly all of the Dreamcast's better puzzle games including Bust-a-Move 4, Next Tetris, Mr. Driller, Puyo Puyo Fever, or even another independently released Dreamcast game, the four player, tile-flipping puzzler Inhabitants. Those would be purchases much better spent.