Mario's Picross
Game by Nintendo
Review by The Avardancer
Size: 4 Megabits
Save: Battery, 3 slots
Released: 1995
Works with: Any version of Gameboy

Opening Snide Remarks: Hmm. Picture Crossword puzzles. Huh? That's just
strange. There, I've said it. That is just bizzare. I'm sold; let's see what
a Picture Crossword puzzle is like.


Gameplay: Imagine a game where you must chip out various blocks to make a
picture; but you don't know what the picture is. There's numbers telling you
how many blocks must be chipped out. You must use those clues to make a
picture; now imagine that there are about 192 of these puzzles; AND a random
puzzle generator with even more complexity! Now imagine that those puzzles
are timed. You get penalized for your errors And it's all fun too. That's
Mario's Picross.

If your brain hurts from the description; wait till you play the game. Lucky
for all of us idiots; there's a REALLY good tutorial inside the Gamepak!
I've opened up all of the otions and puzzles; and I must say that the random
Time Attack Mode is a great addition that will keep you playing. Also; it
times you and keeps your best times; why not beat your best times?

Graphics: A little small on a normal Gameboy, fine on a Gameboy Pocket; great
on a Super Gameboy. They aren't extravagent; but they work. The Gameboy Color
detects this game and gives it a special pallete; although the game is not
optimized or programmed for Gameboy Color.

Sound: There's chipping, an error tone, and a few other effects; but that's
all it has. Then again; that's all it needs.

Music: It's good stuff. Some of it is great; but on the flip side some of it
is annoying after a while. But, you can turn it off.

Play Control: Play Control is really precise; and that's great.

Final Analysis: I think that Mario's Picross is one of the best Puzzle Games
ever; but you might not, if you have a low attention span; or don't like
getting stressed and angry at a bunch of blocks that seem to be laughing at
your inability to make them in to a coherent picture. A two-player mode would
be excellent.

Score
Gameplay: *****
Graphics: ***
Sound: *****
Music: *****
Play Control: *****
Total:23 out of 25

Final Score: 92%

Currently Known Codes

Erase a Save File:
You have to be seriously cracked to do this; but here goes. Press A, B, and
Select all at the same time and an erase option will show up. Warning: You
can only use the code to erase a game file; that you have selected before
using the code.

Change the Super Gameboy Borders:
This code requires a Super GameBoy.

Enter one of the following codes during game play to change the background
to match the corresponding GameBoy case colors. 

Code                   Color
Hold Start             Green
Hold Right + Start     Red
Hold Up + Start        Black
Hold Down + Start      White
Hold Left + Start      Yellow 

To change to the transparent Game Boy,
sweep the D-pad continually in a Full-Circle until a tone is heard. Hold the
D-pad in that direction and press Start.