I'm dropping a nightly info bomb on this thread to get it started. Maybe you can choose which version you want to play?
I have this game on three platforms and I tried them all for a bit.
I have the PS1, PSP and Dreamcast versions. Please feel free to post if the other versions of this game match the ones I'll be talking about.
ps1
psp
Dreamcast
I am most familiar with the PS1 version of puzzle fighter since I played it a whole bunch back in the day. It has a few modes that aren't included on the other ones.
I've never played the saturn game, but I'm going to assume that the Saturn version will be the same as the PS1. Unless someone out here can prove me wrong!
To add more meat to the game, the ps1 version has a "Street Puzzle mode" wherein you have to unlock the alternate colors of the characters and their voices and some other random things. Including a song! It serves as good practice too, so there's nothing wrong with that.
The PS1 game also has certain cheat codes to play as certain special characters. I have not found a way to input these on the DC and PSP. I remember these codes from way back in the day. I'll leave it to you guys/gals to figure them out.
As far as I can tell, the game on the dreamcast is pretty much the same on the PSP. Lets just say that the PSP is a port of the Dreamcast game. But the psp is also a compilation with some more games too. Other than the name changes of certain characters and the language barrier on the JPN Dreamcast game, The puzzle fighter game on psp looks very much the same. Albeit on a smaller screen
But there is no "Street puzzle mode" on these. Everything is already unlocked from the get go!
One thing that is present on the DC and PSP version is an edit mode not found on the PS1 game. You can edit the dumped blocks to customize when you play with someone else or the computer. I have yet to try this, but I dont think I'll have the patience to do this anyways.
One thing I did find a little different about the PSP version from the DC and PS1 version is the speed of the game. I talked a little about this a page back.
It takes a little bit to get used to, if you played the console version more, its going to seem slightly different. But the psp puzzle fighter does play a little bit faster! It may throw you off a little bit if your used to playing on the tv. But with some practice you can get it. Now it just depends on you which one you want to play! On tv or on the go?
Now on to the modes!
There are different modes to the revisions of the game. These are not present on the PS1 game. There is an X, Y, and Z game.
X is the same puzzle fighter game since day one. Its most likely the one everybody has played. Use the round crash gem to break up its similar colored blocks of various sizes.
Y has a different play mechanic. It has more of a SEGA COLUMNS feel to it. Line up three small blocks at different angles to make them disappear.
Z feels a lot like Lumines/tetris attack. You rotate the small blocks in a four panel square to combine them together. You use a round crash gem to explode them once you bring them together.
In my opinion, I like Z mode more than Y. I guess you need to strategize more when you play on Y mode. But for me it kinda ruins the pace of the game. But you guys/gals give it a try and see which one you like best.
If any of you have any questions, please leave a comment!
There are some strategies to this game. We can talk about them too.