Well, maybe not exactly a phenomenon, seeing as there's still a rather large ratio of gamers within the mainstream community that haven't a clue as to what this game is all about. Frankly, it's a tough sell among the current console owners who've essentially adopted the "been there, done that" attitude; the very ones that are the least likely to shell out another $30 bucks for a handheld installment. The decision is your own and you'll get no solicitation from me. But for those who've been eagerly anticipating this handheld release for a new puzzle addiction on the go, read on as we coast through the fundamentals, pros and cons.

In case you haven't guessed, the namesake of Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo is a parody based upon the long-running line of classic Street Fighter 2 titles. Which means your efforts in finding something along the lines of Super Puzzle Fighter is rather futile simply because . . .it doesn't exist.

In an ingenious twist, Puzzle Fighter combines intuitive gameplay with Capcom's trademark competitive design. Players can choose from an all-star cast of popular Capcom characters such as Ryu and Morrigan respectively of Street Fighter 2 and Darkstalkers fame. (Yes, my Chinese femme fatale is in there too!)

Actually, the entire cast (including Mei-Ling as the paper talisman, Dan, Devilot, Akuma, and Anita who require specific codes to unlock) are all accounted for; along with the standard Arcade and Puzzle Modes. You'll also find Sakura's Street Fighter Alpha 2 score "I Want to Know" is in there - yes, vocals included!!! In essence, it's a solid translation. . .of the PS One/Saturn version. What's that? You want more? Bah weep granah weep ninni bong?!? *shakes box* No more. Sadly folks, this as good at it gets. Which means you can't enjoy the exclusive Arcade Modes exclusively developed for the import Dreamcast edition. Nor will you find any added characters thrown in the mix (see: Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper). From a fan's point of a view, this is rather disheartening seeing how the title has been around the block more than enough times to warrant a few exclusive handheld features for good measure.

There's also an occasional hint of slowdown when the action gets intense, and the bit of animation that existed in the console editions were sadly sacrificed in their transition to the GBA. But to be perfectly honest, these "flaws" are extremely minor to get all worked up over. However, there has been a case of users reporting their copies randomly crashing and as a result, deleting any/all game data recorded. Hopefully this predicament only exists on a very small volume of copies. I can't bear to sit through the Puzzle Mode and unlock special features all over again.

If you can get past the lack of "new" extras, Puzzle Fighter is quite the enjoyable puzzle experience. However, its design is not for the timid. The basics are deceptively straightforward, but difficult to master the more, intricate elements. Some may even feel it's somewhat intimidating compared to such puzzle games as Bust a Move, Klax or Tetris. Thankfully there's a modest, non-interactive tutorial gracefully conducted by Dan - how can you possibly lose now? The gameplay embodies a style similar to Columns and Tetris mixed with the "finger-dialing" finesse of Tekken. Puzzle blocks fall from the top of the screen and can be moved manipulated left, right, clockwise, or counter-clockwise. Your objective is to strategically pair up like-colors and destroy them in order to fill up your opponent's side to win the round. In effect, gems will appear on your opponent's side each time you successfully clear two or more like-colored gems within your playing field. To clear your formation of blocks, you'll need to use a sparkly colored item known as a Crash Gem - the linchpin for all of your offensive/defensive needs. Keeping in the spirit of corresponding colors, you'll need to link a red Crash Gem with red blocks in order to successfully clear them from you field. If you know you colors, you're well on your way to becoming a force to be reckoned with.

But don't get too ahead of yourself just yet. A paltry clearing of gems won't cut it if you're looking to become the victor. Thus, you'll want to construct larger, more powerful gems. Four or more to be exact - in the shape of a square. You do know what a square looks like right? These will create what is known as a Power Gem. Now, backtrack to our common resource, the Crash Gems. Link these babies up with those Power Gems and you've just unleashed a greater array of Counter Gems for your opponent to clear. Though if you want to show off some true finesse, you can construct a series of Power Gems together and then establish a chain reaction…or combos if you which will result in an extremely chaotic situation for your opponent. That is, if they even live through your puzzle downpour.

Still with me? Try to keep up. You'll note that each character has a signature Counter Gem pattern. Ideally, you'll want to memorize these patterns in order to effectively reverse them with ease, or otherwise just leave it up to random luck. Every Counter Gem consists of a 5-second timer which immediately reverts into a solid gem once it reaches zero. Depending on the situation, these can be the bane of your success, or an advantage. In any case, one doesn't need to wait until these blocks reach the end of their fuse before clearing them from their field. By referring back to the aforementioned fundaments expressed earlier, players can use Crash Gems or other like-colored blocks to immediately revert the blocks into solid form and reverse the flow of the match. In case you haven't already become apparent, Puzzle Fighter is by far, one of most in-depth puzzle games on the market. More advanced mechanics range from the significance and potency of each color, character attributes/weaknesses (i.e. Ken among the top-tier cast of characters) and more. On that note, I sincerely recommend that you check out one of the well-scripted, comprehensive guides available at GameFAQs.com.

Technical logistics notwithstanding, you'll be hard pressed to miss out on the interaction between the chibi Capcom cast of characters which taunt, perform super moves, among other trademark animations, giving an added dimension of personality and appeal. You simply can't dismiss Sakura's uber-kawaiiness utterances of "Shinkuu Hadoken!!!"

Minor quips aside, if you're looking for a new dose of puzzle addiction, this is the game to get. While doing my best not to sound like an infomercial, it's perfectly suited for those long road trips or restless editors en route to E³. Puzzle Fighter is loaded with likeable characters, depth and replay value (especially if you link up with a friend). And if you're a newcomer who missed out on the console editions, your chances of picking it up are rather slim unless it's available in pre-owned form or eBay. Looking further down the horizon, I'd love to see a sequel developed featuring an expanded cast of characters and some new mechanics thrown in. The modes featured in the Dreamcast edition for example would serve as a solid template to build off. For now, the game stands in a class of its own. Put down Tetris Worlds, pick up this game and give it a shot.

Reaaaaaaadddy?!?!? FIGHT!!!

· · · Bahn