I have a feeling that this game is identical to Kirby's Avalanche (SNES), except with different graphics. Is this correct or are there other differences between these games?

SAM: Dr.Robotniks mean bean machine has level passwords. I believe Kirbys Avalance and Puyo Puyo 1 do not have these.

I purchased this game with the Sonic mega collection for Gamecube seeing that it was a better deal than buying the games individualy on the virtual console. All in All a good puzzle game to play against friends.

I downloaded this game hoping to fill the Super Puyo Puyo void. While the general game is very close to Super Puyo Puyo, it has been stripped of the over the top japanese music, voices and character design that made it a classic. You can't help but notice the differences. Be wary of spending your valuable Wii points.

Yeah, they did ruin the presentation in this one, it feels really rushed overall. I mean, couldn't they have put some classic 16-bit Sonic gfx into it instead of this comic/tv series crap?

kirby's version is a more enjoyable game IMO. mainly because of the catchy music from the kirby games.

this games rocks! my other fav is Tetris Attack for the Snes but this one is a close second. sonic and puzzle games rock!

In my opinion, this game's okay.
But I rather have Kirby's avalanche than this.

If you've played one Puyo game, you've played them all. However, this one in particular is pretty funny in terms of animation and quotes, and while you don't get cute anime girls in this one, Dr. Robotnik and his henchmen prove to be an enjoyable enough crew to pit your reflexes against.
I got this via Sonic Mega Collection, and I still play this regularly with a friend on 2-player mode. =P

Owning Sonic Mega Collection, it was the first time I played Mean Bean Machine. The defunct Compile (the original creator of Puyo Puyo and shooters like Aleste and Zanac) actually developed this game and its SNES counterpart, Kirby's Avalanche. The music is different between both games and you might need to play the original Puyo Puyo game to know the differences. Still, it's an addictive puzzle game to boot and worth the download, unless you also nabbed Kirby's Avalanche.

The music's awesome. The style it got is perfect, because I'm more of a sensible person that admires the old cartoons. And it's something that keeps you playing. 4'ed for me.

A decent puzzle game that can be pretty tough at times. An altogether good package, though.

For multiplayer fun, this is well worth the points. For those of you that love a head-to-head 2P puzzler, you can't go far wrong with this. I decided to get this one over Kirby's Avalanche for one simple reason - it can use the Wiimotes, rather than classic or GameCube controllers, and as the other differences seem almost entirely superficial, I'd personally recommend this one.

I thought long and hard about exactly what rating I wanted to give Mean Bean Machine. On the downside it's merely a far more expensive version of a game you've mostly likely played before. It's a shame they didn't offer a souped-up version on VC. Yet despite these grumblings, Mean Bean Machine is still a topnotch puzzler. Like greats such as Tetris and Bust-a-Move, its the kind of game that appeals to all: timeless, sexless and maybe even classless. It's addictive, bright, cheerful, and a hit with the ladies.

Just like me. *thumb up*

Good clean fun. Very addictive. A little pricey. Can also be found on the sonic mega collection for the gamecube. My missus loves it.

Great game and a fast way to lose friends(if they are newbies) quickily when you have mastered the gameplay. Since there is no offset rule, a master 2p match becomes on who gets the garbage drop on first.
A basic tactic is to keep performing medium chains that will distract your opponent until you have him drowned, stalling for huge chains its not safe, not cool to see your prepared chain cover with garbage, unless you are playing fast.
Remember, Puyo Puyo 2 is coming, the first one to introduce the offset rule, when...if it was up to the company that owns it, it would have been released by now, but since Nintendo is controling the dates...you can deal with this for now.

A great game!
Excersise Mode has the greatest music!

great puzzle but not worth 800 wii points

Ditto there Dan. i'd recommend buying this with Sonic Mega Collection which will give you many other VC Sega games and costs much less of your money than buying the VC versions of the games

Classic 80/90's electro music but looks rather fun seems you can connect around corners and things.. but i would never buy a puzzle game....

Certainly not the game I was hoping it was gonna be back in '93. Coulda easily been something more. This is not what you're looking for - Sonic Mega Collection is.

I have this game on the Sonic collection on PS-2. Puyo-puyo is entertaining for a few games, but the computer is particularly mean-spirited.

I can't believe this got rated higher than Sonic Spinball.

Me neither, BJ. I found Spinball more fun personally.
Still the game isn't a bad game, and it's notible as the onley "Sonic" puzzle game. And has references, and characters (mostlly bit-characters) from the old 1993 "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog" cartoon series, giving a bit of nostalgia to folks who were fans of that show as kids.
The CP opponents can be quite brutal especially in later levels, (especially with the falling speed) but I managed to beat them all eventually. (Takes quite a few tries.)
A good puzzle game, but lacks in game modes, and the Exersise Mode doesn't last as long as most puzzlers should. The difficulty levels don't seem much different to me either.
The puzzle mode in the Master System/Game Gear versions of this game were great, it's a shame the puzzle mode isn't in this version. Here's hoping those versions come out to VC.

An okay game to me, but my dad likes it alot.

Now if only they would release the true, original Puyox2. People may feel conned, but not for those who are either/both Puyox2 fans or/and interested in knowing where is the original Puyox2.

(By the way, I already have this in Sonic Mega Collection, so I am saving my Wii Points.)

Go with Puyo Puyo 2. If you desperately want this version, get the Sonic Mega Collection. If you want the Gamegear version of this, well, this isn't it, go unlock it in Sonic Adventure DX.

If you want Kirby's Avalanche, which I'll admit is great on the merit of having Kirby alone, then go ahead and download it (you'll need a classic or Gamecube controller for some inane reason since it's a SNES game), but as far as gameplay is concerned Puyo Puyo 2 is the best, and the series these games are licensed off of deserves your respect.

well this is not as great as the propper Puyo puyo 2 but this is included in the pocket MegaDrive .

The cover looks great, it has "The Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog" characters!!

It´s a very fun game !
Me playing Dr. Robotnik´s Mean Bean Machine:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=XctIQPTcMhg