Yosumin!
| Yosumin! | |
|---|---|
 Box art of the Nintendo DS release | |
| Developer(s) | Square Enix |
| Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
| Composer(s) | Ryo Yamazaki |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS, Xbox Live Arcade, personal computer |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle video game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, two-player |
Yosumin! (よすみん。) is a puzzle video game released as a flash game for the personal computer. Later, it was ported to the Nintendo DS console and the Xbox 360. Developed and published in Japan by Square Enix.
Gameplay
In Yosumin!, the player tries to select rectangular regions in a grid of tiles that have the same type of yosumin at all four corners. The player has a target goal of the number of rectangles with yosumin of specific types that must be removed, and has a time limit. The larger the rectangle selected, the greater the number of points the player receives. Special yosumin are sometimes included, which when removed can give extra time or points. Later in the game another type of yosumin is added which can be moved, allowing the player to create rectangles of larger size.[1] In multiplayer mode, two players face off in a larger grid. Creating rectangles can remove time from the opponent's timer, and specific yosumin which are selected before the game begins perform other moves such as stunning the opposing player.[1] Wireless two-player competitive mode is playable through game sharing on the Nintendo DS with a single cartridge.[2] Enhancements included new block types such as a block that rearranges the boards layout.[3]
Development
Yosumin! was originally a free browser-based game.[4] The game was showcased in playable form at the Tokyo Game Show 2007.[5] It was shown to be an enhanced port of the original Yosumin browser game[6] released by Square Enix on the @nifty network. This was confirmed to be part of publisher Square Enixs' effort to expand their fan base internationally and across more types of players and genres, including more casual games.[7] The game was available at Japanese Nintendo DS demo stations in November 2007.[8] In November 2008 Square Enix trademarked Yosumin! In the United States.[9] On May 26, 2009, Yosumin was released over the digital distribution service Steam under the title Yosumin!,[10] and the following day was released on Xbox Live Arcade as Yosumin! Live.[1]
Reception
The Nintendo DS version received a score of 30 out of 40 by the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu.[11] The game received a 69% aggregate rating on Game Rankings.com and a 64 of 100 rating on Metacritic.[12][13]
References
- ^ a b c Erik Brudvig (May 7, 2009). "Yosumin Live Hands-on". IGN. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ Spencer (September 7, 2007). "Square-Enix puzzles DS owners with Yosumin DS". Siliconera. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ IGN Staff (September 5, 2007). "Square Enix's New Puzzler". IGN. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ David Hinkle (September 6, 2007). "Square Enix to puzzle you on the DS". joystiq. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ Daemon Hatfield (September 20, 2007). "TGS 2007: Yosumin Preview". IGN. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ Spencer (December 8, 2008). "Square Enix Giving Adorable Puzzler Yosumin An International Release". Siliconera. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ Daemon Hatfield (October 5, 2007). "Interview: Square Enix Shifts Focus". IGN. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
- ^ JC Fletcher (November 1, 2007). "New at Japanese DS stations: Yosumin, Winning Eleven". joystiq. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ Spencer (November 18, 2008). "A Puzzling Find Suggests Square Enix USA Is Publishing Yosumin DS". Siliconera. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Yosumin! on Steam". Steam, Valve. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
- ^ Adam Riley (October 31, 2007). "Nintendo News | Mario Party DS Scores Big in Japan". Cubed³. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
- ^ "Yosumin!". Game Rankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Yosumin LIVE - Xbox 360". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 8, 2013.