From NIS America, Puchi Puchi Virus is a different kind of puzzle game than you’re likely to find these days. A game that doesn’t involve falling blocks or jewels, Puchi Puchi Virus instead plays more like a J-Pop version of Dr. Mario, with you matching up viruses into triangles, creating combos and earning points. The game is very quirky with a crazy story and interesting characters and the gameplay is very fast paced, but might be a little shallow for some puzzle gamers looking for some depth akin to games like Puzzle Quest. However, if you’re looking for something fun, fast, and a little different, then Puchi Puchi Virus has what you’re looking for.

As mentioned earlier, Puchi Puchi Virus has a wild storyline behind it. Apparently, a strange virus (the Puchirus) has been afflicting people the world over turning them from normal townsfolk into crazy creatures. As Dr. Kevin A. Longfellow, you’ve developed a tool to help you cure the virus one patient at a time and restore the people back to normal.

The gameplay may sound a little complicated, but it’s actually quite simple. Using the stylus, you must tap on viruses on the lower DS screen and create PuchiLocks, coagulating the virus and forming a triangle. Forming triangles with the virii of the same color will cause them to disappear and give you points. However, once a virus becomes coagulated, you’ll only have a brief window before it hardens and you won’t be able to use it until you soften it back up. In order to do so, you’ll have to use pills, which are given every 50 triangles. If a virus gets caught in the middle of a triangle, it gets coagulated and runs the risk of hardening, and so on.

The gameplay is pretty easy to grasp (thanks largely to a meaty tutorial at the start of the single-player game), so casual fans should have no problem getting into it. The action moves pretty fast and can be pretty exciting, but is otherwise uncomplicated by rules and myriad special items.

While the story seems pretty ripe for a fleshed out single-player mode, Puchi Puchi Virus’s main campaign is surprisingly sparse. You’ll basically go from person to person, eliminating the Puchirus and gaining points. While some patients require special elements, like certain kinds of skill combos, you’ll basically do the same activities through the whole game. This might cause more hardcore puzzle fans to balk at the lack of content, and unless you’re completely in love with Puchi Puchi Virus’s basic gameplay elements, you might get bored pretty early on.

Graphically, Puchi Puchi Virus is bright and colorful in typical anime fashion. The characters have a unique look (especially when they’re in their monster form), but the actual gameplay isn’t gorgeous by any stretch of the word. The music is typical for a quirky Japanese puzzler, and you won’t be missing out too much by turning down the volume.

Puchi Puchi Virus is a fun and quirky game for casual puzzle fans, working nicely as a fast-paced puzzler that is simple enough for anyone to get into. While hardcore fans looking for some depth akin to Puzzle Quest might be a little disappointed, everyone else could have fun in short bursts with Puchi Puchi Virus.

Gameplay: 7.5
Puchi Puchi Virus is a fast-paced puzzle game that is simple enough for anyone to get into. However, hardcore fans of the genre might be a little disappointed at the lack of content and depth.

Graphics: 7.0
The characters are bright and colorful in typical quirky Japanese fashion, but won’t dazzle you with details and special effects.

Sound: 7.0
The soundtrack is pretty typical for a Japanese puzzle game with a quirky theme.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.5
The gameplay is pretty fast and intense, but generally pretty shallow.

Multiplayer: 7.0
The game supports VS. Play, Single-Cart play and Demo Download.

Overall: 7.5
A fun and fast-paced (albeit shallow) puzzler, Puchi Puchi Virus should appeal to casual gamers looking for something easy to get into.