This Week in Defunct Games - Nov. 30, 2010

What Is It? While some may regard it as second tier puzzler, Magical Drop 2 is a charming little game that was a minor hit on the Neo Geo. Much like Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Magical Drop is a one-one-one competitive split-screen puzzle game. You play one of a handful of characters, each assigned with lining colored orbs up to earn points and clear the board. You do this by grabbing the orbs and rearranging the board, all while the ceiling creeps closer and closer. Despite its simple premise, Magical Drop 2 is a fast-paced game that makes for some exciting two-player matches. It may not have the name recognition of Tetris or Puyo Pop, but Magical Drop 2 is easily one of the Neo Geo's best puzzlers.

Does It Still Hold Up? While the gameplay is little more than a variation on the Puzzle Bobble theme, the one-on-one gameplay is something you don't see much of these days. The game does offer a basic single-player score mode, but it's nowhere near as fresh or exciting as the battles. The graphics are sharp and the gameplay is fast enough to keep even the biggest puzzle snob glued to the screen. There aren't a lot of modes or frills, but Magical Drop 2 definitely holds up.

Is It Worth The Money? I haven't always been a fan of Magical Drop 2. This is a game that has grown on me over the years. If you search around this site you may notice a couple of negative reviews, but in the past few years I've warmed up to this simple one-on-one competitive puzzle game. Although this Neo Geo version is bare bones, I still say it's worth checking out if the Wii is your system of choice. PlayStation 3 (and PSP) owners should be on the lookout for Magical Drop F, a packed collection available for a mere $6. One of these days I need to have a serious discussion with Nintendo about the pricing on the Virtual Console.