Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Virtual Console) Review

Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

Dr. Robotnik has hatched a plan to ensure that no music or fun remains on Mobius. To do this, he kidnaps the citizens of Beanville and stuffs them into a giant robotising machine called the Mean Bean-Steaming Machine, so that they become his robot slaves. The player must now defeat each of the robot guards and Robotnik himself to foil his evil plans.

In the game, a player must group 4 or more different colored beans (or Puyos) together so that they erase, and send Refugee Beans (aka Garbage, and Ojyama) to the opponent. The more beans that link up, the more garbage is sent. Players may also activate step chains (aka Rensa) so that even more garbage is scored. The game is decided when the third column from the left is piled to the top.

By Damo

This is basically Puyo Puyo given a lick of paint, but that's no bad thing as Puyo Puyo is an excellent Tetris-style game which is amazingly addictive in two-player mode.

A series of beans of the mean variety fall into a pit. Your job is to rotate and arrange the falling beans. If you get four of the same coloured beans in a row then you take them out. The trick is to set up chains by arranging other beans to fall in a row. Chains and combos are the key to success here!

As a one player game you could get bored of this easily. The CPU puts up a decent challenge but it's only fun for a while. With two players this game really shines.

There is a password feature to allow you to continue your game against the CPU which is a nice touch. You can just jump back into the action if you break for a 2 player game.

The visuals and sound are fairly average by today's standards but that isn't really what matters here. If you're after a decent puzzle game you could do much worse. Well worth a download.

3/5

Average reader rating: 3.30 (30 ratings)

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1. SAM 19 Feb 2007, 22:24 GMT

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?

2. Starwolf_UK 26 Feb 2007, 14:09 GMT

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

3. Faithful Dragon 11 Mar 2007, 19:02 GMT

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.

4. sam 20 Mar 2007, 04:49 GMT

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.

5. PresidentLeever 22 Apr 2007, 00:08 GMT

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?

6. Bass X0 24 Jun 2007, 16:03 GMT

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

7. George 14 Aug 2007, 20:02 GMT

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

8. Mii be you 19 Aug 2007, 20:36 GMT

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

9. GFrag 29 Aug 2007, 10:40 GMT

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

10. alvieao 16 Sep 2007, 18:57 GMT

Owning Sonic Mega Collection, it was the first time I played Mean Bean Machine. Compile (the creator of Puyo Puyo but now a defunct company) actually was behind 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.

11. Alphalove 25 Sep 2007, 21:47 GMT

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.

12. Link O' Fett 20 Nov 2007, 18:25 GMT

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

13. alexknibb 01 Jan 2008, 14:57 GMT

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.

14. Roo 05 Jan 2008, 18:11 GMT

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*

15. Deadeyerobbie 28 Jan 2008, 19:21 GMT

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

16. WaddleWave 30 Jan 2008, 20:16 GMT

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.

17. Sarato 01 Feb 2008, 08:56 GMT

A great game!
Excersise Mode has the greatest music!

18. Dan 11 Feb 2008, 09:02 GMT

great puzzle but not worth 800 wii points

19. GameGod3008 22 Feb 2008, 16:25 GMT

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

20. Rossi 26 Feb 2008, 20:30 GMT

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....

21. Roo 28 Feb 2008, 17:12 GMT

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.

22. stinssd 17 Mar 2008, 16:09 GMT

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. :-)

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