Picross S

Last updated

Picross S
Picross S icon.png
Genre(s) Puzzle
Developer(s) Jupiter
Publisher(s) Jupiter
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch
First releasePicross S
  • WW: September 28, 2017
Latest releasePicross S9
  • WW: April 27, 2023
Spin-offs List of Picross S Spin-offs

Picross S is a series of nonogram puzzle game developed and published by Jupiter for the Nintendo Switch game console. As with all past entries in the series, the game involves the player completing nonograms in the shortest time possible. Picross S is the successor to Jupiter's Picross e series on Nintendo 3DS.

Contents

Games

Picross S

The first game in the series, Picross S was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 28 September 2017. [1] The game received a mixed reception, [2] with reviewers citing its presence of new puzzles as a positive but its blandness and lack of creativity in comparison to past entries as a negative. It released on the Nintendo Switch worldwide on 28 September 2017.

Picross S2

Picross S2 was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 2 August 2018. [3] This was the first game to add the Clip Picross feature, which allows players to complete a larger picture by filling out small puzzles. These are unlocked by completing every 5th, 10th, and 15th level of a page. The game was received better than Picross S1, but was still criticized for its lack of innovation.

Picross S3

Picross S3 was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 25 April 2019. [4] It is the highest rated game in the series based on Metacritic review scores. [5] The game was heavily praised for the new Color Picross mode despite only having 30 of the puzzle type. In Color Picross, the picture is determined by the numbers in the top and left of the puzzle, as well as each of the colors being listed in order, leading to more complex and innovative puzzles.

Picross S4

Picross S4 was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 23 April 2020. [6] Picross S4 was generally liked and positively reviewed by critics due to the simple and classic nonogram gameplay, but was criticized for adding no new gameplay modes.

The only new feature is the Extra menu, which gives the player two large 30x30 puzzles. If you have save files for Picross S1, Picross S2, or Picross S3 on your system, you will receive a special 40x30 puzzle for each game you own. The only way to play every puzzle in the game is to own all of the previous games in the series.

Picross S5

Picross S5 was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 26 November 2020. [7] This game retains all the same modes and features of Picross S4, and adds two small "quality of life" features. A High Contrast mode was added for Color Picross, which changes the colors to make them easier to differentiate for colorblind players. The total completion time is displayed when all puzzles in a mode are completed, and for the full game once all modes are completed. These features were added to the four previous games in the series via patches released on the same day.

Picross S6

Picross S6 was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 22 April 2021. [8] This game retains all the same modes and features of Picross S4 and S5. The puzzle grids in Extra Mode now feature alternating colour lines every 5 squares, to make the larger puzzle size easier to parse; this feature was added to Picross S4 and S5 via patches released around the same time.

Picross S7

Picross S7 was released in Japan and Hong Kong on 23 December 2021, in Europe and Australia on 27 December 2021, and in North America on 10 January 2022. [9] This game retains all the same modes and features of Picross S4 and S5, and adds touch screen support for handheld mode.

Picross S8

Picross S8 was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 29 September 2022. [10] This game retains all the same modes and features of Picross S4 and S5, and also adds a multiplayer function for up to 4 players at a time.

Picross S9

Picross S9 was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 27 April 2023. [11]

Spin-offs

As with their Picross e series, Jupiter has used the mechanics and UI of Picross S as the basis for a number of licensed spin-off picross games.

Kemono Friends Picross

Kemono Friends Picross was released in Japan, Europe, and North America on 4 October 2018. [12] Based on the Kemono Friends media franchise.

Picross Lord of the Nazarick

Picross Lord of the Nazarick was released in Europe and North America on 25 July 2019. [13] Based on the Overlord anime.

Picross S Genesis & Master System Edition

A Sega-themed entry featuring puzzles based on 59 classic Sega Genesis and Master System games including Sonic the Hedgehog, Alex Kidd and Phantasy Star. It was released on 5 August 2021 in Japan, Europe and North America. [14] Also known as Picross S Mega Drive & Mark III Edition in Japan and Picross S Mega Drive & Master System Edition in Europe, in line with the branding of Sega's 8- and 16-bit consoles in those regions. [15]

Gameplay

In the same fashion as past entries in the series, the games involve the player completing nonograms. [16]

Puzzles included in Picross S series games
TitlePicross/Mega PicrossClip PicrossColor PicrossExtra ModeTotal Puzzles
Picross S300300
Picross S2300120420
Picross S330015030480
Picross S4300150305485
Picross S5300150305485
Picross S6300150305485
Picross S7300150305485
Picross S8300150305485
Picross S9300150305485
Picross S Genesis & Master System Edition30015030480
Kemono Friends Picross300110410
Picross Lord of the Nazarick16233027519

Reception

Aggregate review scores
Game Metacritic
Picross S67/100 [17]
Picross S273/100 [18]
Picross S378/100 [19]
Picross S477/100 [20]
Picross S571/100 [21]
Picross S677/100 [22]
Picross S780/100 [23]
Picross S8
Picross S9

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonogram</span> Logic puzzle forming a picture in a grid

Nonograms, also known as Hanjie, Paint by Numbers, Picross, Griddlers, and Pic-a-Pix are picture logic puzzles in which cells in a grid must be colored or left blank according to numbers at the edges of the grid to reveal a hidden picture. In this puzzle, the numbers are a form of discrete tomography that measures how many unbroken lines of filled-in squares there are in any given row or column. For example, a clue of "4 8 3" would mean there are sets of four, eight, and three filled squares, in that order, with at least one blank square between successive sets.

<i>Marios Super Picross</i> 1995 video game

Mario's Super Picross is a Super Famicom sequel to Mario's Picross. The game is compatible with the Super Famicom Mouse. It is developed by Jupiter and Ape and published by Nintendo.

<i>Dr. Robotniks Mean Bean Machine</i> 1993 video game

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a falling block puzzle game developed by Compile and published by Sega. It was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in North America and Europe in November 1993, and ported to the Game Gear in 1993 and Master System in 1994.

<i>Puyo Pop Fever</i> 2003 puzzle video game

Puyo Pop Fever is a 2003 puzzle video game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It is the fifth main installment in the Puyo Puyo puzzle game series and the second Puyo Puyo game to be programmed by Sonic Team after Puyo Pop. This was the start of what can be considered a reboot of the Puyo Puyo franchise, with this entry's plot revolving around Professor Accord losing her flying cane.

<i>Pac-Attack</i> 1993 puzzle video game

Pac-Attack, also known as Pac-Panic, is a 1993 falling-tile puzzle video game developed and published by Namco for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis. Versions for the Game Boy, Game Gear and Philips CD-i were also released. The player is tasked with clearing out blocks and ghosts without them stacking to the top of the playfield — blocks can be cleared by matching them in horizontal rows, while ghosts can be cleared by placing down a Pac-Man piece that can eat them. It is the first game in the Pac-Man series to be released exclusively for home platforms.

<i>Marios Picross</i> 1995 video game

Mario's Picross is a 1995 puzzle video game for the Game Boy. Developed by Jupiter Corporation and Ape and published by Nintendo, it is a compilation of nonogram logic puzzles. The game stars Mario who chisels away at puzzle grids to form pictures. The game initially received positive reviews, with reviewers citing its length and addictive nature as a positive, but its grid sizes and absence of typical Mario elements as a negative.

<i>Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz</i> 2006 video game

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz is a platform game developed and published by Sega, the seventh title in the Super Monkey Ball series, following Super Monkey Ball Adventure. It was released as a launch title for the Wii system on November 19, 2006, in North America, December 7 in Australia and December 8 in Europe.

<i>Picross DS</i> 2007 video game

Picross DS (ピクロスDS) is a puzzle video game developed by Jupiter and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It is the second Picross game to be released by Nintendo in Europe and North America after Mario's Picross suffered a commercial failure in regions outside Japan, where many Picross games have been released for several Nintendo consoles. Like other Picross games, it presents the player with a series of nonogram logic puzzles to solve. It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America, Europe and Australia.

<i>Naruto: Ultimate Ninja</i> Video game franchise

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<i>Picross 3D</i> 2009 video game

Picross 3D, known in Japan as Rittai Picross, is a puzzle video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan in March 2009, in Europe in March 2010, and in North America in May 2010. It uses similar nonogram mechanics to Picross DS, but adapted to a three-dimensional environment by adding an extra axis blocks can go on. Outside Japan, the game is part of Nintendo's Touch! Generations brand. A sequel, Picross 3D: Round 2, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan in October 2015, in North America in September 2016, and in Europe and Australia in December 2016.

<i>Chameleon: To Dye For!</i> 2006 video game

Chameleon is a 2006 puzzle video game released for arcades, PlayStation Portable (PSP), Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows. In Japan and Asia, the game is called Kuru Kuru Chameleon. In Europe, the game is called Kameleon. In America, the game was going to be called Chameleon: To Dye For!, however the name was changed to just Chameleon. The game had an Arcade release on the Sega NAOMI GD-ROM platform with the title Kuru Kuru Chameleon on March 9, 2006. In 2019, a Nintendo Switch port was released as a digital download by UFO Interactive Games in America and Tommo in Europe. Starfish SD released a PlayStation 4 port as a digital download in 2020 exclusively in Japan. Also in 2020, a Windows port was released for Steam. This game offers players simple controls and competitive play in the attempt to match colours on the playfield. The game features several playable characters along with a bonus character. Each character has her own special power, which can be used to hinder the opponent. Wireless play is also available.

<i>Super Monkey Ball 3D</i> 2011 video game

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<i>Puyo Puyo Tetris</i> 2014 crossover puzzle video game

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<i>Pokémon Picross</i> 2015 video game

Pokémon Picross is a freemium puzzle video game featuring Pokémon characters developed by Jupiter Corporation and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo 3DS. The title is part of the "Picross" nonogram series that use number-based grid puzzles to reveal pictures. It was released as a downloadable title on the Nintendo 3DS eShop worldwide in December 2015.

<i>Picross 3D: Round 2</i> 2015 video game

Picross 3D: Round 2 known in Japan as Rittai Picross 2 is a Japanese puzzle video game developed by HAL Laboratory for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the sequel to the 2009 Nintendo DS game, Picross 3D. The game was released in Japan on October 1, 2015, in North America on September 1, 2016, in Europe on December 2, 2016, and in Australia on December 3, 2016. In North America, it was only released as a digital download.

Picross e is a series of nonogram puzzle video games developed and published by Jupiter for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. It is the successor to Jupiter's Nintendo-published Picross games including the Mario's Picross series and Picross DS.

<i>Murder by Numbers</i> (video game) 2020 puzzle video game

Murder by Numbers is a video game developed by Mediatonic and published by The Irregular Corporation. It was released on March 5, 2020 for Nintendo Switch and Windows, and on March 23, 2021 for Stadia. The game is a hybrid of visual novels with nonogram-style logic puzzles to progress the story.

<i>BoxBoy!</i> Video game series

BoxBoy! is a series of puzzle-platform games developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. The series centres around Qbby, a square-shaped character who can produce a string of connected boxes. The boxes are used to overcome obstacles in stages that Qbby must be guided through. The first game, BoxBoy!, released on January 14, 2015, in Japan on the Nintendo 3DS. Its sequel, BoxBoxBoy!, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016, with a third game, Bye-Bye BoxBoy!, in 2017. A physical compilation of the first three games, HakoBoy! Hakozume Box, was released in Japan. A fourth installment, BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!, was released for the Nintendo Switch in April 2019.

<i>Bayonetta</i> Video game series

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<i>Puyo Puyo Tetris 2</i> 2020 video game

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a puzzle video game developed and published by Sega. It's an installment in the Puyo Puyo series and a direct sequel to Puyo Puyo Tetris. The game was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on December 8, 2020 with a Windows version released on March 21, 2021. The game was released to generally positive reviews.

References

  1. "Picross S".
  2. "Metacritic". Metacritic .
  3. "Picross S2".
  4. "Picross S3".
  5. "Picross S4 announced for Switch". Gematsu. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  6. "Picross S5".
  7. "Picross S6".
  8. "Picross S7".
  9. "Picross S8".
  10. "Picross S9".
  11. "Kemono Friends Picross".
  12. "Picross Lord of the Nazarick".
  13. "Picross S Genesis & Master System Edition".
  14. "Picross S Genesis & Master System Edition Could Be Puzzle Perfection For SEGA Fans". Nintendo Life. 28 July 2021.
  15. Vogel, Mitch (8 October 2017). "Picross S Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  16. "Picross S for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  17. "Picross S2 for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  18. "Picross S3 for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  19. "Picross S4 for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  20. "Picross S5 for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  21. "Picross S6 for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  22. "Picross S7 for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 17 November 2022.