Wikipedia

Puzzle & Action: Tant-R

Puzzle & Action: Tant-R (also known as just Tant-R[a]), is a puzzle video game developed and published by Sega in 1993 for the Sega System C in Japan. The first instalment in the Puzzle & Action trilogy, it is a spin-off of Bonanza Bros.. The characters from Bonanza Bros., Robo and Mobo, are featured as protagonists,[2] functioning as detectives. A prison escapee is chased, and his henchmen interfere. A series of timed mini-games must be completed to defeat the henchmen. The game features references to western culture.

Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
Developer(s)Sega
Publisher(s)Sega
Platform(s)Arcade, Mega Drive, Game Gear, Saturn, PlayStation 2
ReleaseArcade
Mega Drive
  • JP: 1 April 1994
Game Gear
  • JP: 22 April 1994
Saturn
  • JP: 24 May 1996
PlayStation 2 (Sega Ages 2500)
  • JP: 15 January 2004
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer
Arcade systemSega System C[1]

The game was ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Game Gear in 1994, to the Saturn as part of the Sega Ages Shukudai ga Tant R[b] compilation in 1996, and released on the Wii Virtual Console in 2007. An updated version was released for the PlayStation 2 as part of the Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 6 compilation in Japan in 2004 (re-released on the PlayStation Store in 2013), and the Sega Classics Collection, the only English localisation, in 2005. In 2002, a service allowing games to be downloaded to a mobile phone was launched. Reception was mixed: although the graphics and gameplay were praised, some reviewers criticised the mini-games themselves. Puzzle & Action: Tant-R was followed by two sequels: Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R, featuring a medieval theme, in 1994, and Puzzle & Action: Treasure Hunt, featuring a treasure-hunting theme, in 1995.

Plot

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In arcade mode, a dangerous criminal known as 'Boss' has escaped from prison. The Boss has enlisted the help of his henchmen. The detectives (dressed as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson[3]) must chase the Boss and tackle the henchmen. When caught, the Boss and henchmen are arrested. The detectives are then interviewed and are seen on stage in a theatre.[4][5] In arcade mode, the Boss is chased over locations including a city (featuring landmarks of London and Paris), a desert, a casino, and a construction site.[6] In multiplayer, he is chased along a motorway, and the detectives are congratulated outside the Palace of Westminster afterwards.[7]

Gameplay

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A mini-game. Using the hints at the bottom, the correct item must be found on a grid of shapes of different sizes and colours.

The game consists of four stages.[8] To complete a stage, the required number of games must be completed. A selection of four games is presented; the selection shifts quickly (like a roulette wheel[9]) and a button is pressed to play the selected game (in multiplayer, a random game is displayed).[10] There are twenty games,[11] categorised into five types: puzzle, counting, concentration, barrage, and picture searching (for example, one game requires a given pattern of fruit machine symbols to be located on a grid[12]).[13] Other objectives include selecting the correct option (or options) among incorrect ones, memorising and following a sequence, and pressing the button at the correct moment or at a quick enough pace.[14] Certain games' names are puns on pop culture names or terms.[15] Such references include Rock n Roll, Billy Joel, Stanley Kubrick, and Out Run's music track Magical Sound Shower.[16] Each game has a time limit, and if time runs out or a mistake is made, a life is lost. The player begins with three lives. Occasionally, a game will become a "Lucky!" icon. Selecting this grants a piece of a heart and begins a random game. Collecting all three pieces (one in the PlayStation 2 version[17]) grants an extra life.[18]

The mini-games increase in difficulty as the game progresses. At the end of the first three stages, the Boss escapes on a hot air balloon, and the detectives give chase in aeroplanes. In this bonus round, balloons must be popped, and missiles must be avoided (hitting one temporarily paralyses the player[17]). If all the balloons are popped, an extra life is given.[19] At the end of the fourth stage, the criminal must be apprehended in a final challenge. In the Mega Drive version, this involves locating his hideout on a map.[20] In the Game Gear version, it is a car chase, and other cars must be manoeuvred around.[21]

The Mega Drive version includes a 'free' mode, in which the mini-games can be practised,[22][23] and a Competition mode. Up to four players are supported using the Multiplayer adaptor.[24] Four of the games are only playable in these modes, such as the one in which the correct biscuits (cookies) must be collected.[25] The Game Gear version features a Battle mode, in which two players compete by playing games against each other using the Gear-to-Gear cable to link two units,[26] but features only twelve games, two of which are exclusive to this version.[27] The PlayStation 2 version adds the games from the sequel, Ichidant-R,[28] and includes two new ones, for a total of thirty-eight.[citation needed]

Development and release

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Puzzle & Action: Tant-R was released on the Mega Drive on 1 April 1994,[29] the Game Gear on 22 April 1994,[30] and the Saturn as part of the Shukudai ga Tant R compilation on 24 May 1996.[31] The title comes from Japanese tanto aru (たんとある, "there are many")[15] In March 2007, Puzzle & Action: Tant-R was released on the Virtual Console in Japan.[32] The Sega Ages 2500 compilation, Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Brothers[c] was released on 15 January 2014 (although originally scheduled for release in December 2003[33]),[34] and re-released on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 in Japan on 17 July 2013.[2][28][35]

Mobile download service

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In 2002, WOW Entertainment developed and released a Java app in Japan for J-Phone mobile phones, enabling the download of games from the series.[36][37][38] The service began on 18 September 2002, and games could be purchased on a pay-as-you-go or monthly basis.[39]

Reception

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Puzzle & Action: Tant-R received mixed reviews. Reviewing the Sega Classics Collection version, Eurogamer described the game as "amusingly weird".[42] Sci-fi Online said it is the best game in the Sega Classics Collection, commended the addictiveness of multiplayer, and commented that the compilation is "almost worth buying for Tant R alone".[43] PSX Extreme criticised the game's repetitiveness.[44] VideoGamer.com described the game as "a collection of pretty poor mini-games".[45] The Japanese Sega Saturn Magazine looked at the game in the Shukudai ga Tant R compilation,[46] and in another article, described Puzzle & Action: Tant-R as a "Puzzle Game Boom".[47] Beep! Mega Drive reviewed the Game Gear version: the four reviewers gave high marks.[41] IGN's Anoop Gantayat said the original Tant-R has "wacky 2D artwork", and that the Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros re-release mimics it.[48] He also said the game is "a good amount of fun".[48]

GamesTM listed Tant-R as a game they would like to see localised and released on modern western systems.[49] In Japan, Game Machine listed Puzzle & Action: Tant-R on their 15 August 1993 issue as being the second most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[50]

References

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  1. ^ "System 16 – Sega System C-2 Hardware (Sega)". System 16. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "ミニゲーム集の先駆け「タントアール」に多数のコンテンツを追加した「イチニのタントアールとボナンザブラザーズ。」PlayStation2アーカイブスにて配信開始" [Minigame compilation pioneer Tant-R with added contents Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Brothers released on PlayStation 2 Archives]. Gamer (in Japanese). 17 July 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. ^ "タントアール" [Tant-R]. Gemanizm (in Japanese). 5 October 2002. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  4. ^ Mega Drive manual, p. 9.
  5. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 62.
  6. ^ Strategy Guide, pp. 12–14,19,57.
  7. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 63.
  8. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 5.
  9. ^ Sega Classics Collection manual, p. 20.
  10. ^ Strategy Guide, pp. 12,16.
  11. ^ "タントアール" [Tant-R]. Be-Mega Hot Menu. Beep! Mega Drive (in Japanese). Tokyo: SoftBank. May 1994. pp. 94, 95.
  12. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 28.
  13. ^ Strategy Guide, pp. 6,7.
  14. ^ Strategy Guide, pp. 20-59.
  15. ^ a b Kalata, Kurt (24 February 2013). "Bonanza Bros". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  16. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 18.
  17. ^ a b Sega Classics Collection manual, p. 21.
  18. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 12.
  19. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 60.
  20. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 61.
  21. ^ Game Gear manual, p. 28.
  22. ^ メガドライブ大全 増補改訂版 Mega Doraibu Taizen Zouhokaiteiban [Mega Drive Encyclopaedia enlarged and revised edition] (in Japanese). Tokyo. 2015. p. 226. ISBN 978-4-7783-1442-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  23. ^ Mega Drive manual, p. 11.
  24. ^ Mega Doraibu Fan [Mega Drive Fan]. メガドライブFAN (in Japanese). Vol. 50. Tokyo: Tokumashoten Intermedia. April 1994. p. 44.
  25. ^ Strategy Guide, p. 57.
  26. ^ Game Gear manual, pp. 6,13,14.
  27. ^ "タントアール" [Tant-R]. Beep! GameGear Special. Beep! Mega Drive (in Japanese). Tokyo: SoftBank. May 1994. p. 104.
  28. ^ a b "イチニのタントアールとボナンザブラザーズ。』PS2アーカイブスで本日配信開始！" [Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Brothers begins distribution today at PS2 Archives!]. Famitsu (in Japanese). 17 July 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  29. ^ "セガハード大百科 メガドライブ対応ソフトウェア（セガ発売）" [Sega Hardware Encyclopaedia Mega Drive Software (Sega releases)]. Sega (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  30. ^ "セガハード大百科 ゲームギア対応ソフトウェア（セガ発売）" [Sega Hardware Encyclopaedia Game Gear Software (Sega Releases)]. Sega (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  31. ^ "セガハード大百科 セガサターン対応ソフトウェア（セガ発売）" [Sega Hardware Encyclopaedia Sega Saturn Software (Sega releases)]. Sega (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  32. ^ "Puzzle games on this week's Virtual Console line up in Japan". Siliconera. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  33. ^ "『タントアール』と『ボナンザブラザーズ』が帰ってきた！ 『セガエイジス2500シリーズ イチニのタントアールとボナンザブラザーズ。』" ["Tant-R" and "Bonanza Brothers" have returned! "Sega Ages 2500 series Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Brothers."]. Famitsu (in Japanese). 18 September 2003. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  34. ^ "SEGA AGES 2500シリーズ Vol.6 イチニのタントアールとボナンザブラザーズ" [Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.6 Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Brothers]. Sega (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  35. ^ "イチニのタントアールとボナンザブラザーズ。" [Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Brothers.]. Sega (in Japanese). 2013. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  36. ^ "セガの携帯コンテンツにサクラ＆ミニゲーム集" [Sakura & mini game collections to Sega's mobile phone contents]. ITmedia (in Japanese). 18 September 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  37. ^ "これで全24作品に！J-PHONEミニゲームサイト「★タントアール」に新ゲーム追加" [All 24 works! New mini-games are added to J-PHONE mini game site "Tant-R"]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). 12 November 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  38. ^ "J-フォンのJavaアプリ向け「タントアール」のミニゲームサイト" ["Tant-R"'s mini game site for J-PHONE's Java app]. ケータイ Watch (in Japanese). 18 September 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  39. ^ "★タントアール" [Tant-R]. Sega (in Japanese). 2002. Archived from the original on 12 December 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  40. ^ "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ドラゴンボールZ 武勇烈伝". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 280. ASCII Corporation. 29 April 1994. p. 40. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  41. ^ a b "タントアール" [Tant-R]. Be Mega Dog Race. Beep! Mega Drive (in Japanese). Tokyo: SoftBank. May 1994. p. 18.
  42. ^ Swann, Graham (7 February 2006). "SEGA Classics Collection Some old rope if you're particularly desperate". Eurogamer. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  43. ^ Smithson, Nick. "Sega Classics Collection". Sci-fi Online. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  44. ^ "Sega Classics Collection". PSX Extreme. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  45. ^ Orry, Tom (14 February 2006). "Sega Classics Collection Review". VideoGamer. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  46. ^ "SEGA AGES 宿題がタントアール" [Sega Ages Shukudai ga Tant R] (PDF). Sega Saturn Magazine (in Japanese). No. 22. Tokyo: SoftBank. May 1996. p. 231. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  47. ^ "＊名作クイズ＆パズルが合体！＊" [Masterpiece Quiz & Puzzle Combination!] (PDF). Sega Saturn Magazine (in Japanese). No. 23. Tokyo: SoftBank. 14 June 1996. pp. 180, 181. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  48. ^ a b Anoop Gantayat (20 July 2004). "Sega Ages: Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Bros". IGN. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  49. ^ GamesTM (2012). "Please Release Me 50 import games begging to be localised". Retro Volume 5. Bournemouth: Imagine Publishing. pp. 85, 92. ISBN 978-1-908-95547-0.
  50. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 455. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 August 1993. p. 25.

Sources

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  • タントアール必勝攻略法 メガドライブ完璧攻略シリーズ Tantoāru Hisshou Kouryaku Hou Mega Doraibu Kanpeki Kouryaku Shirīzu [Tant-R certain victory strategy guide Mega Drive complete strategy guide series] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Futabasha. 25 April 1994. ISBN 978-4-5752-8316-7.
  • Sega (1994). Puzzle & Action: タントアール取扱説明書 Tantoāru Toriatsukaisetsumeisho [Puzzle & Action: Tant-R Instruction Manual] (in Japanese) (Mega Drive ed.). Sega.
  • Sega (1994). タントアール取扱説明書 Tantoāru Toriatsukaisetsumeisho [Tant-R Instruction Manual] (in Japanese) (Game Gear ed.). Sega.
  • Sega (2005). "Tant R & Bonanza Bros.". Sega Classics Collection manual (UK ed.). Sega.

Notes

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  1. ^ タントアール, Tanto Āru
  2. ^ Shukudai ga Tant R (宿題がタントアール, Shukudai ga Tanto Āru)
  3. ^ Ichini no Tant-R to Bonanza Brothers (イチニのタントアールとボナンザブラザーズ, Ichini no Tanto Āru to Bonanza Burazāzu)
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