Pikiinya!

This is a prototype of Pikiinya!. Thanks to Matthew Callis for releasing this ROM image. By: Evan G Last updated: September 30, 2012

This is yet another prototype that was sold on Yahoo Japan auctions back in May 2012. Pikiinya! is a Tetris style puzzle game involving penguins. I estimate this prototype is about 80-90% done, with the gameplay finalized, but the presentation still in progress.

First thing to note is that the intro screen lacks the ASCII/Crea-Tech copyright notice and "Push Start" in the prototype.

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The options screen is a bit different. They switched the position of the saved records (きろく) and rules (ルールせつめい) options.

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The sound option is default to stereo in the final version (ステレオ). In the prototype, it looks like the sound option is set to mono (モノラル), however, the option actually takes you to a sound test screen.

Sound test screen in the prototype

The rules option is pretty much the same in the prototype, except there is a slight difference in the graphics on the bottom left of the chalkboard.

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Next, the view records (きろくをみる) menu. The menu items boxes are pink in the final version, rather than green. There is an extra game mode in the prototype as well, time attack (タイムアタック).

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Next, the two player mode (ふたりでたいせん). They changed the menu boxes from green to orange in the final version.

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I chose the survival mode (サバイバル) to test a two player option. There is a bug in the prototype, as it allows both players to be able to select the same save account. The prototype also has a handicapping system.

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Next, onto the single player mode. When you enter name for the save account, the screen is pretty much the same, except there are some hidden orange penguins in the background at that bottom.

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The final version only gives you three modes to play from. I assume that you have to unlock the other modes. It appears the missing modes are a story mode on the bottom left (あんでスの死闘), time attack (タイムアタック) and a stage editor (ステージクール).

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For the stage clear mode, the prototype lets you select whatever stage you want right from the start.

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Note that the words "stage clear" (ステージクリア) are static in the prototype version.

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Next is the endurance race mode (耐久レース). Changing the option in the prototype gives you different amounts of time you have to run the race ("ふん" or "ぷん" means minutes). The final version just says "game start" (ゲームスタート). The actual gameplay of the mode is the same.

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The endless mode is pretty much done. I didn't see anything different about this, except when you lose. In the prototype it just says "game over" and that is it. In the final version, the pink penguin comes up and says a bunch of stuff.

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The story mode is clearly not finished in the prototype. The prototype allows you to select any of the battles at the start.

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The intro screen is not complete. You do not get to see the opponent speak, and the place where it says the difficulty level is glitched.

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Well, that pretty much sums it up. This prototype has some minor changes relative to the final. Fun game, though.

Prototype pcb from the original auction

Download the ROM image here