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Difference between revisions of "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine"

From Sonic Retro
(Links, reorganisation, moving most 8-bit specific info to its article)
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| publisher=[[Sega]]
 
| publisher=[[Sega]]
 
| developer=[[Compile]]
 
| developer=[[Compile]]
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| system=[[Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]]
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| system=[[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive / Genesis]]
 
| europe=November 1993
 
| europe=November 1993
 
| usa=November 1993
 
| usa=November 1993
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| esrb=e|vrc=ga|pegi=3|oflc=g|grb=a|cero=a|djctq=l
 
| esrb=e|vrc=ga|pegi=3|oflc=g|grb=a|cero=a|djctq=l
 
}}
 
}}
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'''''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine''''' is a puzzle game which was modified from the Japanese puzzle game ''Puyo Puyo''. Unlike other Sonic games this one place in the ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' universe and features cameos of many characters from the television show (mostly robots that appeared in the first episode).
+
'''''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine''''' is a [[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive / Genesis]] puzzle game, based on the earlier Japanese puzzle game ''[[sega:Puyo Puyo|Puyo Puyo]]''.
  
−
Compared to other games in the [[Sonic]] series, there is no protagonist in ''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine'' rather than [[Dr. Robotnik]] himself. Sonic is nowhere to be seen, and in his place is a character called [[Has Bean]].
+
==Basis and release==
 +
The game is based on the earlier Japanese puzzler ''[[sega:Puyo Puyo|Puyo Puyo]]''. It was released to the North American and European markets in November 1993. Though not a commercial success initially, it became more popular with time. It was later also released in various compilations and other forms; see <a href="#Also released in>below</a>.
  
−
A lot of the music in ''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine'' was reused, albeit remixed and/or resynthed, from the original ''Puyo Puyo'' music score created by Katsume Tanaka (such as Memories for the Password theme, and the Panic theme was a complete remix of the Satan theme). Unlike its [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] counterpart, in which the Panic music was kept the same, this version was kept as close to the original as possible. The sound effects however, though similar, were rather different.
+
It was never released in Japan, though talks had been in progress; Compile declined the opportunity most likely because it was too similar to the popular ''Puyo Puyo'', on which it was based and whose sequel (''Puyo Puyo Tsu'') was already in development.
  
−
With the storyline presented in the instruction manual, the game lacks any sort of actual hero, making this one of the darkest Sonic games ever released.
+
An [[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (8-bit)|8-bit version]] was later released for the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Sega Game Gear]] in December 1993. As the Mega Drive version was based on that system's version of ''Puyo Puyo'', the 8-bit version was based on ''Puyo Puyo'' for the Game Gear. It contains an extra [[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (8-bit)#Puzzle Mode|Puzzle Mode]], which was later expanded into the ''Nazo Puyo'' series.
 +
 
 +
A lot of the music in ''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine'' was reused, albeit remixed and/or resynthed, from the original ''Puyo Puyo'' score by Katsume Tanaka (e.g. the Password theme resembles Memories, and the Panic theme is a total remix of the Satan theme). The sound effects were recognisable but different.
 +
 
 +
==Storyline==
 +
Unlike other ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games, this one occurs in the universe of the [[Category:Television|Television]] show ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', and features [[Dr. Eggman#Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog|its version of Dr. Robotnik]] and many of its other characters including [[Scratch]], [[Grounder (AoStH)|Grounder]] and other [[badnik]]s). The only other reference to said series was in the bonus stages of ''[[Sonic Spinball]]''. Also rare for the series is the fact that Sonic does not appear. In his place as protagonist is a character called [[Has Bean]].
 +
 
 +
Robotnik has hatched a plan to ensure that no music or fun remains on the planet [[Mobius]]. To do this, he kidnaps the citizens of [[Beanville]] and stuffs them into a giant [[Roboticizer|robotising]] machine called the [[Mean Bean-Steaming Machine]] (hence the game's title) to make them into his robot slaves. As the character Has Bean (based on Puyo Puyo's Carbuncle), the player must foil Robotnik's plans by defeat each of the robot guards, and finally Robotnik himself, to foil his evil plans. Their battles take the form of competitive puzzle gaming.
  
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
−
The game involved the placing of four same-colored beans adjacent to each other in order to get rid of them. Doing this at the same time is an opponent. Whoever fills their screen to the top with the beans loses so it is essential to clear as many beans as possible to keep the screen empty.
 
  
−
Although this is all you need to do to get anywhere in exercise mode, you'll usually need to drop "refugee beans" on your opponent by creating chain reactions. These beans are both annoying and helpful, as they can only be cleared when adjacent to another bean that is being removed, but they are very useful for making chain reactions.
+
Two players compete, each with their own rectangular play area comprising a grid 12 beans (previously Puyos) high by 6 wide, meaning that 72 beans (including garbage) can fit. Various colours of beans fall into the play area. The player must attempt to place four identically coloured beans adjacent to each other, at which point they will disappear. A player loses when beans pile to the top of their play area (actually the third column from the left), so it is essential to clear as many beans as possible, in order to keep the screen empty.
  
−
===Scenario Mode===
+
Players can send Refugee Beans (aka Garbage, and Ojyama) to their opponent's play area by creating chain reactions. These beans are both annoying and helpful: they can only be cleared when adjacent to another bean that is being removed, but they are very useful for making chain reactions. 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.
−
In the game, a player must group 4 or more different coloured 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. Each player plays on a 12 high by 6 wide grid, meaning that 72 beans can be seen on screen (including garbage). If garbage falls on the player's screen, they cannot be grouped like normal beans can (4 in a row will not erase), however, garbage is erased when a neighbouring group of beans erase next to them (for example, if a vertical line of 4 beans in column 2 forms adjacently next to a vertical line of 4 garbage beans in either column 1 or column 3, then that garbage disappears). However, one does not send additional garbage to the other player when they are erased with coloured beans.
 
  
−
===VS Mode===
+
If garbage beans fall into the player's play area, they cannot be grouped like normal beans (i.e. 4 in a row will not disapper) Garbage is erased when a neighbouring group of beans erase (e.g. if a vertical line of 4 beans in column 2 forms adjacently next to a vertical line of 4 garbage beans in either column 1 or column 3, the garbage disappears). However, this does not cause garbage to be sent to the opponent.
−
In ''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine'', up to 2 players can play either in VS Mode or in Exercise Mode. In VS Mode, each player can choose between 5 difficulty settings, labeled 1-5 (Easiest to Hardest, where 1 is the lowest drop speed, and 5 is the fastest). In VS Mode, one player must defeat the other in the same way as in Scenario mode. If a player selects Level 1, they play with 4 coloured beans (the purple bean is omitted), however, all 5 are included with the other four difficulties. Also, if a player chooses Level's 4 or 5, they start with garbage. For Level 4, they start with 18 (3 rows of) garbage, and for Level 5, they start with 30 (5 rows of) garbage.
 
  
−
===Exercise Mode===
+
===Scenario Mode===
−
Exercise Mode (modernly known as Endless Puyo Puyo), is a form of practice play where 1 or 2 players can battle out. This mode has three difficulty levels: easiest, normal, and hardest (Level 1, 3 or 5). On easiest, players start with only 4 colours. To level up, the player has to keep erasing beans. Helpers (Big Puyo or Has Bean) will appear when the player gets stuck on Level 1 the first time, but they can only appear once. For Level 3, at random times, Has Bean will drop from the screen to help out. When Carbuncle is placed on a colour, it travels in a random direction, following downwards, changing all beans to that colour. For Level 5, at random times, a Big Puyo will drop from the screen. When Big Puyo falls, it occupies 2 columns of the grid, and when placed, squashes all beans and removes them from the grid.
+
This is the game's story mode, in which Has Bean must "Battle Robotnik's ranks of robot flunkies in order to save Beanville!" The player competes against computer-controlled characters in 12 stages.
−
 
+
====Opponent list====
−
===Boss list===
 
 
* '''Stage 1''': [[Arms]]
 
* '''Stage 1''': [[Arms]]
 
* '''Stage 2''': [[Frankly]]
 
* '''Stage 2''': [[Frankly]]
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* '''Stage 11''': [[Dragon Breath]]
 
* '''Stage 11''': [[Dragon Breath]]
 
* '''Stage 12''': [[Scratch]]
 
* '''Stage 12''': [[Scratch]]
−
* '''Stage 13''': [[Dr. Robotnik]]
+
* '''Stage 13''': [[Dr. Eggman|Dr. Robotnik]]
  
−
==Release==
+
===VS Mode===
−
The game was released in February of 1993 for North America markets, and quickly became available to Europe via import. It was not a commercial success upon its original release, but it steadily progressed to become a classic. The game was never released in Japan, though talks had been in progress. Compile declined the opportunity most likely because the game was too similar to the popular ''Puyo Puyo'' whose sequel (''Puyo Puyo Tsu'') was, at the time, already in development.
+
Up to 2 players can play either in VS Mode or in Exercise Mode. In VS Mode, each player can choose between 5 difficulty settings, labeled 1-5 (Easiest to Hardest, where 1 is the lowest drop speed, and 5 is the fastest). In VS Mode, one player must defeat the other in the same way as in Scenario mode. If a player selects Level 1, they play with 4 colours of beans, however, the other levels include 5 colours. Furthermore, in Levels 4 or 5, the game begins with the play area already containing garbage: for Level 4, 18 beans (3 rows); for Level 5, 30 beans (5 rows).
  
−
An [[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (8-bit)|8-bit version]] was also released for the [[Sega Master System]] and the [[Game Gear]] in 1993. Like their Mega Drive counterpart, these versions are a clone of the original ''Puyo Puyo'' for the Game Gear (which was called Puzlow Kids, and was set for an international release). However, it contains an extra mode, known as Puzzle Mode. Puzzle Mode was the precursor to the internationalised version of ''Nazo Puyo'', a game where the player must take steps to solve increasingly difficult puzzles. Compile later went on to create sole Nazo Puyo games, two of which featured exclusively on the SNES, whereas one featured exclusively on the Game Gear, until it was included on many of the games merchandise, including ''Puyo Puyo Tsu'' for Windows 95. It was also included in ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' and in ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]''. However, the Mega Drive version of ''Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine'' first featured as part of ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' for [[Nintendo GameCube]].
+
===Exercise Mode===
−
 
+
Exercise Mode (modernly known as Endless Puyo Puyo), is a form of practice play where 1 or 2 players can battle out. This mode has three difficulty levels: easiest, normal, and hardest (Level 1, 3 or 5). On easiest, players start with only 4 colours. To level up, the player has to keep erasing beans. Helpers (Big Puyo or Has Bean) will appear when the player gets stuck on Level 1 the first time, but they can only appear once. For Level 3, at random times, Has Bean will drop from the screen to help out. When Carbuncle is placed on a colour, it travels in a random direction, following downwards, changing all beans to that colour. For Level 5, at random times, a Big Puyo will drop from the screen. When Big Puyo falls, it occupies 2 columns of the grid, and when placed, squashes all beans and removes them from the grid.
−
==Storyline==
 
−
[[Dr. Robotnik]] has hatched a plan to ensure that no music or fun remains on [[Mobius]]. To do this however, he kidnaps the citizens of [[Beanville]] and stuffs them into a giant [[roboticizer|robotising]] machine called the [[Mean Bean-Steaming Machine]]; (hence the name, Mean Bean Machine), so that they become his robot slaves. The player must now defeat each of the robot guards and finally Robotnik himself, to foil his evil plans.
 
−
 
 
−
==Manuals==
 
−
*[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (16-bit) US Manual]]
 
−
*[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (16-bit) EU Manual]]
 
  
−
==Also Released On==
+
==Also released on==
−
* ''[[Sonic Compilation]]'' for the [[Sega Genesis]] (1995)
+
* ''[[Sonic Compilation]]'', also for [[sega:Sega Mega Drive]|Sega Mega Drive / Genesis] (1995)
−
* ''[[Sega PC Puzzle Pack]]'' for the PC (1999)
+
* ''[[Sega PC Puzzle Pack]]'' for Windows-based PCs (1999)
−
* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] (2002)  
+
* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' for [[sega:Nintendo GameCube|Nintendo GameCube]] (2002)  
−
* ''[[Super Sonic Gold]]'' for the [[Play TV Legends]] (2004)
+
* [[sega:Legends Series|Legends Series]] consoles by [[sega:Radica Games|Radica Games]] (2004): appears in both MD/Genesis Volume 1 and Super Sonic Gold editions
 
* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' for the [[Sony PlayStation 2]] and [[Microsoft Xbox]] (2004)
 
* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' for the [[Sony PlayStation 2]] and [[Microsoft Xbox]] (2004)
 
* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Super Monkey Ball Deluxe]]'' for the [[Microsoft Xbox]] (2005)
 
* ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Super Monkey Ball Deluxe]]'' for the [[Microsoft Xbox]] (2005)
−
* [[Virtual Console]] on [[Nintendo Wii]] (2006)
+
* [[sega:Virtual Console|Virtual Console]] on [[sega:Nintendo Wii|Nintendo Wii]] (2006)
−
* ''[[Playpal Plug and Play]]'' for the [[Coleco]] Plug and play console (2006)
+
* [[Playpal Plug and Play]] Sonic console by [[sega:Coleco|Coleco]] (2006)
−
* ''[[Blaze Dual Game Controller Player]]'' for the [[Blaze (company)|Blaze]] Plug and play console (2008)
+
* [[sega:Mega Drive Twin Pads|Mega Drive Twin Pads]] by [[sega:Blaze (company)|Blaze]] (2008)
 
* ''[[Sega Fun Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' for the [[Sony PlayStation 2]] (2009)
 
* ''[[Sega Fun Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' for the [[Sony PlayStation 2]] (2009)
 
* ''[[Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection]]'' for the [[Sony PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] (2009)
 
* ''[[Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection]]'' for the [[Sony PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] (2009)
 
* ''[[Sonic PC Collection]]'' for the PC (2009)
 
* ''[[Sonic PC Collection]]'' for the PC (2009)
  
−
==Production Credits==
+
==Credits==
 
Producers: [[Yoji Ishii]], [[Noriyoshi Oba]], Masamitsu Niitani<br/>
 
Producers: [[Yoji Ishii]], [[Noriyoshi Oba]], Masamitsu Niitani<br/>
 
Directors: [[Tetsuo Shinyu]], Takayuki Yanagihori, Masanobu Tsukamoto<br/>
 
Directors: [[Tetsuo Shinyu]], Takayuki Yanagihori, Masanobu Tsukamoto<br/>
Line 85: Line 83:
 
Designer: Max Taylor, Brian Ransom, Dave Albert<br>
 
Designer: Max Taylor, Brian Ransom, Dave Albert<br>
 
Sound: David Javelosa<br>
 
Sound: David Javelosa<br>
−
Created By: [[Compile]]<br>
+
Created By: [[sega:Compile|Compile]]<br>
−
Presented By: [[Sega]]<br>
+
Presented By: [[sega:Sega|Sega]]<br>
  
−
==Physical Scans==
+
==Resources==
 +
===Manuals===
 +
*[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (16-bit) US Manual]]
 +
*[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (16-bit) EU Manual]]
 +
===Product images===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image:Meanbean-box-us.jpg|US cover
 
Image:Meanbean-box-us.jpg|US cover
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File:DRMBM MD KR Box.jpg|Korean cover
 
File:DRMBM MD KR Box.jpg|Korean cover
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
* [[wikipedia:Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine|Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine]] article (covers both 16- and 8-bit versions) on Wikipedia
  
 
{{MeanBeanLevels}}
 
{{MeanBeanLevels}}

Revision as of 13:49, 21 June 2010

For the 8-bit version, see Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (8-bit).

n/a

Mean Bean title.png
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
System(s): Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Puzzle

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a Sega Mega Drive / Genesis puzzle game, based on the earlier Japanese puzzle game Puyo Puyo.

Basis and release

The game is based on the earlier Japanese puzzler Puyo Puyo. It was released to the North American and European markets in November 1993. Though not a commercial success initially, it became more popular with time. It was later also released in various compilations and other forms; see <a href="#Also released in>below</a>.

It was never released in Japan, though talks had been in progress; Compile declined the opportunity most likely because it was too similar to the popular Puyo Puyo, on which it was based and whose sequel (Puyo Puyo Tsu) was already in development.

An 8-bit version was later released for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear in December 1993. As the Mega Drive version was based on that system's version of Puyo Puyo, the 8-bit version was based on Puyo Puyo for the Game Gear. It contains an extra Puzzle Mode, which was later expanded into the Nazo Puyo series.

A lot of the music in Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine was reused, albeit remixed and/or resynthed, from the original Puyo Puyo score by Katsume Tanaka (e.g. the Password theme resembles Memories, and the Panic theme is a total remix of the Satan theme). The sound effects were recognisable but different.

Storyline

Unlike other Sonic the Hedgehog games, this one occurs in the universe of the show Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and features its version of Dr. Robotnik and many of its other characters including Scratch, Grounder and other badniks). The only other reference to said series was in the bonus stages of Sonic Spinball. Also rare for the series is the fact that Sonic does not appear. In his place as protagonist is a character called Has Bean.

Robotnik has hatched a plan to ensure that no music or fun remains on the planet Mobius. To do this, he kidnaps the citizens of Beanville and stuffs them into a giant robotising machine called the Mean Bean-Steaming Machine (hence the game's title) to make them into his robot slaves. As the character Has Bean (based on Puyo Puyo's Carbuncle), the player must foil Robotnik's plans by defeat each of the robot guards, and finally Robotnik himself, to foil his evil plans. Their battles take the form of competitive puzzle gaming.

Gameplay

Two players compete, each with their own rectangular play area comprising a grid 12 beans (previously Puyos) high by 6 wide, meaning that 72 beans (including garbage) can fit. Various colours of beans fall into the play area. The player must attempt to place four identically coloured beans adjacent to each other, at which point they will disappear. A player loses when beans pile to the top of their play area (actually the third column from the left), so it is essential to clear as many beans as possible, in order to keep the screen empty.

Players can send Refugee Beans (aka Garbage, and Ojyama) to their opponent's play area by creating chain reactions. These beans are both annoying and helpful: they can only be cleared when adjacent to another bean that is being removed, but they are very useful for making chain reactions. 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.

If garbage beans fall into the player's play area, they cannot be grouped like normal beans (i.e. 4 in a row will not disapper) Garbage is erased when a neighbouring group of beans erase (e.g. if a vertical line of 4 beans in column 2 forms adjacently next to a vertical line of 4 garbage beans in either column 1 or column 3, the garbage disappears). However, this does not cause garbage to be sent to the opponent.

Scenario Mode

This is the game's story mode, in which Has Bean must "Battle Robotnik's ranks of robot flunkies in order to save Beanville!" The player competes against computer-controlled characters in 12 stages.

Opponent list

VS Mode

Up to 2 players can play either in VS Mode or in Exercise Mode. In VS Mode, each player can choose between 5 difficulty settings, labeled 1-5 (Easiest to Hardest, where 1 is the lowest drop speed, and 5 is the fastest). In VS Mode, one player must defeat the other in the same way as in Scenario mode. If a player selects Level 1, they play with 4 colours of beans, however, the other levels include 5 colours. Furthermore, in Levels 4 or 5, the game begins with the play area already containing garbage: for Level 4, 18 beans (3 rows); for Level 5, 30 beans (5 rows).

Exercise Mode

Exercise Mode (modernly known as Endless Puyo Puyo), is a form of practice play where 1 or 2 players can battle out. This mode has three difficulty levels: easiest, normal, and hardest (Level 1, 3 or 5). On easiest, players start with only 4 colours. To level up, the player has to keep erasing beans. Helpers (Big Puyo or Has Bean) will appear when the player gets stuck on Level 1 the first time, but they can only appear once. For Level 3, at random times, Has Bean will drop from the screen to help out. When Carbuncle is placed on a colour, it travels in a random direction, following downwards, changing all beans to that colour. For Level 5, at random times, a Big Puyo will drop from the screen. When Big Puyo falls, it occupies 2 columns of the grid, and when placed, squashes all beans and removes them from the grid.

Also released on

Credits

Producers: Yoji Ishii, Noriyoshi Oba, Masamitsu Niitani
Directors: Tetsuo Shinyu, Takayuki Yanagihori, Masanobu Tsukamoto
Graphic Designers: Takaya Segawa, Saori Yamaguchi, Hideaki Moriya, Keisuke Saka
Programmers: Manabu Ishihara, Tsukasa Aoki
Music & SFX: Masanori Hikichi, Naofumi Hataya
Speical Thanks: Shinbou Yokoyama

Sega of America, Inc.

Producer: Max Taylor
Designer: Max Taylor, Brian Ransom, Dave Albert
Sound: David Javelosa
Created By: Compile
Presented By: Sega

Resources

Manuals

Product images

  • US cover

  • US cart

  • EU cover

  • EU cart

  • French alt cover

  • French alt cart

  • Asian cover (front)

  • Meanbean-box-asia back.jpg

    Asian cover (back)

  • Asian cart

  • Korean cover

External links

Template:MeanBeanLevels

Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems
Sega Mega Drive

Sega Mega-CD
Sega 32X
  1991  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Eraser     1992  Sonic the Hedgehog 2     1993  Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Spinball     1994  Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic & Knuckles     1995  Chaotix | Sonic Classics     1996  Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island    
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