Released for the N64 in Japan only on December 3rd 1997, Puyo Puyo~n Party is an arcade port of Compile’s classic puzzle game. It is the fouth title in the Puyo Puyo series, which the title jokes at Puyo-n sounds like Yon, or four in Japanese. It differs in tone and presentation to the other N64 release, Puyo Puyo Sun. This game is a little more series and the anime art style is more realistic and possibly based on the style used in Waku Waku Puyo Puyo Dungeon.
This game was first released on the Dreamcast as Puyo Puyo 4 and was later released on the Playstation and the Game Boy Colour. The voice acting from the Dreamcast game was removed and the music was also changed. However it is possible to unlock more art work for the game with the GB Pak and a copy of the Game Boy game Pocket Puyo Puyo SUN. However it strangely does not support the Game Boy game Pocket Puyo Puyo-n!? Additionally the game features a sound test mode, which the Dreamcast and Playstation games do not. It was also announced for the 64DD but was later cancelled after the 64DD's unsuccessful launch.
This was the first game in the Puyo Puyo series released by Sega, after Compile was forced to sell the rights to them after filing for bankruptcy in March 1998. This likely explains while the voice acting was done by "professionals" rather than Compile employees. It was not released in arcades, unlike many of the other Puyo Puyo games.
Puyo puyo is an onomatopoeia which means “jelly like”. The player must rotate falling sets of coloured jellies to form groups of four or more of the same colour which then “pop” and disappear. If the third column from the left completely fills up with Puyo, then you will get a game over. The player can create chain reactions when Puyo fall into each other, this then send Nuisance Puyo to your opponents screen. Nuisance Puyo can only be erased if other Puyo are popped next to them. The number of Nuisance Puyo created is dependent on the length of the chain.
The rules of this game are essentially the same as Puyo Puyo 2 but the new feature of this game are the character specials that activate after each character has collected a certain amount of points in their power meter. Numbered Puyo now appear that required a certain amount of attacks on them to make them explode. The titular Sun Puyo from the previous game were removed after fan backlash! However, while the SUN Puyo made the previous games too fast, the character specials in this game make it too slow! Most of the specials clear Puyo from the screen so you and your opponent are often just waiting for more to appear. Additionally the speed at which overhanging Puyo fall down is also far slower than previous games which slows down the pace of the game quite often (although it can be changed!). This character special system was not used in any of the other Puyo Puyo games as far as I know.
The first Puyo Puyo game was reviewed well by the British publication, N64 Magazine who awarded it 80% saying “You didn’t buy your N64 to play this but it’s still rollicking fun. So if you’re rich, try it on for size.”