Pushmo

Pushmo, known as Pullblox in PAL regions, is a Nintendo eShop game for Nintendo 3DS and the first installment of the Pushmo series. It was developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. The player controls a sumo-wrestling cat named Mallo and must push and pull blocks in order to free children trapped in the puzzle-like structures known as Pushmo (Pullblox in PAL regions). This game includes a level editor which can be used to create original Pushmo and share them via QR codes (once the player has actually solved them). Pushmo was well received by critics, mainly because of how it utilizes the 3D effect of the Nintendo 3DS to such an extent that turning off the 3D made it almost impossible to solve the puzzles. Pushmo thus became a best-seller, leading to a sequel known as Crashmo (Fallblox in PAL regions).

Story
The story begins with Mallo and his friends entering Pushmo Park (Pullblox Park in PAL regions) to play on the large wooden puzzles called Pushmo that are made by Papa Blox, an elderly man who runs the park. While Mallo is talking with Papa Blox, each of his friends becomes stuck inside of a different Pushmo, and Mallo sets out to rescue them by solving each wooden puzzle. As Papa Blox is teaching Mallo the basics of solving the puzzles, a rogue child interferes with some of the Pushmo, angering Papa Blox. Before Papa Blox can question the child, he runs away.

As Mallo progresses through the park, the difficulty of the Pushmo increases until the final puzzle. After rescuing all of his friends and solving the final Pushmo, Mallo is commended by Papa Blox for his efforts. As they are celebrating, the rogue child returns and Mallo stops him from running away again. Papa Blox interrogates the rogue child and learns that he misbehaved because he had just moved into town and had no new friends. Mallo and his friends comfort the rogue child and befriend him. As the sun sets, Mallo and his friends leave the park with their new friend, and they all wave Papa Blox goodbye.

When Mallo returns, Papa Blox reveals that there are more Pushmo to solve and opens the Bonus Pushmo. These Pushmo feature harder puzzles that don’t have children trapped in them.

Gameplay
In Pushmo, players control Mallo as he ascends various Pushmo to reach a stationary goal (either a child or a flag) located on one of the blocks. Pushmo are puzzle-like playgrounds made up of immobile wooden platforms (blocks) of different shapes and colours interlocked to make an image or pattern when looked at from the front. Each set of eighteen Pushmo are designed around a certain theme: either lessons, challenges, murals, or Nintendo-themed murals. Only one Pushmo is available at the start, and players unlock more by completing them in order. After completing a set of eighteen Pushmo, Mallo is given a progress report on the amount of children he has saved.

When a Pushmo is started, all of the platforms begin tucked away and Mallo must pull them out in an order that allows him to climb them and reach the goal. Each platform has three blocks of depth, and Mallo can push or pull these blocks from the front or the side as long as there is enough room for him to do so without falling. Mallo can jump a short distance upward to ascend the puzzle, and jump down as far as he likes to descend the puzzle.

The top screen shows Mallo, the Pushmo and the environment around it in an angled perspective. The camera focuses on Mallo as he moves around the Pushmo. In this way, the player can easily see the depths of the blocks Mallo has pulled and navigate them. The bottom screen shows a front view of the Pushmo, and a small symbol to indicate where Mallo currently is. This acts as a basic map, and players can refer to it to locate switches, manholes, and the goal, as well as zoom in if the puzzle is large. The bottom screen does not show the depth of the individual blocks.

If the player has pulled the blocks in a way which renders the puzzle impossible they can rewind their progress with the button. A reset switch is located in the front of every puzzle and pressing it returns all blocks to their original depths. If the player is unable to solve a Pushmo in a certain time, Papa Blox will provide the option to skip it and unlock the next one. Skipped Pushmo remain unfinished, and can be retried at any time. Once the player has finished a Pushmo, a flag is used to indicate its completion in the menu. As the player progresses further in the game, the Pushmo become larger and new mechanics are introduced. These include Manholes (portals between two uncovered platforms) and Pullout Switches, buttons which fully pull out all blocks which match its colour. Both features are usable in the level editor once unlocked. All of the features in Pushmo can be reviewed in the 'Tutorials' sub-menu, where Papa Blox provides descriptions and hints about the game.

Puzzles
Several puzzles from Pushmo are based on enemies and characters from the Mario franchise:
 * Murals 1


 * Nintendo Murals


 * Bonus Nintendo Murals

Controls

 * /: Move
 * Jump
 * +/: Pull out
 * +/: Push in
 * +/ (+ to zoom): Look over the Pushmo
 * Rewind
 * Enlarge map (bottom screen)
 * /: Pause game

Nintendo eShop description
''Pullblox is a unique part-puzzle, part-platform game that will tax your brain and creativity! Children in Pullblox Park have been trapped inside giant block puzzles - 'pullblox' - that are as big as houses. So it's tiny hero Mallo to the rescue! Climb the the structures, pushing and pulling blocks to use as steps, and rescue the children. If you make a mistake, simply rewind time and try again! There are more than 200 pullblox to enjoy, and you can create your own in Pullblox Studio and exchange them with friends via QR Code™.''
 * Europe

External link

 * Website (Wayback Machine)