This review was originally written on 19/11/2018.

Technical Information

Developer: Bandai
Publisher: Bandai
Release Date: December 8, 1995

Super Famicom is the Japanese version of the Super Nintendo.

Fuwa Fuwa Panic is a puzzle game where your objective is to burst balloons and fill your opponent’s screen until it’s full.

As the name suggests, the entire game is set in the Sailor Moon universe, specifically during the Super S season. Each Sailor has a unique ability (which can be used when filling the special bar) and during the storyline mode, you can choose which Sailors to face first.

Final Thoughts – Analyzing the Game as a Whole

Graphics and UI

Both sprites and animations are a 10/10! The game’s highlight is the transformations and attacks, which were extremely detailed and became famous GIFs in anime/manga forums at the end of the 1990s!

The UI and HUD are well-functioning (perhaps not so much due to the game’s Japanese language… but it’s highly adaptable even for those who don’t understand).

At the top of the screen, you can see the total number of balloons burst and the score display.

Soundtrack and Sounds Effects

Each scenario has a different music, just like each Sailor has their own sound when celebrating a victory or lamenting a defeat.
Calm but at the same time immersive music creates an ideal atmosphere for a puzzle game.

Gameplay

Its functioning is quite similar to Puyo Puyo – as more balloons of the same color are grouped and burst, the number of gray balloons on your opponent’s screen increases. These gray balloons can only be burst when you burst a group of balloons nearby or use an item that allows you to do so. When paused, it shows which balloon sequences release specific items.

It’s very easy to understand the game’s mechanism, and even inexperienced players can get the hang of it.

In addition to the storyline mode, there is also a “challenge” mode where there is a specific number of balloons to burst within a limited time frame. This mode has three levels of difficulty (easy, normal, and hard). For those who enjoy thinking, this is a good challenge as it doesn’t just require agility in controls.

I played this game a lot during my childhood and adolescence through emulation. It’s a game that always brings back fond memories to me!! <3

Replayability and Game Retention

Both the story mode and the challenge mode have great replay value, and the multiplayer is a nice bonus that keeps players coming back.