Nostalgia Game Review: Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

Welcome to another edition of Nostalgia Game Review, where I showcase old school games and give my opinions on such games. This edition covers Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine.

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine was a game initially released for the SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis on November 26, 1993. There was a release on the SEGA Game Gear and SEGA Master System in December 1993 and June 1994 that followed. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine was developed by SEGA, Compile, and the Sonic Team. Mean Bean Machine is based on the Japanese series Puyo Puyo.

The game is set on the planet Mobius, where bean-like creatures roam. Dr. Robotnik concocts a plan to enslave the citizens of Beanville by kidnapping them and turning them into robot slaves. His end goal is to rid the planet of all fun and joy and he hopes to do this through his "Mean Bean-Steaming Machine"! What a jerk! You must face his henchbots and beat them to stop Robotnik from achieving his end goal.

I will admit that I'm not the best Puyo Puyo player on the planet. It's difficult for a commoner such as myself to pull off chains of 12 (my personal best is three; don't laugh at me). So to all elite Puyo Puyo players, I tip my cap to you.

With that being said, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a fairly addicting game. The pursuit of huge chains and varying puzzles are awesome. However, there are drawbacks. First, the game is difficult for non-Puyo Puyo players, even on the easiest mode. When you get to Dr. Robotnik on the hardest mode, you're practically going up against an elite Puyo Puyo player. This is a part of why I feel Puyo Puyo is a bit of a niche series. There's also the fact that there are many Puyo Puyo clones out there, as Aaron Thomas of GameSpot points out. Granted, it is a reskin that uses the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise to boost sales. However, the game doesn't have much in the line of originality.

Overall, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a game that is nice for a round or two. It's addicting and can grasp fans for a bit. However, it is not a game for casual gamers that aren't familiar with the Puyo Puyo series.