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ONE OF THE MORE dominant genres on Nintendo's handheld consoles would have to be the puzzle genre. From the original Tetris that propelled the original Game Boy to instant must-have status through to games like Chu Chu Rocket and the Puyo Pop series on GBA, puzzles have always suited the needs of portable gaming very well. Now a decidedly odd one is set to release for the GBA, and from what Gameplanet has seen this could be one handheld game to watch out for.

Developed by the accomplished Rare, It's Mr Pants is a puzzle game based on the time-honoured traditions of falling blocks. Mr Pants, the designer of these puzzles, takes things further, though - complicating the game with all manner of combos, multipliers, secret shapes and unlockables.

Shapes have to be made in single colours from the falling blocks, and pieces of the same colour can't be dropped on top of each other, either fully or partially. You can dump different colours on top of each other, which could kick off a crazy chain reaction if you're lucky or smart, but it could just as easily bring your progress to a grinding halt. Also, in some modes the sinister crayon snake slithers around the perimeter of the board, and will happily squirm into the middle and put an end to your game if you don't keep kicking him back

Helping Mr Pants within the game are a host of characters. Helpo is a freaky talking lightbulb, who appears to help gamers having trouble with certain levels. Max the Mouse handles some of the more advanced levels. Crayon Snake also appears in some levels, chomping away at blocks in an effort to thwart player's attempts.

While the game looks simple and the characters slightly childish, It's Mr Pants also hints at a deeper maturity, with puzzles to test even more experienced gamers. With the takeover of Rare by Microsoft, GBA gamers can be thankful that the illustrious developer is still making games for the portable console. Most of what Rare produce reeks of quality, and It's Mr Pants certainly looks like it could deliver as a puzzle game – initially simplistic, but ultimately deep and addictive. It also unfortunately looks like one of those quality releases that could easily pass most gamers by, releasing as it is under the radar. Look out for it when it releases shortly.

Features:

• A puzzle game in the truly Rare hilarious style, based on their original character Mr Pants!

• Three Single Player Modes:

1. Puzzle game: solve some sneaky puzzles by creating shapes to clear the pattern, using only the limited number of pieces supplied
2. Wipeout game: Sort out the mess that Mr Pants left by leaving jumbled-up blocks strewn and create enough shapes to clear the board within 2 minutes
3. Marathon game: create as many shapes as possible within a time limit before the crafty crayon snake reduces your playing area

• Two Multi Player Modes for up to 3 friends:

1. Concrete crisis: Clear all the blocks by creating shapes which, once turned into concrete, will be sent to your opponents' boards as a way of stopping them from winning
2. Crayon capers: Create some shapes to keep your crayon snake at bay but also to add the same amount of blocks to your opponents' crayon snakes

• A game for everyone with different levels of difficulty