Airou de Puzzle: A real gem

I’m sure Capcom’s PSP puzzler Airou de Puzzle will look familiar to some of you; and no, I’m not talking about the adorably stylised felynes borrowed from the pretty much purrfect cat-village experience MonHun Nikki either. This is arcade gem-breaking classic Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo updated for a new generation, the fun gem creating/destroying action now enhanced by a welcome speedier pace, the ability to fast drop the current block, player-activated special moves, and most importantly of all, dressing up. Seriously. I’m not allowed to do anything in this game until I create a cat to call my own, choosing their markings, colouring, voice (the gibberish kind, as this came before Monster Hunter’s palicos actually spoke), and generally shaping them into my own bundle of furry mischief. They become a constant (and thankfully, re-customisable should I ever want to give them a fresh look) presence, even acting as an enthusiastic cursor on the game’s main menu. My next stop is the…