Mario's Picross: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox

|released='''Game Boy:'''<br>{{released|Japan|March 14, 1995|USA|March 1995|Australia|July 25, 1995|Europe|July 27, 1995}} '''Virtual Console (3DS):'''<br>{{released|Europe|July 14, 2011|Australia|July 14, 2011|USA|August 4, 2011|Japan|September 21, 2011}}

|genre=[[Genre#Puzzle|Puzzle]]

|modes=Single-player

'''''Mario's Picross''''' is a [[Genre#Puzzle|puzzle]] game for the [[Game Boy]] developed by [[Jupiter]] and the first game in the [[Nintendo]]-published ''Picross'' series. It was released in 1995 and stars [[Mario]] who appears in the role of an archaeologist. ''Mario's Picross'' is based on paint by number puzzles known as {{wp|Nonogram|nonograms}}. Several sequels have been released since then, most of which are Japan-only games.

The objective of each logic puzzle is to reveal a hidden picture in a grid by scraping specific squares of it. Each puzzle starts with an empty grid and several numbers are given at the side of each horizontal row and vertical column of the grid. The numbers tell the player how many squares have to be scraped in each line. The revealed pictures show food, animals and other objects, but also make some [[#Cameos|''Mario'' series references]]. For example, a "5" means that the player has to scrape five consecutive squares in the respective line. If there is more than one number, then there has to be at least one blank square between the scraped areas. For instance, "4 6 2" means that four consecutive squares have to be scraped in the line, followed by at least one blank square. After the blank space(s), the player has to scrape an area of six squares. Again, there has to be at least one blank square between this area and the last two consecutive squares that have to be scraped. If the player is sure that a square doesn't have to be scraped, e.g. when a blank square is needed or all required squares in a line have been scraped, they can mark it with an "X".

The last mode known as Time Trial comes with different rules. The player does not get a hint at the beginning and there is no time limit. The game does not note wrongly scraped squares, so the player does not know whether a mistake has been made. The 64 puzzles appear randomly; the player is not able to select a specific puzzle.

|style="background:lightgray"|'''7''' || [[Cheep Cheep|Cheep-Cheeps]] || Snake || White Eye || Elephant || [[Horse]] || Tea Cup || Pegasus || Rhinoceros

Some of the pictures show characters, enemies, and items from the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' franchise]]. A picture of the Game Boy appears, too. Caption of these puzzles appear in full uppercase, unlike other puzzles which their caption appear in full lowercase.

*6C - [[Boo Diddly]]

*1B - [[Star]]

*[[Cheep-Cheep]]

Due to the game's success in the region, Japan received a number of sequels. The first one was ''[[Mario's Super Picross]]'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] in 1995, followed by the Game Boy title ''[[Picross 2]]'' in 1996. In 1999 and 2000, eight ''[[Picross NP]]'' games for the Super Famicom were released and could be downloaded by the players onto [[Nintendo Power (cartridge)|Nintendo Power cartridges]]. Four of them feature puzzles related to the ''Mario'' series. Of these, ''Mario's Super Picross'' is the only one available outside of Japan, appearing on the European and Australian [[Virtual Console]]s in September 2007 for the [[Wii]] and April 2013 for the [[Wii U]]. Japan received a Virtual Console release in December 2006 for the Wii and April 2013 for the Wii U. In 2012, a Japan-only [[Club Nintendo (rewards program)|Club Nintendo]] exclusive title called ''[[Club Nintendo Picross]]'' was released; that title received a sequel called ''[[Club Nintendo Picross Plus]]'' in 2014.

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Mario's Picross JP cover.jpg|Japanese box art (front)

USA MP Front.jpg|North American box art (front)

USA MP Back.jpg|North American box art (back)

Marios Picross.jpg|European box art (front)

{{MarioGames}}

{{VirtualConsole}}

[[Category:Game Boy Games]]

[[Category:Puzzle Games]]

[[Category:Virtual Console Games]]