The Panel de Pon series is already known in the U.S. as Tetris Attack and Pokemon Puzzle League. Planet Puzzle League for the Nintendo DS continues the string of excellent video games, offering players lots of new options.

Puzzle League's gameplay makes it shine. Each stage consists of multi-colored blocks that need to be cleared off a field before they touch the top of the screen. Players can clear them by shifting the blocks around to line up three in a row, either horizontally or vertically. Gamers may also score combos, with indicators showing where and when they can snap into place. The action picks up over the course of the game, with newly colored and faster blocks.

The game supports both touch-screen and stylus play, along with the traditional D-pad. Surprisingly, the D-pad controls much better, as it grows difficult keeping up with the action via a stylus as the blocks pick up the pace.

Offline, players select from six, enjoyable modes. Garbage challenges them to eliminate unwanted obstacles by removing other blocks around them. Clear requires the block stack to go below a particular line to complete the stage. Time Attack forces players to think quickly to complete stages in a certain amount of time. Puzzle offers up pre-made stages to figure out, with only so many moves available. Endless goes non-stop until the blocks reach the top of the screen. Finally, Vs. Computer pits players against virtual opponents, avoiding dummy blocks.
?With the presentation, Intelligent Systems follows a simple approach. It has applied several "groovy" backgrounds to go with the action, complete with flashing lights and hip patterns. A few prove a little distracting, but they go a long way to establishing a new identity for the series. Slick background music helps keep the pace, although the tunes tend to repeat themselves the longer a match goes. One cool addition lets players configure how they want to play the game. They can either hold the Nintendo DS in a traditional manner or hold it sideways, like a book, for a different -- but just as effective -- viewpoint.