The one where Arle's a Deadpan Snarker.
Puyo Pop (Minna de Puyo Puyo in Japanesenote ) is a Game Boy Advance-exclusive entry in the Puyo Puyo series. The first original Puyo Puyo title developed by Sonic Team, it released in Japan in 2001; the following year, THQ and Sega published the game in the US and Europe respectively as Puyo Pop. It is one of three games named "Puyo Pop" outside of Japan, coming after the Neo Geo Pocket Color Puyo Pop but before the N-Gage Puyo Pop.Minna was quickly put together to keep the Puyo Puyo series going as Compile, the original company behind Puyo Puyo, was facing financial ruin and no longer developing for the series. As such, Minna is a straightforward Puyo Puyo game with essentially no unique gimmicks: the gameplay is pulled from Puyo Puyo 2 and its Arrange Modes, the voice acting is almost entirely lifted from Puyo Puyo Sun, and each "stage" consists of smaller versions of the traditional Puyo Puyo boss gauntlet.
Arle and Carbuncle are playing around when Carbuncle starts trying to eat a strange rune on the ground. When Arle retrieves it, a "Welcome" sign suddenly appears in front of the duo and Carbuncle runs toward it, causing Arle to give chase and embark on another strange adventure.
Tropes present in the 2001 Puyo Pop:
- At Arm's Length: Arle does this to Carbuncle to keep him away from the curry rune in the prologue.
- Art-Shifted Sequel: Downplayed. The directly preceding Puyo Puyo~n had a more realistic artstyle that harkens more towards the high-fantasy settings of the Madou Monogatari games. This game would reverse that to bring back cartoony elements seen in the first three Puyo Puyo games, even if the colors are a bit more muted than before. And that's ignoring how Fever would eventually throw all of this out the window for something Denser and Wackier.
- Bilingual Bonus: The first area of Minna de Puyo is translated to "Hajimari Forest" in English. "Hajimari" is the Japanese word for "beginning".
- "Blind Idiot" Translation: The Japanese version of Minna has an English option with a surprisingly error-free script...except for whenever a character is defeated. Instead of flashing "Oh no!" at the top of the opponent's field (as every other English translation does), this version uses "Baba Bing." (Obviously taken from the Japanese defeat phrase, batankyuu.)
- Chain of Deals: After clearing Minna de Puyo for the second time, one is thrust onto you, prompting another playthrough of the game in reverse stage order. Upon clearing Dark Prince Castle...
- ...Carbuncle finds a Dubious Book. The book originally belonged to Witch...
- ...who gives you the Flame Expander after snatching the book out of Arle's hands. Witch got it by mistake, and it turns out...
- ...the Flame Expander was meant for Draco. Upon delivering it to her, she gives you the Nohoho Rucksack...
- ...which, unsurprisingly is Nohoho's. He takes back his rucksack and gives you the Scale Pendant...
- ...which belongs to Serilly. She gives Arle the Goddess Rune in return, which opens up the extra stage, Trial Labyrinth.
- Depending on the Writer: The normally cute, if a bit sassy, Arle Nadja is a full-on Deadpan Snarker in this game. This clashes with every other version of her, including how she's handled in other Sega Puyo Puyo games.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: Unlike later Sega-developed games, this game is done in the style of the Compile games. It only contains former Madou Monogatari characters, exclusively uses Tsu rule, remixes older music, and features an art style with muted colors and super-deformed characters. Puyo Puyo Fever would give us the Soft Reboot, saccharine art style, and Comeback Mechanics that define Sega's take on the series.
- Hoist by Their Own Petard: This game utilizes Point Puyo from Tsu's "Rule Henka" mode. They function like any ordinary Garbage Puyo, but clearing them adds extra points (and, therefore, extra Garbage Puyos) to your attack or offset. You might get a rude awakening when your opponent digs out the pile you just sent to them.
- MacGuffin: The runes, which Arle obtains after every area is cleared, and unlocks the next area. The runes, though, turns out to be just a fancy hot springs ticket that Satan made, then broke it apart just so Arle has breadcrumbs to follow. Repeat clears reveal the runes are made with curry of all things, which is why Carbuncle tried to eat the first one. It's also coated with magic, so it's unscented until she snaps a piece off to release its aroma.
- Mythology Gag: "Minna de Puyo Puyo" is the name of the four-player modes in previous Puyo Puyo games. Naturally, this game supports four players.
- Recycled Soundtrack: The game's soundtrack largely consists of GBA versions of Puyo Puyo Tsu tracks... except the cutscene BGM, which comes from Nazo Puyo 2 of all places.
- Recycled Title: This is one of three titles named Puyo Pop, all of which are completely different games.
- Shout-Out: The Japanese version's English script has Arle saying "I don't think we're in Kansai anymore." in the prologue.
