Nintendo Puzzle Collection (lost build of unreleased English localization of Nintendo GameCube puzzle compilation game; 2003)

An advertisement for the English localization of the game.

Status: Lost

Nintendo Puzzle Collection is a 2003 Japan-exclusive Nintendo GameCube compilation game of Nintendo's puzzle games such as Dr. Mario 64, Yoshi's Cookie, and Panel de Pon. The game was co-developed by Nintendo Software Technology and Intelligent Systems and was published by Nintendo.

However, there were plans to release the game to North America and Europe but ultimately did not happen for unknown reasons despite a build being shown at E3 2003.^[1]

Gameplay

Boxart for the released Japanese version of the game.

As mentioned in the introduction, the game is a compilation of Nintendo's past puzzle games such as Dr. Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64, Yoshi's Cookie for the NES, SNES/SFC, and Game Boy, and Panel de Pon for the Super Famicom with enhanced graphics and gameplay.

According to a Japanese article about Asami Abe's commercial for the game (the following quote is translated from Japanese to English):^[2]

"The Nintendo GameCube version allows up to 4 players to compete. Also, it works in conjunction with Game Boy Advance, and by connecting the GBA and GC with a cable, you can download the game to the GBA, or use the GBA as it is as a digital controller. In a puzzle game where you simply enter the left, right, and bottom keys, the digital controller is easier to operate than the analog controller, so I'm happy about such considerations. By the way, the GC-GBA cable that connects the GameCube and GBA is included in the software."

A build of the game's English version was also made available at the Games Convention 2003 event in Leipzig, Germany with no mention of an unofficial US release date.^[3]

Availability

While the Japanese version of Nintendo Puzzle Collection was released on February 7th, 2003, and can easily be found online for sale at various shops, no builds of the unreleased English version of the game has been made available or leaked online.

Among the 6 games included in Nintendo Puzzle Collection (3 to be played on the GameCube normally or with a GBA as a controller, and 3 that are only playable on the connected GBA itself), 3 have received an English-language release.

Have received English releases separately

Dr. Mario 64
Dr. Mario (NES)
Yoshi's Cookie (NES)

Have had later remasters receive English releases separately

Panel de Pon (GBA 2003) (While the 2003 Western GBA version remains lost, the 2005 version packaged with Dr. Mario remained very similar in both Japan and the West. Panel de Pon 2005/Puzzle League GBA removed the flower title screen, Purpuri's menu thought bubbles (Replaced with standard text boxes), and Purpuri's startled voice reactions from Panel de Pon 2003, but has far more options and gameplay modes available. The same Endless gameplay design as that of Panel de Pon 2003, minus Purpuri's voice, can be replicated by setting "Image" to :04, "Background" to :14 (:15 in the JP version), and "Music" to :01.)

Have not been found in English

Yoshi's Cookie (Sequel to the NES/SNES/GBA game with the same name)
Panel de Pon 64 (The Japanese Nintendo 64 pre-GameCube-port builds were themselves lost until 2020 but has now been found;^[4] Graphics and sounds were changed heavily for its international release as Pokémon Puzzle League)