Mouja (Japan)

Published in Japan in 1996 by Etona, Mouja is a two-player puzzle game that blends elements of falling block mechanics with strategic chain reactions. Players manipulate blocks on their respective screens using an eight-way joystick, aiming to connect matching shapes and clear them from the playfield. Successfully clearing blocks causes others to drop, creating opportunities for larger combos and higher scores. The gameplay shares similarities with both Money Puzzle Exchanger and Puyo Puyo, offering a familiar but unique puzzle experience. A hidden shoot 'em up game can be unlocked by achieving an exceptionally high score or through a specific button combination during the continue countdown. This bonus stage provides a brief change of pace from the core block-matching action. Running on a Motorola 68000 processor and utilizing impressive sound chips for its time, Mouja presents a vibrant visual experience with a palette of over eight thousand colors displayed at a resolution of 320x224 pixels. Ports of this game later appeared on both the Sega Saturn and PlayStation consoles.