Puchi Carat (Ver 2.02O 1997/10/29)

Team up with up to three friends for Puchi Carat, a fast-paced ball and paddle game from Taito released in 1997. Players use eight-way joysticks to control paddles and deflect a ball aimed at breaking formations of jewels. The gameplay is simple to pick up, but mastering the angles and working together to clear the screen presents a compelling challenge for all skill levels. The title translates from Japanese as “Small Karat - Gemstone Kingdom World,” hinting at the game’s vibrant presentation. A unique feature includes playful restrictions on high score entries – attempts to input certain letters will be automatically altered, ensuring a family-friendly experience. Hidden character unlocks and costume changes are available for players who discover special button combinations during character selection. Puchi Carat runs on Taito's F3 system hardware and offers a straightforward yet addictive cooperative gameplay loop that’s perfect for casual arcade fun or competitive group play.