Puzzle Club (Japan prototype)

Puzzle Club is a cooperative sliding block puzzle game released by Namco in 1990, existing as a Japanese prototype. Two players work together to clear each stage by manipulating rows of animated icons; when a row displays matching symbols, it shifts downward, creating space for further manipulation. The gameplay continues until all rows are cleared within the time limit, at which point the player's score is recorded. The game offers two distinct modes: "young," featuring characters and imagery reminiscent of Pac-Man, and “adult,” utilizing more conventional slot machine icons. Players in adult mode will also encounter a bonus stage between regular levels—a timed sliding puzzle depicting an animated girl lifting weights, offering additional points upon successful completion. Despite being a complete game, this prototype lacks a proper title screen. Built on Namco System 1 hardware, Puzzle Club presents a vertical display of 224x288 pixels and utilizes a combination of Motorola CPUs and Yamaha sound chips to deliver its unique puzzle experience.