Bloxeed

n/a

System 18/16 System C
Bloxeed
System(s): System 18, System 16, System C
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Developer: Sega R&D 1 (System 18: Esco Boueki?)
Genre: Puzzle
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1990-01 ¥? ? JP 1990-01 ¥? ? JP 1990-01 ¥? ? US 1990-04 $? ?

Bloxeed (ブロクシード) is a 1989 arcade puzzle game by Sega Enterprises, Ltd. based on the gameplay seen in Tetris. It was first released exclusively in Japan on System 18 hardware before Sega ported it to their System C hardware for international release (and was the first System C game to be released).

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot from the System 18 version.

Bloxeed is an extension of the Tetris formula. The objective remains the same - to clear lines with falling Tetrimino pieces, however Bloxeed expands the ways in which to do so by introducing "Power Blocks" - blocks with letters or numbers printed on them. If a cleared line contains a Power Block, the player is rewarded with 5,000 points and a power-up that allows them to strategically add/remove blocks:

	Flicky
	By pressing one of the rotate buttons, players can drop blocks directly below Flicky (from Flicky). Like Tetriminos, Flicky falls one row at a time, and disappears upon reaching the bottom.
	Satellite/Shot
	By pressing one of the rotate buttons, players can shoot at and clear blocks directly below a satellite. This is similar to Flicky, but in reverse. If the player destroys all of the blocks in the matrix, the power-up immediately ends and the player is awarded a large bonus.
	Bomb
	Destroy a chunk of blocks.
	16 Ton
	Destroy three adjacent columns of blocks.
	4 Lines
	Clear four randomly-selected rows, regardless of how complete they are.

After a certain period of time, an incomplete line is added to the bottom of the matrix. The amount of time until this happens is indicated by a gauge that turns red on the side of the matrix, and the rate that it builds up will increase with the player's level. Clearing a Power Block will reset the gauge and delay the addition of new lines. The scoring system remains the same as in Tetris, and the background will change between images of scenery after reaching certain levels.

When playing with two players, both players have the choice of playing "Ordinary Mode", where they simply try to get a high score like in single-player without interfering with each other, and "VS. Mode". In VS. Mode, clearing two or more lines will knock whatever Tetrimino is currently falling in the opponent's play area out and send two incomplete lines back at them. Depending on DIP switch configuration, playing VS. Mode may require more credits than Ordinary Mode, or VS. Mode may not be available (System 18 version only; the System C version has no configuration to disable VS. Mode so it is always available).

History

Legacy

Likely due to complications regarding Tetris licenses in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bloxeed was not ported to any home platforms, as Sega lacked a license in order to do so.

Many years later, the game was packaged with Tetris and Flash Point in Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 28: Tetris Collection. Both the System 18 and System C versions were included, along with a System 16 version.

System 16 version

• Music: Tohru Nakabayashi
• Music Support: Keisuke Tsukahara

Source:

Uncredited

System C version

• STUFF.: MINODA, TANAKA, KUBO, UCHIDA

Source:

In-game high score table

Magazine articles

Main article: Bloxeed/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

• 

  US flyer

Physical scans

System 18 version

System 18, JP

System C version

System C, US

System C, JP

System 16 version

System 16, JP

References

Bloxeed
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