Puchi Carat

Puchi Carat is a puzzle game from Taito in which the player uses a ball and paddle to smash gem-like blocks. It began as a 1997 arcade title and was later ported to the PlayStation, with the PAL version developed by Evolution Entertainment and published under the Taito name.

The PAL release landscape is built around a single serial but three catalogued variants. The earliest release is dated 10 February 2000, and copies cover the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Two are Original pressings, and the third is a Special Bundle release. All are English language only, in a Full Jewel PAL case with one disc and a Hologram B on the case.

The Special Bundle is the most interesting of the three for collectors, as it was tied to a special controller package. The different EAN barcodes and publisher credits between the Original pressings also reward careful comparison. As an arcade puzzler with a modest European print run, Puchi Carat is a quirky and recieved-with-affection addition to any PAL shelf.