Mendel Palace

About

Mendel Palace is a puzzle platformer where you navigate increasingly tricky levels to rescue a trapped companion. The gameplay revolves around solving spatial challenges by manipulating objects and timing jumps, with progression split across 20 distinct areas totaling 200 screens. Single-player or co-op modes let you work alone or with a partner to uncover paths forward, though the challenges escalate quickly as obstacles and enemies block your route. The game’s split narratives between its Japanese and American releases add a curious layer, rescuing a princess versus saving a kidnapped girlfriend, though the core puzzle design remains consistent. Its reputation among retro fans leans on its density of content and the sheer volume of puzzle variety, even if the difficulty curve has drawn mixed reactions. Available on multiple Nintendo platforms, it’s a relic of late-80s puzzle innovation that still holds up for fans of brainy, old-school gameplay.

Storyline

The player's character must save his girlfriend, who was kidnapped by a young girl. The backstory differs slightly between the Japanese and American versions, although the in-game presentation is the same regardless. In the American version, the player's character is named Bon-Bon and the girl he must rescue is a Princess named Candy, who is trapped in her own dream. In the Japanese version, the main character is named Carton and the girl he must rescue is merely his own girlfriend, Jenny, who has been kidnapped by Carton's younger sister Quinty (the titular character in the Japanese version), who is jealous of the attention that Jenny gets.