Money Puzzle Exchanger

About

Money Puzzle Exchanger is a 1997 puzzle game from FACE, published by SNK Playmore. Players match coins in a grid to clear them, aiming to keep their screen manageable while slowing opponents down. Single player has two modes one where you fight named characters like Debtmiser and Cherrybeiter and another where you try to survive as long as possible. The competitive multiplayer has both players racing to clear their screens, with each clear making the other’s screen overflow faster. The game’s main hook is its direct link between your actions and your opponent’s challenges. Fast clearing not only helps you but hampers the other player, leading to quick shifts in momentum. It’s simple to pick up but tough to master, with matches often decided by split second decisions. Though originally from the late 90s, it stays popular in local multiplayer circles for its tight back and forth gameplay.

Storyline

In the single player mode, one of two characters can be selected who attempt to beat up to seven idiosyncratically named characters with names like Debtmiser, Mightdealer, Eldylabor, and Cherrybeiter. In the two player mode, both players fight each other until victory. The quicker and more efficiently each player clears out their screen, the quicker the other player's screen will fill up. Since filled screens offer the most opportunity for chaining together large combos, the tide can turn very quickly. There is also another single player mode called Solo Mode. Any character can be played in this mode. The aim in Solo Mode is to continually clear the screen from coins and try to keep the game going for as long as possible.