Mendel Palace

Mendel Palace

Overview & History

Released by Game Freak in 1989 in Japan as *Quinty* before being localized by Hudson Soft for North American audiences in 1990, *Mendel Palace* holds a prestigious place in gaming history as the very first commercial video game developed by Game Freak, years before they created *Pokémon*. The game blends whimsical, fever-dream aesthetics with isometric puzzle-action mechanics. The storyline revolves around a young boy named Cub who must navigate the surreal, enchanted rooms of the Mendel Palace to rescue his sweetheart, Jenny, who has been trapped inside a dream world by a gang of mischievous, doll-like princesses.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional platformers, *Mendel Palace* takes place across a series of single-screen, grid-based stages styled like floating bedroom tiles. Cub cannot jump or strike enemies directly; instead, his primary offensive maneuver is a snappy "slap" or shove directed at the edge of the floor panels beneath his feet. Executing this move causes the tile to slide rapidly across the room like a curling stone. The core mechanic relies on timing and spatial awareness: players must slide tiles to crush enemies against walls, knock opponents off the screen into the void, or trap them beneath flipping panels. As players progress through the themed worlds—ranging from toy rooms to cloud realms—they encounter diverse enemy types that require strategic bouncing angles, combo chains, and hazard avoidance. Collecting hidden stars and power-ups scattered beneath specific tiles increases Cub's speed, extends his slap reach, and grants crucial bonus points necessary to survive the progressively chaotic layouts and boss encounters.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Cub across the isometric grid tiles
• Action Keys: Slap/push floor panels (Attack)
• Enter: Start / Pause