Pre-Puzzle and Mid-Puzzle Items in Café Remix

In order to provide assistance to players, Pokémon Café Remix has a selection of items that can be selected before the puzzle (stage, order) starts. This is yet another point of similarity to Pokémon Shuffle, though this is something I've yet to explain for the latter. Uniquely, though, the former also has a selection of items that can be used in the middle of a puzzle, in case none of the pre-puzzle items were used prior and/or extra assistance is necessary. Since they're both to a certain extent equivalent in item stature and assistive power, I've decided to collate their explanations together.

Before the puzzle, the three items that may be chosen are Skill Plus, Megaphone UD Maker, and Megaphone LR Maker. Each of these adds the respective icons to the puzzle at the start, being a skill icon of the leader Pokémon, a two-directional vertical megaphone, and a two-directional horizontal megaphone. Similar to Stamina Crystals and its predecessor's Special Shop items, it is also possible in some circumstances to earn infinite but time-limited versions of these items, which are activated upon earning and will automatically add the icons while time still remains. These are helpful for getting a jump-start to clear puzzle elements earlier instead of later as the icons are earned.

During the puzzle, there are four items that may be chosen: Helping Paw, Whistle UD, Whistle LR, and Leader Bell. In order, these items clear an obstacle, remove elements in a vertical (UD) or horizontal (LR) line, and change non-leader Pokémon icons into that of the leader. The use of these items do not decrement the move counter, and so they are especially useful for getting out of a jam or even very close situations, such as one last obstacle to clear a puzzle with three stars. Of course, these items may be used at any time during the puzzle, especially if warranted.

The best practice for using these items would certainly be in replaying puzzles that have not been cleared with three stars, given knowledge of the elements in them that need to be cleared and the challenges in doing so. Minimizing the use of these items (specifically, others that aren't used) is still a primary goal, as is staving off further replays with the selection of the right items for use. While most of the time the strategy is to try to not use these items, drastic circumstances will likely demand a shift in strategy along with their usage.

With three pre-puzzle items and four mid-puzzle items, Café Remix has an item system that is slightly more complex yet somewhat more flexible than its predecessor. At the same time, it's still important to know when it becomes necessary to use them to resolve difficult situations - especially those that are being dealt with again - and to clear the puzzles as intended. It's an assistance that is as warranted as the Pokémon that prepare the food for the café.

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