Tetrisphere

"This Rubik's Cube/Tetris mix is no marriage made in Heaven"

There has been a specific omen which has haunted the N64 since around 1997. This omen comes like this: First games in a certain genre aren't very good, maybe even awful. It is no exception to this omen that Tetrisphere, the N64's first puzzle game, is nothing more nor less than mediocre. As the first N64 puzzler, Tetrisphere is the game that raised the bar for N64 puzzle games. But Tetrisphere has risen it so high that it can very easily be walked over... even by a baby taking its very first steps.

'Sphere puts a somewhat weird twist on the tried-and-true formula of Tetris because you have to get rid of pieces by placing pieces on the board; Ironically, wasn't this the very formula that any regular game of Tetris followed? Not really. While this might sound confusing to some, the mechanics are really simple. Too simple, in fact. All you need to do is place blocks to where at least three of the same can be removed, and you're done. No major skill needed. There are other mechanics to the game, but I have no need to get into them.

Explained, learning 'Sphere's basics require little effort, and can be easily mastered within thirty minutes' utilization. Only one hour into play, discovering how shallow Tetrisphere is won't take a triple-digit IQ, let alone a double-digit IQ, or even an IQ of 2. Only two things are required to play: Moving pieces to the right places and dropping your blocks in the right spaces. Remove enough of them, you expose the core. Think of it as engaging as ''lather, rinse, repeat''. Yawn. Should you be ''lucky'' enough to remove at least twenty blocks in a single chain (I don't dare used the term ''combo''), you pick up a weapon, which makes your job WAY too easy. Yawn and a half. Multiple variations are present, but I'd be wasting space just listing them all. They're just more of the same tedious chore over and over and over again. Double yawn. Excitement is a definite rarity in this game, since there is nothing more to the game than ''point and click''. End of story.

I, however, am not flaming the game because it isn't worth flaming. Some things about Tetrisphere are admirally done. Graphics in the game can best be described as plain-wrap. The robots within the title are modelled well, and they do have personalities. In-game graphics do have a psychedelic background, but I was too concentrated on the game to notice them in action.

The sci-fi music fits, and some tunes are memorable, but they can only be tolerated for so long (usually a few minutes) and can be switched at will. There are some tunes that I would play more often than others. And, yes, I would be willing to put money down for a soundtrack to this game, if one would ever become available.

Unfortunately, this game is a disappointment. I'm probably not the only one disappointed by this game, too. I have no doubt that Tetrisphere will eventually disappoint those who want a fast-paced puzzle game, cause there's hardly any fast-paced action to find here. If point-and-click gameplay is something you want, you're much better off downloading a game of solitaire for your computer. Still, Tetrisphere's hollowness will leave hard-core puzzle gamers in shock-- especially hard-core Tetris nuts who'll believe this game bastardizes the once-great series (my apologies)-- whereas casuals will just be left thinking, ''this is supposed to be Tetris?'' You're really not missing out on anything major-- just a game that little more than mediocre. In the long run, those who like a fast-paced puzzle game should avoid Tetrisphere by any means necessary. Not only is the gameplay slow and uninvolving, the game's well of fun will dry up within only hours. It's OK as a rental, maybe even worth purchase at a good price, but it's not a must-have.

(To be honest, I wouldn't mind playing it every once in a while. So, I'm calling Tetrisphere a ''rainy day game''.)

MY SCORE: 5.5

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 02/21/01, Updated 10/26/01