Tetris Attack

"The best puzzle game ever."

Don't let the cute graphics fool you, Tetris Attack is the most intense puzzle game in existence. The basic gameplay is very simple. There are different shapes on each box that rises up from the ground. You simply use your cursor to switch the places of the two blocks your cursor is on. Match up 3 blocks to clear that group of blocks and don't let the blocks rise to the top.

It'll take one minute or less to learn how to play. What will take longer is being any good at it. You can match up 5 blocks in a row to clear more at a time and even set up combos, where clearing blocks resluts in a chain reaction that clears other blocks. Sometimes you have to resist clearing an easy three blocks so you can setup a longer chain and/or a combo.

The basic one player mode has you, Yoshi, competing against characters that get harder as you go on. Facing the top opponents is nerve wrecking as you'll need to be very quick and a good eye as to where to set up long chains or combos. If you do manage a great move, your opponent will receive a nice surprise of more blocks. At the top levels, you can't afford to keep cleaing only 3 blocks at a time as the blocks will rise too fast and your opponent will be good.

Play this game for a few days and you'll notice changes in yourself. Whenever I would close my eyes all I could see was blocks and the moves necessary to set up combos. You will live this game. I can't even describe the rush of defeating the final boss on the hardest level. You will sweat and your fingers will ache. Rest for one second and you will lose. It's the sense of urgency that enhances the tension.

You could play the one player mode forever, but there are more modes to divert your attention. A puzzle mode presents an arrangement of blocks that you must clear in a certain amount of moves. Can get extremely difficult but is very helpful for teaching you certain patterns you will encounter when playing the regular mode. There is a two player mode which works like the one player mode but has a human opponent instead of the computer. If you defeat the final boss though, it may be difficult to find a human that good.

Pay no attention to the Teris name. This is not anything like Tetris. Tetris Attack is much better. PLay this for one day, and you'll forget why you ever played Tetris.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99