Tetris DS

"It Came From The 1980s!"

Hello. This is my review of Tetris DS for the Nintendo DS. This game is the latest version of the original puzzle game from Russia and it has several modes, including the classic game of Tetris, plus some entertaining new spins on the classic theme. Plus, it's been given new graphics from classic NES games of the 80s, clearly a nod to the extensive history of Tetris. But the crucial question are, is this game worth buying? Is it worth renting? Or is it total garbage? Read on to find out the answers.

Gameplay
9/10: Outstanding
This being Tetris, we all know what to expect from the gameplay: a feast of excellence. In the main mode, it sticks to the tried and true method of rotating and moving falling blocks to clear lines, and it works well. The gameplay of the new modes works quite well too, particularly in the innovative Touch Mode, where you must move the stationary blocks to release a cage of balloons. However, the Donkey Kong themed Push mode could have been thought out better, as you start with very little space to put your blocks, and you must clear at least 2 or 3 lines at once to do any significant pushing. There are some elements, such as rotating a piece on the ground and instantly dropping a piece, which were added in more recent Tetris games, and which some purists don't like, but that shouldn't matter too much to most people. The difficulty is just right, as all modes start out gentle, then get fast-paced and insane. In Puzzle Mode and Touch Puzzle, later puzzles will really have you scratching your head, possibly in frustration.

Graphics/Sound
9/10: Outstanding
This being Tetris, the graphics aren't a polygon heavy affair that will blow you away with dazzling explosions and life like photorealism. Instead, they are quite stylized, and the entire game has a sort of “Retro Nintendo” theme, which may be designed to trigger flashbacks and nostalgia. Every mode and level is based on a certain popular 80s adventure, and the music almost always matches. Also, as an extra touch, the background of the playing field is always a memorable screen from the game being portrayed, such as the famous “Thank You Mario” scene, or one of the kings from Super Mario Bros 3. My only problems with this approach are the following: a) when the field becomes cluttered with Tetrominoes, you can't see the background; and b) later on, when the game becomes more frantic, you can't afford to pay attention to the video on the upper screen of a classic game being played.

Play time/Replayability
7/10: Good
The replayability of this game is a curious question. On the one hand, it's quite addictive, and you'll always be trying to clear more lines than you did on the previous run through. On the other hand, it's not very deep, and you will eventually get bored with trying to maneuver the falling blocks into efficient arrangements that yield points. Will it keep you entertained for days? Definitely. Weeks? There's a good chance. Months? Maybe. Years to come? Heck no. This is where the extra modes come in. Mission mode will have you looking at the entire preview lineup, planning ahead to fill out the requirements before you run out of hearts and are penalized. In Catch Mode, you'll be carefully adding blocks to your rotating pile in order to conserve space and blast metroids out of the sky, thereby replenishing your health. Once you've been thoroughly stumped by the two challenging puzzle mode and reduced to frantically attempting to beat the computer in push mode, you'll be ready to trade this in for store credit.

Final Recommendation
8/10: Great
Here's my recommended plan for dealing with this game. If you can find a place that rents hand-held games, rent it. If you like it, and you most likely will, rent it again sometime. If, after a few rentals, you absolutely love this game, it's worth a buy. Then, once it gets boring, it should be quite lucrative where store credit is concerned. One word of caution, though: If you absolutely love the original Tetris for NES, this game might not be for you. It's been significantly updated, and includes new gameplay elements, and what might be seen as advertising. So if that's how you feel you should just play the old, classic game of Tetris, and not :waste your time" with this “hack job”. Overall, I feel that this game captures the simplicity and accessibility of Tetris, while updating it to appeal to today's gamer. It is a worthy successor to one of the biggest gaming masterpieces, and cultural icons, of the 80s. Now, here's hoping they follow it up with a tricked-out DS version of Hatris.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/10/07

Game Release: Tetris DS (US, 03/20/06)