Tetris DS

"In many ways, the best Tetris yet"

Tetris is the extremely well known puzzle game, that perhaps defined the whole genera. I'm sure everybody must have played in some form, but the newest, and perhaps best version is Tetris DS. Tetris DS is great because it has great new modes in both single player and multiplayer. These new modes have the same Tetris feel, while some of them create a nice change to the formula. The game's multiplayer, is the best the franchise has ever seen, including different modes, large local play, and online play.

Gameplay - Tetris DS has 6 different single player modes. Marathon, Push, Mission, Puzzle, Touch, and Catch. It should also be pointed out that each game mode has a theme from a classic NES game. Marathon is based off of SMB/SMB3, Push is based of the Arcade Donkey Kong, Mission is based of the Legend of Zelda, Puzzle is based of Yoshi's cookie, Touch is based of of Balloon Fight, and Catch is based of Metroid.

Marathon mode is just like classic Tetris. Blocks will come at the top of the screen and gradually fall to the bottom, you must line them up in rows, and you can also rotate your blocks in order to get them in the best position. One complete row will cause it to disappear or clear, giving you points. If you clear 2, 3, or 4 rows at the same times you get more points, respectively. After clearing 10 lines, you advance a level, and the difficulty increases by speeding up the rate at which the blocks fall. You will get Gameover if your blocks reach the top the screen, which is why it is very important to clear as many lines as possible. Tetris DS, includes the fast drop which lets you drop your pieces in a split second, and the shadow block, which lets you view exactly were your block will end up, when it gets to the bottom. Both of these features can be turned off, if you wish for the gameplay to be more like the original Tetris for the Game Boy (which lacked those features). Marathon mode ends when you reach 200 lines, in which case you unlock endless mode, which ends keeps going until you get a Game Over.

Push is a spin on the Tetris formula. The gameplay is about the same, but push is a completive way to play (in single player, you must face the computer). Instead of there being a base at the bottom of the screen for you to place your blocks, you and your opponent must build up a base, by placing your blocks on each other's blocks. It can be hard to get started this way, but you will eventually find that a base forms and you'll start to be able to play normally. Once a game gets going in push mode, you're objective is to push your opponent's blocks passed a “danger line” located at the top of their screen, and once he does you win the match. It is set up so that you play like you normaly would, but your opponent appears to be playing upside down, right across from you. You push their blocks by clearing your own lines. Cleaning 1 line moves your opponent towards the “danger line” a little bit, clearing 2 lines moves it more, and so on.

Mission mode's gameplay is the same as marathon mode, but the game gives you objectives. A few examples could be “Clear 3 lines using only the L-Block”, “Clear 5 lines”, “Clear a line without rotating the blocks”, and the like. You still lose by reaching the top of the screen, however you must do more then just clear lines in order to stop this from occurring. Every mission is timed, if you clear the mission in time you automatically lose 5 lines, if you don't do it in time, you automatically gain 5 lines. It can be pressuring, if your near the top, you might want to gamble between lowering the the blocks by regular means or clearing the mission. Every 2 missions you complete you increase a level, and every level makes the time go faster and the missions increase in difficulty, however the rate at which the blocks fall always stays the same (that is unless there's a mission that speeds it up).

Puzzle mode is a much more slow paced and brain teaser form of Tetris. There are 200 different puzzles. Each one gives you a a screen half full of blocks with spaces that need to be filled, and it gives you 2-5 blocks to work with. You must chose the block you want, how you want it positioned and then you drop it at the puzzle. If your block and the puzzle make a line, it clears it, just like in regular Tetris. Your goal is to use all the blocks it gives you, in order to clear every line in the puzzle. It's actually a lot like normal Tetris, but instead of frantic and fast paced choses, puzzle mode lets you think things through and plan out a strategy.

Touch mode is the only mode in the game where you must use the touch screen. It gives you a large stack of blocks and you must start from the bottom. You still clear rows by making a complete line out of the blocks it gives you, but this time you must slide them together, instead of dropping them from the top. When you clear a line, the stack of blocks falls, and your objective is to free the the cage located at the top of the tower (by clearing all blocks from under it, and getting the cage on the ground). To rotate the blocks, you must double tap on them in the direction you want them to go (You can not do this on the higher difficulties). There is also a touch puzzle mode, that gives you a stack of blocks where you must clear every block (similar to regular puzzle mode).

Catch mode is the most unique mode there is. It's the only mode where you don't manipulate the blocks, but the base it's self. You start of with one small base, and blocks will fall around you, you must catch them. You can move your base around the screen, and rotate to catch the blocks and fir them in the right places. In catch mode, you must get a 4x4 box of blocks, in which case it will glow up for a few seconds, giving you time to expand the box (the bigger the box, the mode points you get). You will then lose all the blocks that were lit up, as well as any blocks that were directly horizontal or vertical the the box. This is good, because if your entire base gets bigger then the screen, you will get a Gameover. It is not the only way to lose though, as you also have a health bar. You can lose a small amount of health by accidentally rotating your base into a falling block, but you can also lose a bit more health by crashing into a floating metroid, that sits on the side. Keep in mind though, that crashing into metroids causes you to lose surrounding blocks, so it may take away health, but if you find your base is getting too large, you can get it smaller fast.

Graphics/Sound - The game's graphics are consisting of a lot of NES sprites, but it really doesn't look too bad, All of the backgrounds have been improved to fit standers closer to the DS, but there nothing special. The blocks them selves are nice a colorful, and are really the only thing you should concentrate on anyway (anything else is just the background). Always next to where you play is an NES sprite, which one depends on what level your on. These sprites rotate next your game, and move based on how well you do, and it can be entertaining to watch them flail about when you just cleared 4 lines.

As for the sound, the sound track is mostly remixed versions of NES themes. Most of the music is just all right and can get boring or repetitive, but some songs can easily get in your head for a awhile. I will admit though, that there song music that could fit better other places, but in truth it really does not matter much.

Multiplayer - This game has both local and online multiplayer. Local multiplayer has up to 10 people, and only requires one game card. Different multiplayer modes are, normal mode, which just puts all players in a match, to see who fails first. Normal with items, which gives you the option of using items (If you have an item block in a line you clear, then you get an item. Some help you, some hurt your opponents, and most of the items are based of of the Mario Kart series). It also includes push mode, which works the same as the 1 player mode, and mission mode, which puts all players in mission mode, to see who can last the longest.

Online multiplayer, includes a 2 player normal match, a 4 player item match, and push mode. It can take a bit to find a game, and any disconnection before the game starts causes the game to be canceled. The online also includes a ranking system. Over all, the addition of online multiplayer is positive.

Over all, I think Tetris DS is great version of Tetris, perhaps the best yet. The single player modes are great. There's so much variety to keep you entertained for a awhile, and like always, Tetris is a game that'll keep you wanting more. Without a second thought, this games multiplayer is the best for the series, including up to 10 people, weather you have 10 copies of the game, or just 1, as long as your friends have DS's, you can play what ever you like. The addition of Wi-Fi, is also a very nice feature. I higher recommend Tetris DS to anyone, even if you've played every other version, in terms of new types of play, and especially multiplayer, your sure to enjoy this version.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/13/08

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