Tetris

"It is rare for simple gameplay to achieve so much, but 'Tetris' makes the exception..."

Synopsis
After playing all the hype, graphical masterpieces, breathtaking audio realism and rigorous action of the games of now, it is sometimes a relief to return to a game which is simple, yet addictive. However, these games are few and far between, with many of them failing and becoming repetitive. But, it is always nice to return to indulge with one of the best and first gameboy titles ever... Tetris.

Tetris has been known to be the most simple puzzle game, if not the most basic of all games in existence. Tetris shows off nothing glamorous, nor anything fine or stand-out, but it contains one of the most innovative, basic and unbelievably addicting games to date. It has been quite some time since Tetris was a popular hit, hitting the arcades, the first Nintendo consoles and the gameboy. But because of its sheer simple approach, the game never fails to addict anyone - from the casual to the hardcore gamers. It is rare for simple gameplay to achieve so much, but 'Tetris' makes the exception - and it just may be the only game in gaming history that has achieved so much fame for its simple-minded gameplay.

Gameplay Elements:
This game makes for an extremely intelligent puzzle game, combining strategic elements, quick-thinking skills and speedy fingers. This game never ceases to impress someone, for its complexity lies within its simply geometry system. Formations of tiny boxes create various shapes, from cubes, to straight lines, to L-shapes to various other simple shapes. This geometric system is contained in a small game screen, where the shapes fall at a certain degree of speed. With these various shapes, it is imperative to integrate the shapes into one straight line - no gaps or holes - which makes the said line disappear. These shapes begin to stack, and random geometric shapes slowly drop until the screen suffocates in the stacking objects. Therefore, the lines that the shape produces must be eliminated for the game to proceed, if not, the game sadly comes to a close. With these simple rules, one must have simple and easily accessible controls.

Tetris responds to easy controls to make for the fastest and most direct solution to your 'falling objects making a line'. Directional buttons move the pieces until it hits the surface of the stacked objects. The circular buttons (B and A) both respond unanimously to rotating the object. Rotation of the object is just as important to gameplay elements as the control, as rotating certain shapes are required to fit into a single line.

Difficulty makes this game so addicting. The game distributes 10 difficulty stages, where 1 is the easiest and 10 is the hardest. The difficulty is determined through one standard - speed. Speed makes for the most important an most intense area of gaming in Tetris, where the faster the blocks fall down, the quicker one must think to where these shapes come into place. As the game increases in speed, gamers will make careless errors, and eventually realize that the game screen already has various stacked objects requiring elimination. Rotation and alignment becomes extremely difficult as the increasing speed creates momentum. Devastating!

While this puzzle game alone sets the standard, Tetris makes other modes accessible. Another challenging mode grants pre-determined cubes floating mid-air, while your Tetris pieces fall into place, eliminating those cubes, to clear the game screen and gain a better area advantage for you.

Probably one of the most interesting gameplay elements that is played into Tetris is your own mentality. Tetris tests your capacity to withstand claustrophobic situations, and determines how carefully you make your choices from a clear game screen to a stacked game screen, from slow falling objects, to objects that fall at an alarming rate. Usually, people panic once time runs out, or space is short, or aware of claustrophobic situations. Tetris actually uses that mind mentality to create a sense of panic once the puzzle pieces are stacked too high, and a sense of safety once the puzzle pieces are stacked very low. The elements of gameplay is all integrated into the person's ability to keep control in various situations, be it the wide and vast area, or the small areas. The fact that Tetris uses these simple geometric shapes to play with your mind state and use it to test the way you can handle panic situations makes this game a perfect game.

The main reason for why this game is so unbelievably addicting remains a mystery, there is not a main reason why a person demands more of this game. This game may be the only game that invites every type of gamer, from casual, hardcore, female, male, young and old. Tetris can easily contest for the largest ratio of different people playing a game. Nowadays, it is young males that dominate the gaming industry, and often, it is a smaller ratio of any other types of people and age playing a game. Tetris makes such an interesting gameplay, that it is almost indefinite that this gameplay set the ground and basis for all other puzzle games. 10/10

Visual Presentation:
One can contest that graphics are bad, and this may very well be so. But how Tetris presents itself visual is arguably very well done. Puzzle games have never gained much graphical appeal, and they probably never will in comparison to the other genre of games. Visually, Tetris makes for one of the sharpest visuals for any launched game. The gameboy has been known to be grainy and visually... vague. Tetris surprisingly makes the game visuals sharp and precise, and although it creates nothing innovative and beautiful in this department, the sharpness of the game makes the puzzle element much easier.

The graphics converted from the arcades and the NES are surprisingly good, and the shapes are to scale with the small and compact size of the gameboy. Despite the black, grey and white shades of the gameboy, Tetris instead makes the shapes individual by creating different textures. By this, I mean each geometric shape has a small texture that is different from the other shapes. A line shape contains tiny dots that can easily be told apart from the L-shape, which contains a cube within each cube. This was not necessary, but indefinitely helps one notice the difference between stacked objects better.

This game makes no attempt to make visually appealing graphics. Heck, puzzle games are not expected to. However, Tetris still makes good use of the gameboy's horrible shade schemes by inputting different texture visuals into the gameboy and making this puzzle game's visuals sharp and easy to tell apart. Again, this game's graphical appeal is not too striking, with simple designs, but sometimes this is indefinitely for the better. Puzzle games do not need little pretty visuals that can do nothing but distract a gamer. The main focus in a puzzle game, is the puzzles itself, and Tetris does a good job of integrating sharpness into its game. 8/10

Audio Presentation:
The music is probably the best of all gameboy games. Due to the length of a puzzle game, music needs to loop various times without deeming a repetitive tone. Audio-wise, Tetris organizes the little 'beeps' and 'bloops' of the gameboy into an orchestral marvel! These songs are classics, and make excellent use of classical music of the past. Classical music is often best-known as background music to many gamers. Upbeat pop tempo would not fit the length of Tetris, and they made a good choice of selecting three musical pieces with a classical basis. Three songs, all of which have different tempo, different progression and harmony can suit any gamer.

The first musical tune is a simple train of notes with a basic rhythm throughout. No sudden stops or interruptions hinder the music, and encourages gameplay flow excellently. If one listens closely, various other parts including percussion, bass and alto can be heard which harmonizes with the basic train of rhythm. The looping of the tune is seemless and gives the gameplay mood a simple and non-stop feel to it. The first musical tune helps encourage one theme - victory. The second musical tune gives a marching feel, with a relentless fast-paced rhythm in the percussion that forces one to hurry up, act quick and determine your next move. This piece also contains no sudden stops or interruptions and keeps the gameplay going, but with a much different mood - speed. The third and last musical tune is reminiscent of a slow baroque-like theme that portrays a smooth and slurred note progression. Unlike the other two, this tune is plays a minimal role in the percussion area, and mostly focuses on a somewhat stressed, yet calm tune that is also looped seamlessly.

Of course, if these classical pieces do not suit a gamer, one can simply turn the music off. However, this leads the gamer to create his/her own mood and feel to the game, if the mentioned tunes do not suit his/her feel.

Sound effects are also existent in this game, and most of them are simple 'blips', 'bleeps', and 'bloops'. Nothing special, and often, the music tends to drown the sound effects. Sound effects may have been the largest downfall of the game, but this is not saying much due to the extremely successful accomplishment of this on the gameboy.

The audio presentation is of the best I've ever heard on the gameboy. It truly rivals any musical wonders and makes excellent tunes out of the simple and the tedious sounds of the gameboy. Tetris truly makes an orchestral masterpiece with this game, and makes everything come together with each type of music. Whoever integrated such complex musical pieces into the gameboy should be greatly applauded. 10/10

Story and Composition:
Of course, because of its genre, Tetris has no characters, no story development, no dialogue. This may not be a bad thing, due to what Tetris is focusing on - your skills. Therefore, the criteria cannot be determined as it is an unavailable and otherwise vague point of the game that hardly gives mention. Games which present no story or very little are usually omitted from the entire criteria. N/A

Replayability and Extras:
Tetris' offering of unlimited addiction says enough. What a game can offer by playing with your mentality, intriguing you with interesting songs and making you despite simple blocks and shapes has never been done so well as Tetris. Tetris may be the sole reason a gamer should have a gameboy. Tetris' puzzle game makes it so fun anywhere, at the bowling alley playing Tetris Arcade, playing at home on the NES console... or on the go with Pocket Tetris! Tetris has no limits and has been the best puzzle game ever.

It is rare for a puzzle game to have much replayability due to its lack of offering anything new. But for some reason, Tetris gives off a terribly addicting gameplay that is fun whenever and wherever. This game has it all even though it is so simple. I cannot stress enough how simple this game is... and yet, how much it can create such fun. This game is amazing and simply breathtaking... not by visual standards, but how crazy it makes you after the last block sends you to game over. 9/10

Conclusion
Tetris has put puzzle games to shame without even realizing it, being the first puzzle game and all. Perfection is rare the first try, and often requires a third or fourth try. For some reason, Tetris managed to hit on-target on the first try. First things first, they give you gameplay addiction - simplicity has never been so dangerous! The looping melodic tunes of the Tetris track is captivating, and it loops... and loops... and loops. And surprisingly, one will not get sick of it. How could they once they've been playing for the last 5 hours, trying to finish the 10th level without dying. Short-term and long-term wise, Tetris delivers. This game is so compatible to any situation due to its simple gameplay. From a short bus-ride to a long plane-ride, Tetris simply does not relent! You will be tapping on those buttons, watching cubes fall into place... it just shows how simple-minded people are!

Tetris should be experienced by every person atleast once. It is already unanimously agreed upon to its addictive approach. Cubes have never been so fun... I simply can't grasp the fact that Tetris is so simple and yet makes for the most amazing gameplay ever. How can - how can a - HOW CAN A GAME BE SO SIMPLE!?!?! This game's learning curve is so easy and yet the challenge is so hard, that people will be playing this game for ages. This game was published in the 1980s... and yet, it is still an addicting masterpiece. Wow!

How it all adds up!
Gameplay Elements: 10/10
Visual Presentation: 8/10
Audio Presentation: 10/10
Story and Composition: ---
Replayability and Extras: 9/10
Final Score: 9

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/18/02, Updated 02/09/03