Nerd Mentality

Tetris DS

Posted May 20th 2006 by Adrian DeHerrera.

Nearly 20 years ago, Alexei Pajitnov created what is now one of the most recognizable, if not most addictive puzzle games ever created (Yes, that's right, folks.). Tetris. Heck, there isn't a gamer out there to this day who hasn't played Tetris in some shape or form. It's seemingly available for every single gaming platform ever created. From its humble beginnings on the Game Boy (where it first garnered mainstream popularity), Tetris has literally stood the test of time, proving to every gamer out there that fitting blocks into their corresponding shapes, can be just as fun and addictive as any game on the market today. Does the DS version stand up to the classic rendition gamers grew up with, or does it fall flat?

Well, it sure hits the mark it was aiming for.

Tetris DS is essentially, well, Tetris, on the DS. Although the hardcore Tetris fans will definitely notice some differences. Most prominent of the changes is the ability to keep a piece active on the playing field by constantly rotating it. While this may seem like a good idea upon inception, all it really does is diminish the tension Tetris players usually would build up when they're fully immersed in the game and piling blocks on top of each other. Another slight hindrance of this seemingly new Tetris is the ability for the player to instantly drop a piece to the floor, with the tapping of the Up key. Sure, it might seem like a key feature, but again, all it really does in the end is take away from the frantic gameplay the game would otherwise have if it wasn't for these slight drawbacks.

But just because Tetris DS lacks (with the word "lacks" being used very lightly) in some of the areas of the gameplay department, it doesn't mean it can't make up for it with... well, everything else. This game is literally stuffed with features. From the various single player modes, the multiplayer, which includes online play, to the huge amount of the Nintendo nostalgia featured. Mario, Link, Samus, heck, the whole gang's here as every mode in the game has its own Nintendo-themed mascot.

First up, we have Standard Mode and in it, lay three submodes for your choosing. Marathon mode is really just Tetris at its core: clear the seemingly endless lines of Tetris blocks as they fall from the top of the screen, at ever increasing velocity. Twenty levels stand in your way, with the completion of each level adding a notch tp the difficulty factor. Line Clear mode has the player in a frantic rush as you race to clear twenty-five lines of our block-shaped companions. The final sub mode is VS CPU, pitting the player against some of the toughest computer opponents you will ever face. Mario will be present on the DS' top screen, jumping around in nostalgic fashion as every line cleared will bring you and he closer to your goals.

Metroid's Samus Aran calls Catch Mode home. Your objective in this Metroid themed romp is to complete a reverse Tetris line of sorts. You're given a set piece, with which you set up to catch other falling pieces coming in from the DS' top screen. When your big piece of Tetris block is satisfied (which, by the way, is just four Tetris blocks), it detonates and destroys itself along with any surrounding blocks. You can also trigger the piece's explosion early by pressing the X button, which can be very helpful in destroying the deadly Metroids that occasionally fly down to be a nuisance. The game will come to an end if you either run out of life (on account of those damn hovering Metroids) or if your collection becomes too large to fit on the lower screen.

Another one of the game's plentiful modes is the Donkey Kong themed, Push mode. Here, there are none of those proverbial Tetris 'ceilings', where coming into contact with one will mean the end of your game - no. Each player's screen will be almost in sync with one another as blocks will fall from the top of your screen, down and your opponent's blocks will "fall" from their bottom screen, er, up. In the beginning of the game, you'll notice two set pieces of blocks that are stationed in the middle of the screen. With both players building off of the stationed blocks pieces, it then (almost) becomes a normal game of tetris, so to speak. When one of your, or your opponent's blocks reach the top of the screen, the game is over.

As if the millions of modes Tetris DS features doesn't entice you enough to purchase it already, the Yoshi themed Puzzle mode will be the icing on the cake. In this mode, there's around (give or take) 200 puzzles, with only one way to clear all of them. Either by studying the blocks formation ahead, or by guessing, you use the stylus to choose which way you want to drop your Tetris piece in. If you time (or guess) correctly, you'll be able to complete each level. Go ahead, you'll have all the time you need.

The latter of the game modes, Touch Mode, making use of (you guessed it) the stylus, has Nintendo's Balloon Fight theme written all over it. Your objective here is to use the DS' touch screen to rotate and move the Tetris blocks around to clear out lines. Your goal is to lower a box full of balloons to the ground below, while creating a path for it by clearing out lines. All things considered, Touch Mode is a blast; you can tell the developers certainly wanted to do something innovative and fresh with the touch screen and stylus, and it definitely shows. The game's touch screen features feel tight and intuitive, they'll have you swiping and frantically moving this piece that way, and that piece this way, to Tetris victory.

As usual with Tetris games, there's really nothing to speak on in the graphics' department. Other than the vibrant colors of the various Tetris pieces interlocking with eachother, in the end - it's just classic Tetris, and what you've come to expect from a Nintendo remixed edition of the classic puzzler. The colors, the blocks, the game play - they're all here.

The audio, on the other hand, is a completely different story. If you're expecting the same old Tetris music, think again. Since Nintendo decided to go all out and have a Nintendo-themed Tetris, they went ahead and added the nostalgic stylings of Mario and pals, in remixed editions of their old-school counterparts. But if it's the classic, un-remixed editions of the Tetris music you crave, it's available, but unfortunately only as an unlockable.

Now we get to what Tetris DS is really about - multiplayer. In Local Wireless mode, only one game cart is needed, and up to ten players can join. Players are able to choose teams, set handicaps and configure how many items can be used. And that's not all, folks. Using Nintendo's WiFi Connection, players who jot down their buddies' friend codes will be able to set matches such as Two Player Versus, Four Player Versus with items, and Push mode with two players. In the end, if you're looking for a multiplayer akin to that of the Smash Brothers' multiplayer gatherings, then Tetris DS is your best bet. Assuming you can gather ten people, that is.

Heartstopper - Blocks of fun.

If the original Tetris was the reason to purchase a Game Boy back in the day, Tetris DS is one of the reasons to purchase a DS today. With its seemingly never-ending game play modes, and one-of-a-kind multiplayer experiences, allowing up to ten of your friends to compete wirelessly against one another, it'd be a shame not to pick this one up. Just remember to free up your calendar - this one's going to be consuming most of your free time for the foreseeable future.

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