A modern touch to a truly classic game (Tetris (DS))

Member Name: TravellerJen

Product:	Tetris (DS)
Date:	20/10/09 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good range of different game modes

Disadvantages: Wifi gaming mode and rules could be improved

Tetris is one of those classic games that everyone remembers. This puzzle game made by Nintendo has the potential to be timeless. The DS version was released in 2006 and if I recall correctly, this game was first out on the classic version of the Nintendo Game Boy.


Thinking back on the Game Boy, it was such a big and chunky thing! It really does show much technology has changed since then. Who would think that you can now have portable gaming consoles with touch screen, interactive microphones and so much more! Back then with the Nintendo Game Boy, there were not alot of modes you could play and the maximum play was 2 player and that was only if you had the 2 player cable. Remember the days!


This modern, new and improved version of Tetris really does show show technology has improved. With this Tetris, you can play up to TEN players offline and four online. TEN players! You could definately have some kind of Nintendo DS competitions with this.


There are a number of game play modes in the DS Tetris, which are as follows:

Standard Mode
The DS standard mode is the modern version of the origional Tetris, which can be played as one player, multiplayer or one player versus a computer controlled opponent. One player Marathon mode ends at level 20 (after 200 lines), and you can even unlock endless mode after finishing the marathon mode. If you reach beyond level 20 in the endless mode, you just get to play on. The highest visible score in the endless mode is 99,999,999, the highest visible level is 999, and the highest visible number of lines completed is also 999! Of course, the higher the level you get the fast er the game goes, thus making it harder. Pretty tough though to actually get to level 99 I would imagaine! In the DS version of Tetris you are allowed to hold a 'Tetrimino' by pressing L or R. This means that you put the tetromino currently on the screen into a small box for future use, the best ones to hold are the long tetris sticks especially when playing with an apponent.

Mission mode
In this new mode, called mission mode you can play competitively as mulitplayer or on your own to beat your own score. In this mode you have certain missions in which you must acheive. This can include using a square to clear two lines, clearing 4 lines at once etc. A timer in the form of red hearts slowly disappears and when you complete the objective, the heart shows up clearly again and you get set a new objective. Also, completing an objective erases the bottom four lines of blocks from the playing field. If you fail to complete the objective in time, blocks will be added to the bottom of your building block.

Push mode
Push mode is for two players, or one person versus a CPU opponent. You both start with a 1x1 block floating in their field, and must place blocks on that to form a base. Whenever two or more lines are cleared simultaneously, the player's side of the pile moves down. The goal is to push the pile down so it overlaps your opponent's danger line. I am not too fond of this game mode as it makes me a little dizzy.

Touch mode
In Touch mode, you use your stylus to "touch" and "slide" your blocks to create rows. When enough blocks have cleared, a cage of balloons is released. This is nothing like the classic Tetris game as no blocks fall from the top.

Catch mode
In this mode, you control one central block, which can be moved in all directions and rotated. You have to catch falling blocks, which stick to the central block. Once you have a segment of 4x4 or greater, it will flash for ten seconds, then explode. Depending on the energy you have, it is shown at the bottom of the screen as a bar, and some energy is restored when a 4x4 or greater area of blocks is set off. If energy runs out or the blocks are stacked so far that the central block fills the entire screen the game is over.

Puzzle mode
This is is again playing mode to the traditional Tetris game. In this mode there are a limited number of blocks, depending on the level you are on to choose from. You must fit in the blocks rotating them in order to complete a full block thus making a puzzle fit. As the levels go on the puzzles get harder.


This game is wifi compatiable and is good if you want to find out how good you actually are. Once you have played a few times against some online gamers, your score will go up or down depending on your results. You start off at 5000 as a average. In wifi you can play standard mode with and without items. The annoying thing about playing online is that if a player drops out of the game before you start or even during the game, you must wait to find new opponents.


Overall this is a very playable game, but like all games, they can always be improved. This game gets a four and a three quarters from me. This game has been adapted well to fit into the modern world that is today but maybe could have tried a little harder, although I absolutely love this game. I never get bored! Absolutely value for money, especially with the new gaming modes and different variety each ones brings.

Summary: A Timeless Classic For Sure!