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OK, I'll admit, I'm a Tetris junkie. It began when I purchased the old Nintendo version of the game, and, although I didn't enjoy the game for all it's glory back then, I adore it now. Over the past couple of years, I've realized what a masterpiece Tetris really is. Since then I've been looking for puzzle games that create the same form of excitement and addiction that the original Tetris did. I've found many games that are good games in their own right, but they all pale in comparison to Tetris. There have also been various versions of Tetris that have come out, all trying to make the already perfect game better. It has seemed impossible. "The Next Tetris", as the most recent incarnation has been called, is a bit better than any of the others I've played. Firstly, there are basically two games on this CD. The original classic Tetris, and the new version "The Next Tetris". The Next Tetris is basically like the original, but a few twists have been added to alter the game play. The object is still to clear a horizontal row of blocks, but basically some blocks can be broken into several pieces, allowing you to drop pieces into other holes and such. It can make it easier to clear lines, especially when it is difficult to get a straight line shaped playing piece. Instead of waiting for one, you can sometimes drop "parts" of blocks into the hole to clear a line or two at least. Another change is that when you start the game you already have blocks on the playing field. You must clear the bottom most row to clear the stage. You have five minutes to get as far as you can get in the game. The five minutes ticks down from one stage until the next until it reaches zero, then your game is over. While this version of Tetris is fun, it lacks a few things that I think are very important. Most importantly, a scoring system. What is Tetris without a score? You can't tell much of how well you did compared to your previous games, except by the level you reached. Too bad. If they just would have taken the time to add a scoring system it would make the game 10 times more fun. What were they thinking? The classic version of Tetris on this CD? Well, if you've played the original Tetris then you know what this one is like. The scoring system is not like the old Nintendo version, and the play control is a bit different. At first it reminded me of the Tengen version of Tetris (for those of you that have had the chance to play it). By that I guess I mean that the playing pieces aren't divided into smaller squares. They just look like whole pieces. Of course, since The Next Tetris is on the PlayStation, you're probably wondering how the graphics and sound are. The graphics are excellent, actually. It's exactly what I expected for a 32-bit version of the original Tetris. The blocks are brightly colored, and the animation is as smooth as can be. The blocks even wiggle now and then after they land. I felt that the option screens and menu screens were rather lackluster, with the wheel thing and all. The sound track is a decent techno-sort, although it can get repetitive and annoying after a while. Luckily The Next Tetris gives you the option to put in your own CD and listen while you play. This feature has been used in some other PlayStation games as well. This is probably one of my favorite parts. If you get into the game more than I have, you'll find that it has a marathon option, a save feature (using the memory card), and a two player mode (in The Next Tetris only, the classic Tetris doesn't have a two-player mode - what a drag). If you're a Tetris fanatic like myself, definitely try this game. If you don't like Tetris at all, then don't go near this one. And if you've never played Tetris, then rent this one. Maybe not worth a purchase, but definitely worth a rent. If you're still searching for the best version of the original Tetris to date, I suggest the Super NES cart, Tetris & Dr. Mario, where the verses mode's features and options make it a real winner. |
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