Game Reviews

Tetris (2011 edition)

Star onStar onStar onStar onStar half
|
| Tetris
Get
Tetris (2011 edition)
|
| Tetris

When we weren't packing the dance floor of our local discotheque, we residents of Pocket Gamer Towers spent our tender years nodding our noggins to the bleepier 8-bit version of the Tetris theme, necks aching as we peered lovingly into the lime-coloured screens of our Game Boys.

Tetris is so ingrained into the handheld gaming world that every iteration of the original version comes under great scrutiny. Those who were there at the beginning look on knowingly as new generations are exposed to Tetris's lure.

In this latest Java version, Tetris's classic puzzle gameplay thankfully remains unchanged, with the ultimate aim in any of the game's various modes being to form lines as a variety of blocks fall steadily down the screen.

Rush hour

All the old Tetrimino gang members are back: the game-for-anything T-shaped block, the bumbling zig-zaggers, and the godsend Tetris-maker (four lines cleared at once). What's new is the Rush mode.

While the traditional endless Marathon mode makes an appearance for Teterans (Tetris veterans) the new Rush mode shakes things up somewhat, providing a series of levels in which you'll have to construct lines in order to dig to the bottom of the screen.

There are four different galaxies or hubs with 15 levels a-piece to play through, with a steadily rising difficulty.

After completing a level you'll be rewarded with coins that you can use to buy power-up blocks - handy white versions of the regular Tetriminos only with special abilities, such as clearing a line instantly.

What this mode truly brings to the Tetris table is a semi-automatic blast of compulsive puzzley pleasure. It gives you shots of gameplay to keep you busy in those odd moments of the day when there's nothing going on, without requiring you to delve too deeply and end up missing your train/meeting/wedding.

Just enough chefs

Filling out the trio of game modes is Sprint, in which you're tasked with blasting your way through 40 lines as speedily as possible.

Tetris has always been a bastion of gaming on the go, and this version doesn't disappoint. The game's original formula is so well-balanced and intuitive that changing it too much would almost certainly detract from it.

Thankfully, this latest Tetris edition has enough new content to pique your interest while remaining true to the classic game we all know and love.

Tetris (2011 edition)

Tetris doesn't need to change - it's perfect just the way it is. But, an addictive new mode giving us five-minute shots of Tetris gameplay for when we're on the go is a welcome addition
Score
Matt Sakuraoka-Gilman
Matt Sakuraoka-Gilman
When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.