Topic: Tetris Impressions

[MegaByte]

The blocks keep falling.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressions/26663

Tetris is back on Nintendo 3DS, featuring an array of modes similar to the previous edition, Tetris Party Deluxe for Wii and Nintendo DS, as well as new modes and features using 3DS-specific capabilities. Several modes are tweaked; for example, Master Mode is designed to be more challenging... still, don't expect Tetris: The Grandmaster levels of difficulty.

The primary new mode may be familiar to players of similar games such as Puyo Pop -- Fever mode. Fever Mode reduces the width of the playing field, and switches between quick-fire challenges where you must try to clear the field with the same blocks, and a more normal mode. There are several powers available as well, such as switching all blocks to line blocks, which can make you life easier. The mode is fast-paced, yet somehow it wasn't as engaging as the Fever-style modes of other games I've played.

While there aren't any modes that do anything particularly novel with the 3D capabilities, you can tilt the playing field so that the blocks appear to be falling at you, much like the box art on the original Game Boy Tetris. And in a nice twist, Tower Climber now wraps around a cylinder instead of a flat plane.

Local multiplayer supports up to eight players, with some games available as Download Play. A maximum of six players can play over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and new items are promised in battle mode.

The game will also include augmented reality and SpotPass features, though they were unavailable for trial at E3. Apparently, in AR Tower Climber mode, you will actually need to walk around the virtual tower with the system itself. Unspecified in-game items will be available through SpotPass, and a daily allotment of coins will be provided to purchase items online.

Overall, Tetris for Nintendo 3DS doesn't bring any significant new changes to the table, but it should still be a nice collection of Tetris modes (well over 20, including multiplayer modes). The game should arrive in October.

[UltimatePartyBear]

That AR Tower Climber sounds pretty rad.  I take it that this a retail game?  'Cause Tetris, like most quick fix puzzle games, really needs to be readily available without swapping game cards.

[MegaByte]

Yeah, this one's retail. I wouldn't be surprised if they offered a subset downloadable at some point in the future.

[Mop it up]

There already is a version of Tetris Party on DSiWare, so I guess they didn't want to also release the premium version as a download.

[Pajamas]

I'll just stick to Tetris DS, thank you very much.

[Shaymin]

I'll just stick to Tetris DS, thank you very much.

Quoting for truth.

[NWR_insanolord]

I just bought Tetris Party Live when the eShop launched. Tetris DS has better modes, but to me, being a download title, always accessible without the need for a cartridge, trumps that. I doubt I'll ever buy Tetris in physical form again.

[AV]

I got Tetris DS and Party Live DSiware so I don't need this. I might download the tower AR thing if available but no buy from me