Tetris play maybe only second fiddle to Mario, in terms of sheer gamer recognition. To the casual player, Tetris is a game that absorbs hours. Gamer historians will know the heartbreaking tale of the creator not seeing his proper fortune due to a series of confusing licensing agreements during the Soviet era of Russia. Tetris means something to everyone, no exceptions. There have been countless entries that mess around with the gameplay and rules, this latest release Tetris Party Deluxe (TPD) aims to bring classic Tetris gameplay back in the hearts and minds of gamers, while offering some new modes to round out the game.
There is the classic Tetris mode that lasts for as long as reflexes allow. Blocks stack up as players try and clear the gameboard by creating lines. It’s basic, standard stuff that is more than familiar. The new modes are a collective mix of good, bad and indifferent. There is a particularly fun “mountain climber” mode that changes up the rules so that clearing lines is discouraged and constructing a ladder to the top is the goal. The design choice to include a sure fire mode that is going to please anyone give plenty of allowance for the experimental modes. New control methods, like using the Wii Balance Board to control a game mode, are part of the experiment and will give a different reaction to anyone who plays sans classic mode. There will be plenty of people that play this game, since this is supposed to be a party game, after all.
As strange as it might sound, Tetris makes a pretty good party game, especially with all the new modes. It stems from the heart of Tetris being the ultimate casual style game. The game will get competitive since not only will gamers have to beat other players, they need to make sure they don’t hose themselves with stupid moves. Games with shifting goals might sound confusing, but the rules are always simple to grasp and can even be picked up from just watching others. Most surprising of all, there is an online mode when the physical party leaves out the front door with the leftovers.
The Rundown
TPD is essentially the retail boxed version of Tetris Party that is on the WiiWare store. This is a must get if access to the cheaper downloadable file is out of the question. The heart of Tetris is strong with TPD, and it blazes some new modes that are sure to become fan favorites. Gamers who haven’t picked up Tetris in a long time should jump back into this title since it is a surprisingly full-featured game.
