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Metareview - Tetris DS
Everything old is new again. Nintendo brings the classic epic of plummeting blocks and tight squeezes to the DS with brand new modes, Wi-Fi play and cameo appearances by some old friends. For the most part, it looks like Tetris DS has succeeded admirably at balancing the new with the nostalgia. Gamespy (90%) loved the online play, the retro NES visuals and the new modes, but thought less of Puzzle Mode and the ability to infinitely spin pieces. "Whether you're playing it online though Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection or with a bunch of friends who are next to you, multiplayer makes the normally awesome Tetris even more awesomer. If, in fact, awesomer were a word." (Sadly, it's not.) IGN (90%) really appreciated the new additions to the established gameplay. "And you haven't lived until you've played ten player Tetris complete with rotation-freezing lightning bolts and piece-shifting banana peels flying between the systems." Gamespot (75%) complains about the infinite spin and the lack of "pure" Tetris mode, but concedes that local multiplayer is a blast (but online multiplayer is "poorly realized"). "But still, it's Tetris, one of the most popular and significant puzzle games ever, and some of the magic that put it in such a venerable position still manages to shine through." 1up (90%) says that despite all the new modes, the game is still just a solid rendition of Tetris . "But at heart, it's simply Tetris, on the go, with online multiplayer and a highly polished presentation. And that makes it a must-have for anyone with a DS."
New Tetris DS commercial excites
Joystiq Blogger Blake Snow recently put up this Tetris DS commercial he found via N-Sider. Blake was quick to point out the overall rise in Nintendo commercials from those horrible ones of yesteryear. [Via Joystiq]
New Tetris DS commercial
The above Tetris DS commercial is nicely done, displaying how a skydiver might play Tetris in mid-air with friends. Is it just me or are Nintendo commercials getting better? Look out for Tetris DS when it hits store shelves on March 20. [via N-Sider]
Nintendo WiFi adds Hunters, Tetris DS to hub
Since Nintendo's WiFi service caters to so few games (only 3 currently available), the new page update comes as somewhat of a major expansion. Nintendo is preparing for its upcoming release (21 days to go) of two new WiFi-enabled titles, Metroid Prime Hunters and Tetris DS, by giving them their own hub pages. Not a lot of information on either page (just a generic game description and screen shot for each), but expanding the WiFi-enabled "Games in Play" menu by about 66% is a moderate milestone for this up-and-coming online venture. [Via DS Fanboy]
Tetris DS wifi page up
Though the game won't launch until March 20, Nintendo has already begun the prepping for puzzle wifi madness with a dedicated Tetris wifi page. From the article: "Log on with Tetris DS and dig in for some puzzling head-to-head action via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. When you're ready to take a break from your block battles, come to the Tetris DS gaming hub and see how you rank against other players." Not a lot new here, rather a heads up regarding the pending service and reminder that the game is a mere 21 days away. Let the sweet Russian music prevail. [Thanks, Nushio]
Screenshots: Tetris DS
Warning! The following link contains more Tetris DS screenshots than you may care to see. We started to count how many, but stopped after 24. The game's March 20 US release for the DS can't come soon enough!
Tetris DS preview
1UP gets their hands on a preview of the soon-to-be released Tetris DS. From the article: "Surprisingly, Tetris DS will be in stores in slightly more than a month, meaning a pleasantly-short wait for this potential addiction. Sure, you've played Tetris before, but the DS iteration has an excellent chance at be the most playable and engaging version of the classic to date." Though the site wasn't able to play the online version of the game, they speak highly of the local based game modes. I can already see various colored blocks dropping in dual-screen delight.
Widget Watch: Tetris Widget Round Up
When digging around on the net this week, I found more than one solution to TUAW reader/commenter Aaron Garn's need for Tetris in the Dashboard. First up is MiniTetris by Shock Widgets, a slightly laggy, really miniature tetris. Secondly I found LIFEwaves' fig-leaf-decorated over-priced, and apparently discontinued version. Lastly, I bring your attention to pakkman781's free and flash-based tetris (on which I couldn't make the audio stop: Must ... mute... sound!)I must say that neither of this options was as pleasant to me as playing gtetrinet (no, not by myself, sheesh!). Also, listen up, would-be future Tetris-on-a-mac creators, TUAW reader/commenter Chris wants Tetris to work with Mac laptops with built-in motion detectors. So get on that, mmkay?
Tetris DS videos entertain and delight
The nostalgic sight of plummeting Tetris blocks (or Tetrominoes, if you prefer) is sure to foster a warm feeling deep inside any gamer. Right now, we have an insatiable desire to give those L-shaped pieces a loving, yet slightly uncomfortable hug. Nintendo undoubtedly feels the same way, at least judging by all the love they're giving the upcoming touch-enabled Tetris DS. The chaps over at British Gaming Blog have posted some videos of the game in action, including some showing the game's Push and Touch modes. Don't worry, they're safe for work. The latter mode is a more slow-paced affair, with Tetrominoes awkwardly stacked on top of each other and awaiting the player to spin them about, thus allowing them to slot into each other and disappear. As for the ingenious Donkey Kong-themed Push mode, it seems ideally suited for Wi-Fi multiplayer battles. Each player is relegated to one of the DS screens, with the opponent being mirrored in the bottom screen (i.e. his blocks move upwards). Each player slots Tetrominoes into a cluster of blocks that's initially right in the middle of the two playing fields. Performing well and racking up combos pushes the block cluster away and into your opponent's screen, lessening his maneuvering space and chances of survival. If that explanation doesn't make sense (and we don't blame you), just check out the videos. A word of warning, though: Turn off the sound. Those catchy old-school remixes will become lodged in your brain for the rest of the day. [Thanks, JonathanEx!] [Update: The official Nintendo source.]
OMFG! Zelda on the DS... in Tetris DS
Alright, so it's not the same thing, but we do have a picture of the Zelda-themed level in the upcoming Tetris DS, in addition to the Mario-themed image we've already seen. Not sure what exactly constitutes a "theme" but it appears to be at least a background and a character image; maybe some music and sound effects will get added in too. Wonder what the other themes are gonna be... obviously Metroid. Maybe some other classics like Ice Climber, Excitebike, or Kid Icarus? [Thanks, Archaic Sage]
New Metroid Prime Hunters boxart and Tetris DS logo
Not that you'll turn a backflip upon this breaking news, but Nintendo has unveiled the boxart for the forthcoming Metroid Prime Hunters along with the Tetris DS logo. We have a feeling it's gonna be a good first quarter for DS games. Check 'em! [via 4cr]
New Tetris DS screens show off 10-player battle
Two new screens have surfaced for the recently-announced Nintendo DS incarnation of Tetris, so let's overanalyze these images, shall we? The first image reveals the multiplayer portion of the game. The top screen shows 10 different Tetris wells (with yours being the first listed). Each well has an associated name, and player 2 even has his own icon. You can see in detail what each player is doing - even their pieces as they drop, apparently. The bottom screen features an aesthetically-pleasing Mario-themed backdrop and two features to the left of your own well: a Tetris block being "held" and a ghost item to use via the 'X' button. The second image demonstrates the single-player aspect of Tetris DS. Like in the aforementioned image, there is a held block as well as a preview of the next 6 blocks to be used. The top screen, it appears, will be animation related to Super Mario Bros. 3. All in all, the game looks pretty. We'll find out soon enough how pretty it plays: Tetris DS is set for release March 20. [Thanks, Timmeh]
Tetris DS screens hit the web
The above Tetris DS images have surfaced this evening. The dual screens may do more than the original press release hinted after seeing the top left screen. Also, the 10 multi-player mode looks like it will be wicked awesome (if I may borrow the term from any swanky New Englanders out there).
Wi-fi enabled Tetris DS announced
Nintendo has announced the wi-fi enabled Tetris DS for the dual screen portable today. The game will feature several modes including classic themed based puzzles like Mario Bros. and Zelda, touch screen interactivity, special Tetris puzzles, and multiplayer mode up to 10 players locally and between 2- to 4-players on the wi-fi connection. Only one DS owner needs the game card for local multiplayer and the title will use a point system for online battles. Tetris DS is slated for release March 20. Though the game has existed for more than 20 years, it's still hard not to get excited about this one if you're a puzzle fan. Many thanks, Alexey. [via DS Fanboy]
