Tetris
System: NES
Release Date: November 1989
Developer: Nintendo R&D 1
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Puzzle
Is this deja vu? We saw Tetris earlier this year, but this is not the unlicensed Tengen version, this is the Nintendo version. Which is superior? Let’s take a look. I have played a stupid amount of this specific Tetris. We had a persistent leader board back in my college days and I would put my early 20s self against anyone in Tetris. Are my reflexes as good as they used to be? No. Not really. I couldn’t put up the same kind of points as I did almost 20 years ago, but I didn’t play sober, either.
There are three themes to enjoy and two different modes of play. The Type A game is your classic Tetris. Start with a blank slate at the lowest level or with high levels and blocks already placed. I prefer the blank slate to build up myself. I try to clear Tetris’ at the early levels exclusively. Sooner or later, a mistake is made and it’s time play it smart. Rotate pieces to fit those holes and get yourself back to safer grounds.
The Type B game tasks you with clearing 25 lines. Here, I typically start with the highest height to give myself a challenge. Trying this on level 9 is pretty impossible, so I stick between levels 5 and 7 for a challenge. Type B isn’t my preferred game mode, though, so I don’t have a lot of footage there.
Graphics: 0.5
Different colored blocks that change as the levels increase. And I guess the Kremlin.
Sound: 3.0
All three game themes are iconic and something that I can play for hours to.
Gameplay: 2.5
There are only two different modes, but they play pretty flawlessly. If I didn’t know of future improvements, like holding blocks or pressing up for an instantaneous drop, this may have scored higher.
Difficulty: 2.0
I don’t find Tetris difficult, it’s just a matter of getting into the groove and racking up the points.
Fun Factor: 3.5
This is my favorite Tetris, along with the DS version.
Overall Grade: 2.3
Nintendo’s Tetris earns a C+. Play this bad boy and enjoy yourself. The grade is low because of the unspectacular graphics, but don’t let that stop you.