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(More customer reviews)I picked up Tetris DS on release (march 22nd for me) and have played the game solid for over a week now.I usually don't review games on Amazon but with so much mis-information in the other reviews I figured I'd step up to the plate and help out any gamers that may be on the fense about this title.
Single player offers quite a rash of modes to play through.Here's a breakdown of what they are.
Standard - Multiple modes of the regular standard tetris puzzle game, however with new changes as sanctioned by the people that own the Tetris license (not nintendo).The main changes are multiple preview boxes for upcoming pieces, the ability to rotate a piece indefinitely while you figure out where to go, and a hold box where you can put a puzzle piece you currently have (and if you have a piece in the hold box this will store the current piece you have and replace it with the one from the box).There are multiple modes of play within standard mode.The infinite rotate doesn't hurt things at all since in the higher modes where you need it the pieces appear at the top of the stack automatically without dropping.
Catch - If you've played games like Katamari Damacy, this pretty much flows along the same lines.You have a ball of tetris pieces that you can turn, move up and down, and you use it to "catch" or run-in-to pieces that fall down.It's almost like a vertical scrolling shooting game.The goal is to create a 4x4 block which then explodes after 10 seconds.This is actually a really great mode of play and could have been a standalone game easily.
Mission - Standard tetris, except you are given a task to do (like clear 2 lines at once) and a limited time to do it.Fail and you get junk pieces in your playing field and move to the next mission.Overall this mode is highly challenging and will challenge even the most hardcore tetris veteran.
Puzzle - This mode starts off quite simple but gets devilish as the levels increase.You are given 200 puzzles, each one presents you with the task of clearing the screen with the available pieces.The trick is, you must atleast clear one line with each piece placed, and you have to tell the game (through touch screen) which piece to place and what direction it should aim.Some of the puzzles are mindbending... some I find simple.It's really a great training mode for playing the full tetris game as it makes you realize all the various shapes possible that need filled and how to do it with a few pieces.I love this mode because if I only have a few minutes i can usually work through a few puzzles.
Touch - There are actually two very robust modes within this one.One is called "Tower" and you get to move the blocks with the stylus (or finger, or whatever) to create lines that help move this massive tower of pre-setup pieces until the cage at the top reaches the bottom.There's no gravity on the specific pieces or parts of pieces... which ads some complexity to the game.Also you can't rotate pieces in the level 4 & 5 settings which makes you think more about creating smaller parts.The other main mode is called "Puzzle".There are 50 puzzles in this mode and you have the same restrictions as tower except you are given a smaller pre-setup of pieces and you have a Mission such as 'clear all the pieces but leave one L piece'.It's really another great mode and really great for when I've only got a few minutes.
Push - In my opinion this is the best of the best new modes.In it it's you versus the CPU.The field is similar to a football field with yardlines... and while you try to work to create your stack and get tetris's the cpu below you is doing the same thing.With completed lines, the stack moves.The goal is to force your opponent over the "end zone" area on their side of the field.While simple at first... quickly upping the AI to it's levels 3 through 5 settings will put you on your toes.Which you'll need if you take the game online.Nicely with all these new modes, which all seem pretty wonderful (and i'm hopelessly addicted to the Push mode), Nintendo was nice enough to theme each mode off of one of their classic frachises.Here's the breakdown of modes and their themes.This is great if you have a history with Nintendo that dates back to the NES because the artwork is nearly all NES stuff.
Standard - Mostly Mario, but as the levels go up you will see stuff from most of Nintendo's key franchises... and a nice treat when you get to level 19 for Tetris fans.
Catch - Metroid
Mission - The Legend of Zelda
Puzzle - Yoshi's Cookie
Touch - Balloon Fight
Push - Donkey Kong... Whew!I know this is a long review but this is a MASSIVE game package.And I haven't even touched on Nintendo Wifi Online nor the massive offerings in single pack multiplayer where you get upto 10 players off one pack.
I'm going to just cover the ONLINE side of the game because i have to say as great as Tetris DS is offline and with friends in multiplayer it's fantastic ONLINE as well.There's three basic modes of play.Standard with 2 player and no items, Standard with 4 players and items (which are triggered with a button press when you get them), and the fantastic PUSH mode is the last (which is 2 players).Every mode is actually really great.And unlike the standard mode offline in singleplayer, the new feature of being able to infinitely rotate a piece will do you no good in competition because there it's who creates lines that wins.Push mode is actually the main mode I've been playing online.While the AI offline is really strong (expecially on Level 5), online you'll encounter many people with a vast array of strategies.
Thus far with Tetris DS online I've had no problem finding games at various times through the day.Usually i can get in a game Push in a matter of a minute or less... and with the ability to continue (if my opponent does as well) it can make for a really great tournament.All in all, this is by far the best tetris experience of my life.. and in my opinion the best puzzle game on the DS (and i've played nearly all of them).The new modes don't just serve as new gimmicks on the Tetris franchise but actually serve as great tools to train yourself better for the main game.Having a rabid fanbase of online gamers to face off against as well is really nice when you've got 5 minutes and want to get a few quick games in without rounding up a pack of friends.
It's rare I rate any games on Amazon.But with so much wrong information in the other reviews (ex: The guy that puts down the online service which I have had no problems with) I hope atleast a few people are helped with this detailed report on Tetris DS.If you are still on the fense... maybe you don't like puzzle games?Really this is for the puzzle game people out there, no offense.But even new people to tetris will find this is a great entry into the series because of all the modes that really help you to learn the game.Plus every single mode has a tutorial on "how to play"... which makes digging into this title all the more easy.
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Tetris DSProduct Description: Tetris DS is Tetris like you've never seen before! With six highly addictive modes of play, with single-player challenges & multiplayer matches. Each of the six modes of play features a theme based on a classic Nintendo game. It makes the most of the DS stylus and dual screens, and allows a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to compete in two- or four-player battles.
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