Product Description

Tetris is one of the most renowned puzzle games of all time, simple to pick up and play yet limitlessly entertaining - and now the block-shifting blockbuster is back! If you've never played before, the idea couldn't be simpler; in standard mode, various, differently shaped blocks fall from the top of the screen, and it's up to the player to fit the blocks together to make complete lines, which will then disappear. As the game continues, the speed with which the blocks fall increases; once the blocks reach the top of the screen it's game over. In this version, though, Mario capers around various levels from the Mushroom Kingdom in the background as you guide the tumbling blocks to make them vanish from the screen. You'll find specially designed Tetris puzzles that will test your ingenuity at clearing single player levels, plus multiplayer action and even a ranking system that means you can see how you measure up next to your friends. There are five new modes, themed around a famous Nintendo game, with The Legend of Zelda and Metroid just some of the classic titles making an appearance. Variations on the classic game include Push, a tug-of-war style affair where players "push" blocks onto their opponent's screen to pile on the pressure, and Mission mode, where you'll need to clear blocks against a time limit. There's also a slower paced Touch mode, where you can use the stylus to drag and drop the Tetriminos (the "proper" name for the blocks), carefully planning your moves as you arrange them into horizontal lines. For the definitive edition of the ultimate puzzle game including six times the fun, get Tetris DS!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #198 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Nintendo
• Model: NTR P ATRE
• Released on: 2006-04-21
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Platform: Nintendo DS
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .50" h x 5.25" w x 4.75" l, .25 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
In a nutshell:
The game that launched 150 million Game Boys is back with the first Nintendo-developed Tetris title in eight years, featuring six different game modes and a ten player multiplayer option.

The lowdown:
With a game that’s been around as long and with as many versions as Tetris it’s obviously difficult to think of what else to do with it. Nintendo’s answer is to fill the game with as many different game modes as possible, including completely new concepts like Push, where both players share the same pile of blocks, and Touch which is specifically designed to use the stylus. Best of all there’s a ten player multiplayer mode for playing against nearby opponents in wireless mode or a four player Wi-Fi mode that you can play against anyone in the world. On top of this the whole game is filled with cameos and tunes from classic Nintendo games, from Super Mario Bros. to Metroid, for that perfect retro cool look and feel.

Most exciting moment:
Going up against nine other opponents in wireless mode, watching all their screens on the top screen and then winning out as the victor of them all!

Since you ask:
The controversial "super rotation" technique, which allows you to infinitely spin a block before placing it, is actually the idea of the original Tetris license holders and Nintendo, and anyone else that makes a Tetris game, is contractually obligated to include it in the game.

The bottom line:
The best version of Tetris for years and another top Wi-Fi game for the DS.
Harrison Dent

Manufacturer's Description
Each of the six modes of play features a theme based on a classic Nintendo game, such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda or Metroid. The traditional Tetriminos (falling blocks) and line-clearing strategy remain the staples of the game, but the touch screen adds a new element of interactivity.

Some modes give players special Tetris puzzles to solve. Others feature head-to-head action between two players, or massive wireless battles between 10 DS users, even if only one player has a game card. Players also can log onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to compete in two- or fourplayer battles. Tetris DS even includes a point-based rating system based on players' battle results. Opponents can see one another's ratings, which indicate their skill levels.

Every gamer, whether competitive or casual, will find a way to reconnect with one of the most popular puzzle games in history. Look for more details about the new game play modes on Nintendo.com in the weeks leading up to the game's release.

Customer Reviews

Tetris... what more can i say
Blocks fall from the sky, and you must slot them into gaps. You make a chain of 99 lines, going for the killer 100 total, but lose concentration and end up failing at the final hurdle.

I am talking about tetris, the game which almost made people tear out their eyes in '89, has come back to haunt them on DS. The content of the main game is virtually the same, except for some lovely graphical effects. You see, you still try to clear lines, but whilst you're doing this, you can see some cool 8-bit nintendo memorabilia. Link, Samus and of course Mario are all along for the ride.

And the main game got longer as well. With new modes and being able to get up to 999 lines, the action never stops. And Nintendo have added new modes as well, which all work well, and are a handy get-away from the original action. Push is the least addictive of the bunch, however it would have worked brilliantly in 2-player, what with you pushing a block onto your opponents screen. Mission gives a task for you to do,fairly easy I must say. Puzzle is great, and soon you'll be using your brain more than Dr Kawashima. Catch is annoying at first, but once you get your head around it, it can be a hidden gem. But the extra fun to be had is in touch, were you have to move existing blocks into lines.

Once you get this, you'll be screaming like you did in '89. You'll find a tactic, then the game will crush it, forcing you to go back to the drawing board. With original tetris to look forward to, and some time-consuming extras you'll love this game. Trust me.

Absolutely crackin'
Just recieved a DS lite and Tetris DS from my girlfriend yesterday. And I can honestly say it has not been off, between the two of us. It is........brilliant.

The bog standard game is just the same as all Tetris ever, so I won't bother talking about it except to say that it has a nice twist.

The mini games are great. There are 5 and they are as follows:

Push: Quite tricky where you fight the CPU to clear lines and push the middle block into their screen. Not the best.

Touch: Second best mini game besides Catch. Move pre-existing blocks into rows with the stylus to create lines. Hard, addictive and FUN!!

Puzzle: Great game where you have to solve, strangely enough, puzzles. Good fun.

Mission: Not my cup of tea this one, but maybe it's because I'm not very good at it. Solve missions given to you by the CPU like clear two lines at once or use a certain piece to clear a line.

Catch: The best mini game. Move a block around catching falling pieces to create a 4x4 square (or bigger), which then explodes, whilst avoid Metroids. Sounds weird but it is so good.

And then there is the multiplayer. Words don't describe really. No honestly they don't. It's just that good.

You just need to buy this game. That is all.

Do the additions make it better than the original?
I've not yet read other people's opinions on this game, but I decided that I would express mine before reading them.

Tetris was one of the very first games I've ever played and I still love it even now! I don't think anyone could ever get bored of trying to beat your high scores in a desperate attempt to beat your friends.

As for Tetris DS is concerned, I was more than a little disappointed. For one, this game isn't worth more than £20 new. I was excited to see that there were new modes to play, but these are quite disappointing.

I enjoy 'Touch Mode' quite a bit, where you use the stylus to move the blocks into positions where the lines will be elimtated. It can be frustrating sometimes, but I enjoy it. There are mini-games in this mode as well, where you need to clear the screen in a certain number of moves, create a four-line-chain, or whatever else the game wants to throw at you.

'Puzzle mode' is also good, where there are over 150 mini puzzles for you to solve, which get harder as they go on. By experience, it depends from person to person how quick they solve the puzzles!

With classic mode you can't really go wrong, its highly enjoyable. I feel that the only drawback is the insane difference in speed from one level to another. I felt that in the original the speed increase was slight, but on this it seems a lot faster!

All in all, this is a good game to get, but if you can get it cheap for around £20, you'll feel more like you'd got your money's worth.