Let’s Talk Tetris. A game that has been around for a long time yet still challenges minds to this day. Mostly available in any form whether that’s VR, handheld devices or consoles, pretty much anyone can get a hold of it. Now that the game has resurfaced into mainstream media, people are going crazy about how progressive the game has become.
Tetris is simple, different sized blocks drop from the top of the screen, you piece the blocks together in order to make a solid line and boom, the line disappears. So, what if the game becomes faster in speed and you also now get to battle 98 other players? That’s exactly what Arika did.
The new Tetris 99, which snuck up on everyone during the Nintendo Direct announcements, brings battle royal to a classic puzzle game. Specifically designed to give players a challenge while working their way to the top to be number one. In this version, the rounds are extremely fast. Blocks fall like they normally would but the twist comes in where your opponents get to attack you or KO you completely during the round.
On the Switch, attacking other players can be difficult. By using the left and right joysticks, you choose the opponent you want to hit and which attack you want to use. Getting badges by knocking players out increases the strengh of your attacks. This will add solid blocks to the opponent’s screen which could force them to run out of space and end their game, causing you to gain a position on the leader board. While picking an attack and an opponent, the game doesn’t stop. Players pretty much need to smash buttons and hope for the best. As players drop off, your game of Tetris becomes faster and faster, creating a lot of stress.
One of the thoughts that have been swirling around about Tetris 99 in my head is, what happens if this model of gameplay is applied to other games? Realistically, gamers are now accustomed to battle royal games in first person shooters. For example, could the rules of Tetris 99 work on a game such as Mario Maker 2 where all players get the same level and have to be first to win a level in order to claim first? The battle royal style gameplay may have been on the slower end and potentially one foot out the door, but has this new style reignited games is what we need to know.
Tetris 99 is on the Switch and better yet, the game is free to download if you have online access. No matter what age you are, you can play this game. With that being said, Tetris 99 is a bit more challenging than the original so don’t give up! When it comes to moving forward with a game like this and its style, what games could you see being changed to support such a style? Let us know below.
9/10
Available on: Nintendo Switch
