Tetris has been around since 1984, where it was developed in Russia for the DVK, a Soviet computer, but most people remember either the Game Boy or the NES version as being the breakthrough for the title. To say that Tetris is successful is an understatement; the gameplay is just as enjoyable as it was thirty years ago and almost nothing has been changed from the original formula. This is the key point of Tetris Ultimate, and arguably either its best or worst asset.
The basic mode of Tetris is Marathon, the one everyone knows, and you have to clear 15 levels as quickly as possible in order to achieve a higher score. Also included are numerous other single player modes, such as Endless, where you play for as long as possible and beyond the traditional 15 levels from Marathon — it’s essentially a survival and endurance test to see how long you can keep those tetrominoes in order. Sprint tasks you with clearing 40 lines as quickly as you can, while Ultra is similar in motive but requires you to get as many points as possible within just three minutes. There is also the option to play Battle and Battle Ultimate against a CPU opponent (these modes will be explained further in the multiplayer discussion of this review).
The main factor to note about these modes is that they have all appeared in one form to another in previous Tetris games, so at first glance there really isn’t very much to entice anyone who already own a version of Tetris with these features, which is many of them. Luckily there’s unique fun to be had on the 3DS in the form of four Challenge Modes; these mix up the gameplay in a manner that’s a little bit gimmicky, but still a great distraction from the main game.
In Rotation Lock you play as normal except you cannot rotate the tetrominoes at all. As the name suggests you’re stuck with the rotation that the game gifts you, so you really have to keep an eye on the piece queue on the right hand side of the screen and plan accordingly in order to make sure the screen doesn’t fill up. It’s amazing how the removal of just one aspect can ramp up the difficulty as much as it does.
Invisible causes all your tetrominoes to become invisible once they are placed. This of course means that you have to remember what your screen looks like after every piece falls. This mode is not so much difficult as it is frustrating and implausible. The strain it places on your memory is too much to handle, and you’ll be lucky if you even clear a few lines in this mode. Generally not very enjoyable, but more skilled players may be able to have more fun with it.
Escalation functions very similarly to Marathon and Endless, except that every successive level requires more lines to complete than the last, meaning you’ll have to clear hundreds of lines before even thinking about reaching level 15. This mode is ideal for Tetris junkies who just love to play the game and get as many lines as possible without the rapid increase in speed that comes with Endless.
Master is essentially playing Tetris on the hardest difficulty you can imagine. Tetrominoes don’t fall from the top so much as instantly appear at the bottom with no animation whatsoever. This is easily the hardest mode in the game, and requires a level of skill only the very best Tetris fanatics will possess; if you’re not hellishly experienced with the game, this mode is not for you.
The game also features all of the single player modes for more than one player. The modes that really stand out as multiplayer experiences are the Battle and Battle Ultimate modes — in these modes you’re pitted against your opponents and tasked to play Tetris as you would normally, except that any lines you clear will be deposited onto one of your opponent’s screens from the bottom. This of course pushes their pieces up as many lines as you cleared, making their task a lot more difficult. Tactics and naturally competitive natures run rife when playing these modes, but Battle Ultimate has another card to play. Whenever you clear a line that includes a flashing tetromino – that can take any piece’s form – an item wheel will begin to spin Mario Kart style next to your queue. These items can then be used to make your opponent’s game incredibly tough by raining lines down on top of their pieces or help you prevent similar ill effects from happening to you.
All modes bar the Challenge modes can be played locally or online, and there’s even an option to forgo your friends all buying the game thanks to the woefully underused Download Play function. This form of multiplayer was a staple for the GBA and DS, so it’s good to see it getting some love in this title.
Presentation in this game isn’t really all that important. You can easily distinguish all of the tetrominoes from one another and all of the different elements are displayed clearly and concisely. The action all takes place on the top screen – or the bottom if you’ve chosen that option in the options menu – so you won’t have to shift your eyes between screens to keep track of everything that’s happening, which is paramount in such a game. The options available are very extensive, allowing you to customise your experience to match almost any subtle variation of Tetris gameplay from the past.
Conclusion
Tetris Ultimate largely lives up to its name; it’s a comprehensive collection of Tetris gameplay modes with various optional tweaks and tremendous online and local multiplayer. It must be said though that except the new Challenge modes, there’s nothing new here that any Tetris veteran hasn’t already played. The Challenge modes are clearly targeted towards such experienced Tetris-heads, but the longevity isn’t as extensive as the original Marathon mode, which is still probably the most fun you can have with Tetris by yourself. Putting it simply, at the end of the day it’s Tetris — but that's just fine.
Comments 46
it seems worst than tetris ds. tetris axis seems to have more modes and fun ways to play than this.
I always wanted a casual version where you just play with no speed increase.! I'm now getting this...
Damn you UbiSoft!
no tetrisphere mode, no buy.
I may get this.
Is this a full price retail game?
@OorWullie : Indeed.
Does this game remember your settings?
Tetris Axis didn't remember your settings, and it was very annoying to have to set them up everytime I wanted to play.
Which version is better: Axis, or Ultimate?
I was planning to get Axis, but then Ultimate was released, now I'm clueless which version is better.
As silly as it might sound, one of my favorite elements from Tetris Axis was the 3D effect and the camera moving options...sure, it was nothing than a visual element that at the end of the day it could make the game harder, but sure seemed nice. It is a shame that this game have nothing of the sort...though it is also good news that it doesn't have a silly dancing mii being campy every single second of gameplay.
Don't see why anyone would buy this as they can play Tetris on pretty much any device anytime, anywhere for free.
I would say it is better than Axis. It offers less (modes), but what it offers is better. You can customize more and make the game closer to the original for example. The silly Mii is gone and the game is in general less distracting. A big plus for me is the itemless online multiplayer option. 1on1 mode would have been perfect.... The low pricing is also fair.
Tetris DS will always be the best one, as far as I am concerned.
@Ralizah Of course The only reason to buy any other Tetris Game instead are working online duels anyway. Tetris Ultimate does better than Axis is this regard.
Yes, I'm glad Tetris DS is getting some love here! I don't even like arcade games much, but that's one of my favourite games of all time, due to its Nintendo charm and sheer content. I still play it fairly often.
No matter how good the gameplay, it's rather sad that for more than one decade no publisher has taken the efforts to surround the core gameplay with something as ambitious and beautiful as The New Tetris on the N64 delivered.
I already have Tetris Axis (only $10 on the eShop), so I don't know if I'll get Ultimate.
C'mon Nintendo. Get the rights back for this game and do another Tetris DS. That was hella addicting.
Tetris DS all the way, and Party as a second, for the 'co-op' mode. The one I carry with me is the 3ds version though, since it has amazing single cart multiplayer.
There is already amazing Tetris on the eShop, and its half of the price of this.
Why would I buy this when there's Tetris GB, Tetris DS and Tetris Axis and and... Tetris should stay with Nintendo, this is pointless.
@candymonster Yeah Tetris Axis is the real Ultimate Tetris game
I loved Tetris DS! It was such a great game with real fan service that made this Nintendo fan thrilled.
I liked Axis well enough (and I still play it) that I don't think Ultimate is worthy of $20 when there are so many other games this holiday season.
@Ralizah Agreed, I'd love to hear a more in-depth comparison against TetrisDS, which I still carry with me always and play on my 3DS. How are the Vs. CPU modes? Didn't Marathon used to be until LVL20? Also, shouldn't it only add a line in multiplayer if you clear 2 or more lines, as it adds one-fewer line than what you cleared? Also how is the music, and can you select different backgrounds or tracks as the default?
As for Tetris Axis, that was a huge pile of crap compared to Tetris DS and the only 3DS game I ever bought and then immediately resold...the Vs. CPU was far too easy as I could beat it immediately on the highest level. Whereas in Tetris DS, lvl 4 CPU is a good challenge, and lvl5 is basically impossible unless you get lucky.
At this point I'm starting to think these Tetris games are actually a bit over designed. The key to what made the original so great imo was how simple and pure yet still totally addictingly brilliant it was. Adding more and more modes and more and more stuff into even the basic game doesn't really seem to be the key to making Tetris better imo; just more convoluted. Maybe I'm just old school.
Best Tetris on 3DS is "Tetris" for Game Boy. Two Modes. Two Songs. Four bucks. All you need.
(Although I share the Tetris DS love. Kind of a precursor to NES Remix in some of the cross-Nintendo modes there, now that I think about it...)
I want tetris DS 2. It was nice with the NES motif.
If this had online I would so get it.
I'll always stick to the GB one. These new Tetris games are really nice (Tetris DS is awesome) but the fact that you can play indefinitely makes them a bit easy and sometimes boring (after a 2 hour marathon for example). So... no Tetris Ultimate pour moi
For me Tetris is best played on the go. I'll pass.
Can anyone vouch for Axis having better online? And what are the wait times for both for finding opponents? Thanks a lot for saving me 10 buck either way lol cause if axis sucked id get Ultimate
@Hero-of-WiiU I thought this did have online modes...?
I just dl'ed this so I've yet to play it, but it looks and sounds great. I've never played Tetris DS, or Axis, only GB Tetris (of which I've probably racked up at least 1000 hours of playtime over the years), so I'll see how it plays out.
I'm not sure why so many of you have such disdain for this having never played it.
@OorWullie
Its £15 retail in the uk, so no, Thibk it's £16 on the eshop.
I remember one version having a Really interesting mode, where one player was at the top, one at the bottom, and clearing lines made the blocks move up or down, depending on who cleared it, the idea being to force your opponent's play area to shrink till they are defeated…
This isn't included, is it?
@crzysortagamer I just bought the Axis a couple of days ago, as I loved the Party and the Axis seems to build upon that. (the eShop version might not be named Axis though).
It is excellent, fully loaded,, affordable and there are enough players for not having to wait for too long...usually. On two occasions I have had to wait for a couple of minutes, but usually there is at least someone waiting, and I have found 4-6 player matches at least daily. (At least with items on. I have not yet played with items off).
I welcome new players with open arms though, just in case.
@Varoennauraa Thank you! That really helps me out a lot!!
I still think new Tetris games have been adding un-needed elements. I still refuse to use HOLD and if the option is there, I turn off the block shadows. Marathon only goes to 15 now?
As far as newer iterations I think the original Tetris DS actually was one of the best packages put out there, so I still use that cart, though honestly I still play 90% of my Tetris on NES or Gameboy
Why are they taking Tetris Axis and Tetris VC down from the eShop? Anyone else notice this?
Tetris Axis (or just Tetris, as it's known here) is a fantastic game. It's got download play, local, online... what more could you need?
Maybe they're taking it down so you have no alternative but to buy the newer, more expensive version...
This review is okay, but would have been a lot more useful if it mentioned the main differences between Tetris Axis and Tetris Ultimate.
Woah, 10-player download play for the win — like Tetris DS. I thought they only claimed this was going to be 1-4 player originally.
Tetris DS is the best version of Tetris ever made. Ever since it came out, every version of Tetris feels too generic.
Also, anybody remember Tetris Worlds? That was a weird game.
NWR said this was better than Tetris Axis - but I can't see how it is. This has interestimg modes but previous tetrs iterations seem to have more fun modes. Tetris DS is my favourite too.
Think i'll pass on this as i have axis and the GB version of tetris on my 3DS. I think i would have downloaded it on my wii u unless it was a mess like the ps4 version
This game seems packed with multiplayer features, the support for even Download Play - which is vastly in decline recently - is a very welcome one. I'll be picking this up soon.
Half the stuff on this game is broken, and the game lost interest already. This game has not aged well and surely doesn't feel fun at all. I'd rather fire up Nullpomino than this.
I wanted something exciting, interesting and fun, and Tetris Ultimate doesn't feel that way. I currently have 82% of the game complete and the only badges I can't get are the ones way out of my reach. (there's about 10 of them that I can't get.), currently on 8th-Black Belt and I'm bored of the customization. There's nothing aesthetically pleasing about this game, and there's no modes that can redeem my interest in the game.
I'd like a Fever Mode, like what Tetris Axis introduced (and what Puyo Puyo Tetris introduced for Big Bang Mode, which is heavily intuitive.) because we're looking to add to the game, not buy the same iteration over and over again.
The scoring system is broken, most of the DAS settings are unstable and all the modes feel too easy when you get to a level of play which you speed through the game.
It Tetris, and needs to always be somewhere on my portable system (next to Pac-Man of course). I'll get it if I ever get bored, have the time, both, etc.
Despite the overly positive review, this looks disappointing. Nothing would be better than a new version of Tetrisphere in full 3D! That one still beats any other Tetris game in my opinion - though I still own and love the original on NES, Tetris Blast (GB), Tetris Plus (GB), Tetris & Dr. Mario (SNES), Tetris DX (GBC), The New Tetris (N64), 3-D Tetris (Virtual Boy), Tetris DS, Party Deluxe on Wii, and Axis.
Hmm...i recently replayed my original GB cartridge on my Old GBASP and was easily enchanting like when I was kid on the Game Boy again. One thing that really mattered and that I miss is the music: how is the music on this one?
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