Launching today on Nintendo Switch is Ekstase, a Tetris-like puzzler that'll have you making shapes in more ways than one.
Described as "a love letter to Berlin and its techno scene," Ekstase is a falling block puzzler that features bright, flashy visuals and a soundtrack full of techno beats. While it looks almost identical to Tetris on the surface, the gameplay isn't quite the same; instead of clearing lines, a scan line wipes out a particular colour of block each time it passes. Here's an official description:
In Ekstase, shapes of 3-5 blocks fall from the top, and as soon as they hit something, they fall apart. The scan line changes color every cycle and removes the squares you formed with blocks of the same color.
Flow mode: Flow mode is the frictionless "jump in" game mode in which the game adapts to how you play. Are you getting better? The game will ramp up its difficulty. Are you getting worse? The game becomes easier. In doing so, the game teases out a "state-of-flow" in the player, a state in which you are fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, involvement, and enjoyment.
Beat99: Beat99 is the rhythm mode in Ekstase . The goal is to rank up your multiplier by dropping shapes to the beat. You'll be given 99 "lives", dropping a shape subtracts one life, missing a beat subtracts ten! Try to survive as long as possible and try to score as high as you possibly can.
Classic mode: In Classic mode, you set the challenge. Choose the number of colours and the speed of the shapes.
Time Attack: Can you stack efficiently? Prove it in Time Attack mode. Beat the highscore in a set amount of time.
Two rotation modes: Ekstase can be enjoyed in two different play styles; play style "A" and play style "B". In A you rotate the colors in a stationary shape, in B you rotate the shapes. This way you get two games for the price of one!
With different colour palettes to choose from to aid those who are colourblind, as well as custom button mapping and options to turn off any distracting backgrounds, Ekstase sounds like it could be a good fit for a wide range of players.
If you're interested in giving it a go, the game launches on the Switch eShop today for £13.49 / $14.99. Carefully fall down into our comments section below and let us know if you'll be checking it out.
Comments 18
So tetris and lumines got it on and had a kid
I would be leaving a comment here, but due to circumstances out of my control, my comment is being delayed. EDIT: DANG IT WRONG ARTICLE!
Fun game, have it on PC.
Mixture of tetris,lumines and chime
Looks nice, I'd buy it for 5 Euros. 15 is too much.
And just to check it on Steam… 7 Euros. ok, pass from me
@Wyatt006 wrong article!
This looks great! I hope it get's a physical release.
@PosterBoy yeah, maybe goes on the wishlist, but between all the tetris games on switch, and the similar games on snes online, do we really need it...?
@TryToBeHopeful I'd say yes, I just can't get enough of this kind of games (I'm not very good at them but I like playing for fun). The mechanics look very interesting but personally I don't need "LOOK AT ME I CAN SHADERS!" or various other unnecessary features. I mean I don't have anything against any of it but not for me.
Probably it's just me, I see Tetris Connect is 25 Euros (Edit: currently on discount, usually it's almost 35) and people are buying it. I prefer original Tetris (bought a GBA SP just so I can play that)
In ay case best of luck to the developer(s), looks like a talented fellow(team)!
Looks interesting but probably gonna be playing Mario Party Superstars instead
@TryToBeHopeful CRAP! Thanks for letting me know, I'm gonna move my comment to the correct article.
Tetric Effect: Connected just came out and I've been playing that while high on edibles, so thanks but naw.
This game is about taking ecstasy pills a drug and having an ecstasy party...
Does anyone miss the classical compositions the original Tetris adapted for background music? I want to relax playing tetris, not feel like I'm going to the club lol. Tetris effect is fun but I find myself turning the volume down lately..
Looks like a poor man’s Tetris Effect. Nice to get different takes on Tetris but 99 has elevated it so far above every other version for me that I don’t care to go back to standard high score chasing; that immediate rush of getting in the top 10 and winning if you can hold out long enough is just something no other version comes close to. Loved Effect for what it was (especially in VR) but 99 is perfection, trying to go up against that (and now Effect) on Switch is a bold choice
It's so crazy, we're almost in 2022 and the hot game to copy is a game made in the USSR in 1984. Computers have advanced to levels that were almost inconceivable when Tetris was designed, but here we are. Different music and visuals, minor additions to the gameplay with every version, but indisputably still the same game. The 21st Century is so weird.
Out of all the indie Tetris-like games I've played on Steam this might be one of the better ones. Yeah, it's no Tetris Effect, but it's solid enough.
It looks interesting but I think I am happy with Puyo Puyo Tetris, Tetris Effect, and Tetris 99 for now. Still holding out for NSO gameboy Tetris though.
A 50 percent discount would be my sweet spot.
@FishyS: I keep my GameBoy Color with the original Tetris in my desk drawer. It's always fun to take a little retro Tetris break!
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