Tetris 2 is one of those games that you
just can't stop playing. I get tired of most games after (usually at
most) 15 minutes. This one has twice, in the last few days, kept me
playing for more than an hour.
Tetris 2 is based on a concept that is
just slightly similar to the original Tetris that the world has known
and loved on the NES, and lately, on several other systems. Actually,
it's safe to say it's just loosely based on the original. About the
only thing that is similar between the two is that your prime goal is
to keep from reaching the top of the playing field. Once you do, it's
GAME OVER!
The concept of Tetris 2 is
quite simple. Each tetris block is made up of three different colored
squares: Red, blue, or yellow. To clear each round, you must remove each
square that has a black dot in the middle of it. To do this, you must
put at least three blocks of the same color up against it in a straight
line. The process is not unlike the game Dr. Mario, which many people
may know better than this one. It's like Dr. Mario with a twist.
There are shortcuts to
clearing each level. Each level will have three of the blocks with dots
in the middle near the bottom that flash with a sort of white flash
every so often. If you can clear one of these out by putting it in row
with at least three blocks of the same color, ALL of the blocks with
dots in the the middle of that color disappear! This is easy to do in
the earlier levels (such as the one pictured above), but becomes quite a
challenge, because you basically end up with a wall of blocks at the
start of each level later on.
Another shortcut I've
discovered is even nicer: It seems when things start getting hairy and
you've been playing the particular round for a few minutes, occasionally
a straight block that is all one color will come down. If you can line
it up in a row with at least two others that are stacked together the
same color, ALL blocks that color, dots or not, disappear at once! This
causes the other ones that were wedged against those to fall, making
things a bit easier.
There are modes for two
player action that I haven't tried yet, as well as a versus mode against
the CPU that plays a bit differently than the standard 2-player mode.
I really feel this
particular cartridge is a must-have for the NES collector, or even the
casual NES gamer! It was a later release game in the life of the NES
(The last games were made around 1993 and 1994), so it may be a bit hard
to find, but it can always be found on eBay nearly all the time. I was
lucky to find mine in the local Salvation Army Thirft Store for only
$1.00!
There is a Famicom Tetris 2
release in Japan from Bullet-Proof Software (BPS), but it is not the
same game. At this time, I've not played it, just threw a shot of the
cartridge in here for the heck of it.
The US release of Tetris 2
was released on the Famicom in Japan as "Tetris Flash." Same
game, different title screen. Haven't played the BPS one at this time,
either. Photo beolow.
Tetris 2 for the Nintendo Famicom. Copyright
on US version is 1993 by Nintendo, this one has a copyright of 1991 by
BPS.
This is probably a different game from the above reviewed; included to
show the difference between the US and Japanese versions.
