I think it’s safe to say that every gamer has played at least one variation of Tetris in their lifetime. One thing that plagues Tetris games is that it’s hard for such a simple game to bring new aspects to the table. Luckily, Tetris Party Live adds enough value to the classic gameplay to merit a purchase.
As a single-player game, Tetris Party Live has two different game modes. The traditional Marathon Mode has you tackling a constant stream of blocks that you must align correctly to eliminate rows before they stack to the top of the playing field. This mode features an alternate mode that has players attempting the highest score possible before eliminating the 150th line. The second game mode is a CPU Battle mode that pits players against a CPU opponent in a head-to-head battle. Players are not only responsible for managing the falling blocks but also gain the ability to launch special attacks on their opponent. These attacks include items such as freezing the opponent’s playing field, blinding the opponent momentarily, and power-ups that can take out several rows on your board.
Those who choose to venture online via Nintendo WiFi Connection will be met with an interesting and fun online experience. The two modes available online are the Battle Mode or a Duel Space challenge. The Battle Mode is exactly the same as the single-player CPU Battle Mode but allows up to four players to go head-to-head. The Duel Space challenge has each player trying to claim the most area of the playing space as possible. The online modes are open to all regions or you can play with your friends via friend codes. The Tetris never stops and even while in the online lobby area you can choose to “Practice” and play a game of Tetris while waiting. One noticeable missing feature is the lack of download or local multiplayer options. In a game that has an emphasis on competitive play it makes no sense why the feature is missing.
The controls for Tetris have been unchanged for years and this iteration is no different. The controls are as easy as ever and allow every type of player to jump right into the game with no issues. The simplistic design continues to the visuals and the developer, Hudson, does what it can to include some decent backdrops for the falling blocks. The game features voice chat support and music that is easy on the ears that’s fit for hours of gameplay.
For 500 DSiWare Points ($5) it’s easy to take the plunge and purchase Tetris Party Live. The online portion plays a huge part in the fun-factor of this title. Those who are only in it for the single-player portion may be underwhelmed with only 2 available modes. I think it’s safe to assume that Hudson believes that if you purchased this title you likely have the internet connection to play all the available game modes. No download or local multiplayer options really hurt a game that focuses so much on competitive play. Those wishing to take their Tetris skills online need look no further than Tetris Party Live.
Pros:
- Online gameplay via Nintendo WiFi Connection
- Voice Chat capabilities
- “Practice” mode available while waiting for online matches to begin
- Only 500 DSiWare Points ($5)
Cons:
- No download or local multiplayer options
- Only 2 modes available for single-player
- Very simplistic design and presentation
