Tetris Party Explained

Tetris Party
Developer:	Blue Planet Software
Series:	Tetris
Released:	Tetris Party (Download) Tetris Party Deluxe (Retail) Tetris Party Live (Download)
Genre:	Puzzle
Modes:	Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:	Nintendo DS, Wii
Composer:	Brian DiLucente

is a puzzle video game by Hudson Soft for WiiWare. An installment of the Tetris series, the game supports the use of Miis and the Wii Balance Board, and features both local and online multiplayer in addition to several single-player modes unique to the game.

The game was released in Japan on October 14, 2008, in North America on October 20, 2008,^[1] and in Europe and Australia on October 24, 2008.^[2]

A retail version called Tetris Party Deluxe which was announced by Tetris Online, Inc., Hudson Soft, Nintendo Australia and Majesco Entertainment, was released in 2010 for the Wii and the Nintendo DS systems.^[3]

A DSiWare version called Tetris Party Live was released in North America on November 22, 2010, and later in the PAL region on December 3, 2010. This version is no longer available for purchase as of March 31, 2012.

Game modes

Tetris Party introduces a number of new game modes. In addition to the 15-level traditional single player only marathon mode, the single and multiplayer versus modes, and Vs. Hot Lines and Team Battle modes returning from earlier games,^[4] as well as the return of Bombliss, these new modes include:^[5]

• Beginner's Tetris: The traditional 15-level game with larger blocks, a smaller playfield and new polyominos such as a three-block line, a two-block line and a small three-block L-shape.
• Wii Balance Board Tetris: A variation of Beginner's Tetris in which players control falling Tetriminos using the Balance Board, leaning left and right to move the Tetrimino, leaning forward or backward to drop it, and squatting to rotate it in a clockwise direction. This game type also includes a 3-minute high-score mode called "Balance Ultra" and a Vs. Computer battle mode.
• Co-op Tetris: Two players work together simultaneously on a double size playfield to clear lines.
• Field Climber: The player builds layers of blocks to help a tiny man reach the top of the screen. The mode is time-based, and also available in online versus play.
• Shadow: Players must race to fill in a background image with Tetriminos, while not allowing any pieces to lie outside of the puzzle in the process. This mode features new Tetrimino shapes and a total of 30 puzzles.^[4]
• Stage Racer: The player guides a single Tetrimino downward through a narrow twisting passage, being sure not to get it caught on the sides.
• Dual Spaces: A Reversi-inspired mode where players section off empty space, and gain points for every empty space they lockout by placing their Tetriminos to create larger areas of their own color.

The multiplayer versus modes support up to four players offline and six players online through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and feature new powerups that utilize the pointer and motion functions of the Wii Remote. The game also keeps skill charts and statistics and features online leaderboards and more than 130 achievements for players to monitor their progress.^[6]

The game does not include any multiplayer marathon modes. Garbage is not optional in multiplayer mode as it was in The New Tetris.

Tournament play

Both Hudson and Tetris Online have organized tournaments for players of the game, with the first held in December 2008. Each tournament involves the different game modes in Tetris Party, with the first and third tournaments featuring four rounds with four different game modes contested in each.^{[7] [8]}

There was a total of four tournaments where the top 500 in the first and third tournaments and top 100 in the second and fourth tournaments would be credited with 1,200 Nintendo points to use for either the Wii Shop or DSiWare Shop.^{[9] [10] [11]}

Reception

Tetris Party

Tetris Party received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN called it "the best console version [of ''Tetris''] we've seen in years" and a "must buy", though they were slightly disappointed in the somewhat limited online multiplayer. Nintendo Life praised the online play in general and called it "the most robust online Tetris experience money can buy" next to Tetris DS, though they were also disappointed in the limited online play modes and felt the game is geared more towards local multiplayer than for solo players. Official Nintendo Magazine was very impressed by the "addictive online play" and commented on the "great variety of modes". They also loved the "classic Tetris gameplay" and thought it was "good value for your points." However, they did mark it down as they thought the "Balance Board mode was a bit gimmicky."

The game was nominated for multiple Wii-specific awards by IGN in its 2008 video game awards, including Best WiiWare Game^[12] and Best Puzzle Game.^[13]

Tetris Party Deluxe

The DS version of Tetris Party Deluxe received "generally favorable reviews", while the Wii version received "average" reviews, according to Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one eight and three sevens for the DS version, and one eight, one six, one seven, and one eight for the Wii version.

Tetris Party Live

At the time of release, Tetris Party Live received "average" reviews according to Metacritic.

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Calvert . Darren . October 20, 2008 . USA WiiWare Update: Tetris Party & The Incredible Maze . . Gamer Network . September 29, 2018 . September 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233215/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/10/usa_wiiware_update_tetris_party_and_the_incredible_maze . live .
2. Web site: van Duyn . Marcel . October 23, 2008 . EU WiiWare Update: Tetris Party, The Incredible Maze and Home Sweet Home . Nintendo Life . Gamer Network . September 29, 2018 . August 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093918/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/10/eu_wiiware_update_tetris_party_the_incredible_maze_and_home_sweet_home . live .
3. Web site: Wahlgren . Jon . February 17, 2010 . Tetris Party Deluxe Dropping Into Wii and DS . Nintendo Life . Gamer Network . September 29, 2018 . September 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180929194726/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/02/tetris_party_deluxe_dropping_into_wii_and_ds . live .
4. Web site: Bozon . Mark . October 6, 2008 . Tetris Party Hands-on . IGN . Ziff Davis . September 29, 2018 . September 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233527/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/06/tetris-party-hands-on-2 . live .
5. Web site: Casamassina . Matt . October 3, 2008 . Live Blog: Nintendo Fall Media Summit: Day 2 . . . September 29, 2018 . September 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233538/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/03/live-blog-nintendo-fall-media-summit-day-2 . live .
6. Web site: Bozon . Mark . October 17, 2008 . Tetris Party Hands-on (2) . IGN . Ziff Davis . September 29, 2018 . September 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233506/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/17/tetris-party-hands-on . live .
7. Web site: Tetris Party (Tournament) . Tetris Party . Tetris Holding, LLC . https://web.archive.org/web/20081023065359/http://tetrisparty.com/en_US/tournament . October 23, 2008 . dead . September 29, 2018.
8. Web site: Dillard . Corbie . November 20, 2008 . More Tetris Party Tournament Details . Nintendo Life . Gamer Network . September 29, 2018 . September 30, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180930033525/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/11/more_tetris_party_tournament_details . live .
9. Web site: 2009-01-27 . Tetris Party Tournament No. 2 Details . 2024-02-02 . Nintendo Life . en-GB.
10. Web site: 2009-02-10 . Tetris Party Tournament No. 3 Details . 2024-02-02 . Nintendo Life . en-GB.
11. Web site: 2009-04-14 . Tetris Party Tournament No. 4 Details . 2024-02-02 . Nintendo Life . en-GB.
12. Web site: IGN Best of 2008 (Best WiiWare Game) . IGN . Ziff Davis . December 18, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081222040904/http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/20.html . December 22, 2008 . dead . September 29, 2018.
13. Web site: IGN Best of 2008 (Best Puzzle Game) . IGN . Ziff Davis . December 18, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081222040939/http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/5.html . December 22, 2008 . dead . September 29, 2018.