It seems as though I have been on a Tetris kick lately. I recently reviewed the board game and the card game…the former I found to be better than the latter. I found Tetris Party Deluxe (for the Wii) sitting on a clearance rack and figured I’d pick it up and give it a try, just to see how it compared to the Game Boy version I played as a kid.
Editor’s Note: I do not have the equipment necessary to take screenshots straight from the television…please do not complain about the quality of the pictures. Consequently, that is what the “Donate” button on the right is for…*wink wink, nudge nudge*
Ah, Tetris…my old friend…
My experience with Wii games has always been hit or miss. I either hated a game’s guts and never played it again or I loved it and continue to play it on a regular basis…nothing in between. Tetris Party Deluxe has quite a lot going for it, and I see myself leaning toward liking it a lot.
One thing that I liked immediately was all of the different options and modes that were available, both in single player and in multiplayer. You can play with up to four players, including bots. Some modes play like the Tetris we all know and love, but others introduce special goals that really force players to think about what they are doing. You’ll also be able to send lines over to your opponent’s grid after completing more than one row on your board.
There is also the addition of special items that players can use to either help themselves or harm their opponents. My only complaint is that I haven’t found a place yet in the manual or within the game that explains what each item does and how to use them properly. There’s one item in particular that I’ve found to be particularly nasty as it auto-drops your opponents pieces for the next few seconds…this will ruin anyone’s day, no matter how good they are at Tetris.
The bots are fairly challenging, even on the easiest difficulty levels. Playing with four players is tough, at least, for weak eyes. We have a fairly large widescreen television and I had to squint to see my particular grid. I found the game best played with two players as I could still comfortably see my play area.
The game features player profiles, so you’ll be able to keep track of your wins and losses, even in multiplayer. You’ll be able to change both the background scenery and the music so that you aren’t stuck listening to the same tune over and over again.
Options galore.
We’ve plopped this game in quite a few times already over the last few weeks, and I am fairly sure we’ll continue to do so for a while. It not only allows me to indulge in a little old school nostalgia, but it allows me to keep my mind semi-sharp. If you enjoy Tetris, it wouldn’t hurt to pick this up.
Final Verdict: 7/10
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