Just a few weeks ago, Tetris Party Deluxe shipped for the Wii and Nintendo DS, bringing with it an impressive array of modes and ways to play. No single version of Tetris, however, contains every mode included in every game ever made. That’s why it’s worth breaking out some of those older editions occasionally – to get a fix of your favorite modes.
There are so many Tetris games out there that it’s highly unlikely for someone to have played them all, or even know about them all. Among the less well-known versions, two of the best are, strangely enough, both on the Nintendo 64. Sure, there’s a chance that you did play Tetrisphere, the first game on our list. Despite having a quiet release in1997, it did manage to sell nearly half a million units by relying mostly on word-of-mouth sales.
Tetrisphere plays unlike most other editions in that the playing field is wrapped around a sphere (hence the name). The keyword for its gameplay mechanic is still “drop,” just like it is in the 2D versions. You try to drop pieces onto others of the same shape in groups of at least three, making them all disappear. You can also move pieces around on the sphere to set up better combos. In the main Rescue mode, your goal is to uncover enough of the sphere’s core to let out one of your robot buddies.
Basic gameplay in Tetrisphere
You may have noticed that the sphere gets closer to you as your timer runs out. Go too long without making a move and it’ll crash into the screen; three hits and you’re out. The game includes several other variations on the reach-the-core goal. One example has you searching for four pieces of a larger picture scattered around the core. Find them all and move them to reassemble the picture and clear the level. Finally, a 100-level puzzle mode was also included for good measure.
The developers managed to add a little personality with the addition of robots made from spheres. They have different stats that can affect gameplay, but I honestly never really noticed because I just picked a favorite and played through the game with it.
One of the Tetrisphere robots
One of the main reasons this game is so timely and discussion-worthy right now is thanks to Nintendo’s unveiling of its new “3D without glasses” Nintendo 3DS system. A remake of Tetrisphere would be amazing in 3D. Imagine the sphere coming closer to you as you run out of time, coming out of the screen and increasing the tension. The 3D screen would also allow for an amazing perception of depth for each layer of blocks in the sphere. Come on Nintendo, make it happen!
Nintendo 64 Bio Sensor
The other Tetris game to make our list is Tetris 64, which was only released in Japan for the Nintendo 64. It’s the only game to make use of a bio-sensor attachment that clips to your ear for a mode called Bio Tetris. Based on your setting, the game either speeds up or slows down as it detects changes in your heart rate. This feature is why I finally tracked down the game and a pair of bio sensors (it supports up to 4)… and to be honest, I still have yet to actually notice significant changes in the game when using them.
Bio Tetris may be a little disappointing for that reason, but it does throw in some pieces with crazy shapes designed to throw you off and increase your heart rate. These are some of the pieces you’ll come across, but they get even larger and more unmanageable!
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It’s actually the other special mode that puts Tetris 64 on the list: Giga Tetris. I will admit that in most areas (presentation, sound, etc), this game is *very* weak. Yet, it still manages to be one of my favorite Tetris games because Giga Tetris is so stupidly fun. I’m going to let the gameplay footage speak for itself here:
If that doesn’t pique your interest in this game, I don’t know what will. Giga Tetris makes you play in a totally different way than you’re used to, which is very refreshing in a game that’s been rehashed so many times. Giga pieces need to be placed so that they can get a line cleared right away, which will break them up into smaller pieces and set off a chain reaction. Oh, and I should mention that you can also attack your friends in multiplayer mode, should you choose to be so ruthless.
Tracking down a copy of Tetris 64 may be tough given its import-only status. However, should you ever need to modify your US N64 in order to play Japanese games, IGN64 still has their picture guide up for use. Happy block dropping!
