[img width=400 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/64GRm.jpg[/img]

Tetris. It's an infamous title. Perhaps the original "casual game." The one that caused moms to buy their own Game Boys. The one that caused many of us to report seeing falling blocks on our inner eyelids upon attempting to fall asleep. It was first pack-in game when the Game Boy was released, and in many ways proved to be a killer app. So what would be the smart thing to do then? Make a whole bunch of variants for each Game Boy system of course. Although the original Game Boy is the biggest perpetuation of Tetris-fever, even its colorized big brothers got in on the fun. Let's take a look shall we?






[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/B2HB8.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/0uTXQ.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/JC35P.jpg[/img]

To many, the original Game Boy port of Tetris remains the definitive version. There's no denying that it certainly was the version that introduced a nation to the game, and of course it trumps its NES peer by including a 2-Player mode (unless you have the Tengen version for NES). I honestly feel as though attempting to even discuss this game is pointless now, as there's already been so much said about it elsewhere. If you've played it, then you know. And if you haven't, then I'm not sure why you'd be reading this blog.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/eBNH3.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/l0J4p.png[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/ljtQx.png[/img]

Honestly? Hatris? As in Tetris with hats?

I'm not sure who were the ad wizards who came up with this one, but it exists. And there's a reason why it's been reduced to an overlooked spin-off. In truth Hatris is not a bad game, but it is really stupid. Basically you stack up different kinds of hats, attempting to match a row of them so that they disappear. Ultimately it's just another "falling block" game without the well considered juxtaposing shapes that the original game is best remembered for.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/TD5V2.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/JL5SJ.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/YVQrY.jpg[/img]

The next spin-off title, Wordtris turned out much better than the hat game. This one actually takes the logistical problem of arranging chaos into order and one-ups it by adding in the academic touch of turning letters into words. Basically you've got Tetris meets Scrabble, which works surprisingly well. It's an addictive game, and one not often remembered surprisingly. This one should really be added to the want-lists of all word-puzzle fans.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/DDm9Y.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/nPWzP.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/dFjIY.jpg[/img]

When it was finally deemed time for a proper Tetris sequel, the result was less than earth-shattering. Tetris 2 is similar in appearance to the first, but the goal is about getting rid of flashing blocks that are positioned in various spots on the screen. Think of it as a sort of remixed version of the Type B mode in the original game. Though there's no denying it's fun, it's mostly unforgettable and hardly worth a release as a numerical sequel.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/hJ6g2.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/9fkAM.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/MTMXJ.jpg[/img]

Tetris Blast was a Game Boy exclusive, and actually a lot more fun than Tetris 2. By going back to the series' roots and attempting to Keep It Simple Stupid, we're left with Tetris-With-Bombs. And it works to a degree. Though of course the addition of the bombs feels more like an extra mode upon the original game, it should actually be quite a bit of fun for Tetris experts looking for a bit of variety.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/mC8ID.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/BrLqk.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/z1Prb.jpg[/img]

Then things get really weird. Tetris Attack doesn't even feel remotely like a Tetris game. And that's because it really isn't. It's actually just a port of Panel De Pon, a completely different puzzle game with a completely different gameplay style. Instead of blocks falling from the ceiling, whole rows of them raise from the floor as you swap two of them at a time horizontally to match them up. The game was actually popular enough to get many of its own sequels and re-releases on the Game Boy such as Pokemon Puzzle Challenge on the Game Boy Color and Puzzle League on the Game Boy Advance.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/1eOh8.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/TgZzZ.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/1EamU.jpg[/img]

Tetris Plus actually turns out to be a bit of a forgotten gem. In fact, it's exactly what it claims to be: Tetris and more! The game has two major modes. The first is basically just classic Tetris, but the second actually combines a bit of platforming in a sense, as you must clear sections of blocks in order to help guide a little character out of the screen. It's rather ingenious really, and even incorporates a level editor. Totally worth checking out.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/rct5x.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/nJ3SL.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/6bYSM.jpg[/img]

Tetris DX was a launch title for the Game Boy Color, and actually is now considered my own personal favorite Tetris version released in the history of the Game Boy line. The colors look great, and are reminiscent of the NES release. The music is admittedly not as good as the original Game Boy title, but there's a major addition here worth gushing over: a battery. That's right, the cartridge contains a battery so your high scores can be saved and you can actually even play against yourself to study your own play-patterns which is brilliant. The game actually takes your play-style and teaches you how to get better. Truly awesome.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/An4Vk.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/eXr1R.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/vd45t.jpg[/img]

Magical Tetris Challenge is Tetris with a storyline involving Disney characters. If that sounds a bit superfluous, that's because it is. Really considering the rather perfected Tetris DX that had been released prior, there's not much reason to delve into this one unless you just think Disney is unavoidably cute.


[img width=300 height=300]http://i.imgur.com/B4nFP.jpg[/img]

[img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/4l7E4.jpg[/img] [img width=300 height=200]http://i.imgur.com/4ZZop.jpg[/img]

Tetris Worlds was touted as sort of a Tetris for the new millennium. Futuristic Tetris if you will. It contained stunning backgrounds and a rave-friendly soundtrack. It came bundled with many different variations on the Tetris game, but to the dismay of most gamers it was lacking the traditional version of the game. Luckily for Game Boy Advance owners there's a code that makes "Classic Tetris" available at the title screen which is great news considering none of these remixed versions of the game are actually all that awesome anyway.


So there you have it, ten versions of Tetris. Hopefully I didn't forget any. So what's everybody's favorite?

Permalink | Comments [8] | Digg This Article | Tweet