TETRIS - Review

                                                Retro Games Reviewer #6; Tetris Review

Tetris! Come on! It's one of the most well-known inventions of man. I'm not even gonna bother you with a description of the game. You know the drill. It's funny how one of the most popular videogames ever, until today, had its origin in the old, cold and red Soviet Union. Who would have thought? Japan and the U.S.A. were the homes of video entertaining, and the Communist Empire was the distant world of good old cheap socialist friendly toys. History is interesting, because it will surprise you at any corner.

When I was a kid, Tetris was everywhere. It came with the Game Boy, so, we hall had it. There were a lot of electronic machines containing Tetris. Like "Brickmania" - unoriginal undercover name for Tetris, "Block" this, "Block" that. The "Brickmania" had other games, using the sprites of Tetris. Like, a racing game, with cars made of blocks, that was quite original, and fun too.

As a kid, I liked Tetris. Not as much as the Mario games, the Mortal Kombats, Prince of Persia, and all the other goodies from my childhood. So, I did not love it, - yet - but I already liked it. The game became more and more appealing to me. Today - I'm 29 - it's a constant must on my NES.

I remember, when I was a kid, my best friend's dad was addicted to Tetris. He played one of the zillion versions that existed, since 1990, on PC. He was a retired high-ranked military officer, in his 60's. He would spend hours playing Tetris.

I think Tetris is appealing to people who like discipline. The sense of organizing, and building things. Or maybe the will to destroy those same organized buidings! So, in the end, everyone can like Tetris.

It can be quite competitive, and it's even great for a gamer to compete with himself. Can I beat this next level, with this speed? Can I get more points than this? Adrenalin really kicks in, and it really is a great challenge to the mind.

And, of course, to play with your friends, or with everyone, in the inumerous Tetris contests that exist, every year, and everywhere.

The NES original version only allows one player. Tengen Tetris, the unofficial Tetris, allows two. The Game Boy also allows two players, through Game Link. I, personally, prefer to play Tetris by my own, so the NES Tetris is my favorite. But it's a flaw, nevertheless.

So, Tetris, is also a piece of History. A bridge between East and West. Keep that in mind, while playing the soviet mind game. Who said videogames were not culture? Think again. And to play this one, you really need to think.


Retro Games Reviewer; Tetris Review , 28/07/13

Categories: tetris review