Tetrisphere
Reviewed by pat64@geocities.com
Tetrisphere is the first puzzle game for the N64. It is sort of a variation
of Tetris, but in the form of a sphere, and there are some different things
also. The object is to remove pieces from the sphere by dropping other
pieces that are the same. Sound kind of weird? Don't get it? Well, it does
not matter, it's hard to explain. That's why the game has a very helpful
training mode. I suggest going there first, then going into practice.
Well, it's a puzzle game, and that means not too good graphics. During
the game, the graphics are not very good, they could probably do it on
Sony Playstation and some other systems. I like the effect when you get
to the core, and you see the light, it's cool. Every thing out of the game
play has excellent graphics. Like, when you choose your character, the
intro, when you play Vs. and lots more. They are very clean, polygonal
graphics that don't look flat and seem round, not like some games.
The background music is okay, like some techno, funk type music.
There are not too many sound effects. The only ones are when you
move a block, shoot magic, remove a block, drop a block, and when
you miss a block. Nothing much I can say on this.
The controls are very basic: A to drop a block, B to slide block, and C
down to shoot magic. Don't get it? Don't worry, use the training mode
when you get a hold of the game. You use the + control pad to move around.
The controls are very simple and they are good to do the job.
There's lots of stuff to do in this game. First of all, there's single player.
In that there's rescue where you have to rescue your friend. Then there's
hide-and-go-seek, which has lots of different things. There's Vs. CPU and
puzzle (one of my favorites). Vs. CPU you have to well, take on the CPU. In
puzzle, they only give you a certain amount of slides and drops let's say
one of each, and you have to take out all the blocks that they have given
you. There is also time trails - get as many points as you can as fast as
you can. Secondly, there's Vs. mode in which you can play 2 or more players,
only one at a time though. There is practice, training and options. Like I
said there is lots of stuff to do!
With all that stuff to do, it would probably have good replay value, right?
That may be wrong. I sort of got bored of it already, in all those modes,
you basically do the same thing, take out blocks. But most puzzle games
don't have too great replay value. I think it is a great game to rent a couple
times, but not too great to buy.
+ Plus: Very original and fun!
- Minus: Not too many sounds, no great replay value.
= Equals: A good game to rent, not that great to buy.