RipTen Review: Tetris (3DS Game Boy Virtual Console)
The original Game Boy version of Tetris was the very first portable game that I owned. Opening that Game Boy up on Christmas morning in 1990 was one of the best moments of my childhood. But that was a long ago. Is this classic Game Boy version of Tetris still From Russia With Fun?
Once the game is booted up players will be treated to the classic music of my portable youth as well as the option for 1 or 2 Players. Unfortunately right from the start a common Game Boy Virtual Console criticism arises. There is no way to select a 2 Player game on this Tetris port because there is no way to classically link up the hardware. For whatever reason Nintendo just quickly ports these Game Boy titles over and doesn’t even include some sort of new wireless way to enjoy the game’s Multiplayer mode with others that have downloaded the software. It just seems a bit lazy.
Single player mode, however, retains all of its glory. Before the game is started the player is given the option of either A-Type, or B-Type. A-Type is Tetris as most know it, while B-Type allows the player to select a difficulty where random Tetris junk pieces are scattered around the play area at the start of the game.
Also from the main screen is the option to choose between four different music types. A-Type (the classic GB Tetris theme), B-Type (my favorite), C-Type, or just Off. This is a nice little option since hearing the same song every game may get annoying.
Then there is one more set of options to choose from. Players can choose what level they will start at between 0 and 9 (starting speed of the falling Tetriminos, AKA Tetris pieces). If game B-Type is selected then it is possible to also choose a difficulty 0-5 of how difficult the scatted Tetris junk pieces will be.
From then on out it’s Tetris as usual. The seven different Tetriminos randomly fall and it’s up to the player to create lines in order to clear them as well as rack up a high score! The more lines that are cleared after a single Tetriminos placement is placed increases the amount of points earned, but going for the ultimate Tetris (clearing 4 lines at once) is risky buy rewarding. If a piece hits the top of the play area the game is over and the score can then be recorded to the game.
This version of Tetris is very simple but also has a rich history. Nintendo securing the ability to release Tetris for the Game Boy is an epic story, which gives this version of Tetris a history unlike most (really go look it up!) Additionally this exact game is what put Nintendo on the path to portable dominance in the gaming industry, a place that it has arguably been for the last 22 years! If this game didn’t come out, and wasn’t packaged with the Game Boy, than Nintendo may have had to wait until Pokémon (if it even made it that far) before they gained a stronghold on the portable gaming market.
With that said, this is still a very simplistic, yet fun, version of Tetris. It also has an arguably high price point of $3.99. While that may not initially sound like much, if you look on the eShop it’s possible to buy Tetris Party Live (originally for DSiWare) for $4.99. I don’t know how that game fares up to this classic Tetris title, but Tetris Party Live looks like it has more options and does feature an online mode and only for a dollar more.
Overall the classic Game Boy version of Tetris is still fun after all these years but may not be the best value as far as Tetris games on the eShop are concerned. However it will fill the hearts of many players with nostalgia and it’s still one of the most influential versions of Tetris ever made making it a must play for those interested in the history of gaming.
Here’s The Rundown:
+ Still From Russia With Fun!
+ Great for those interested in gaming history.
+ Lots of nostalgia for those that played it back on a Game Boy.
- Not many features.
- No two player mode.
- Other versions of Tetris on the eShop may be a greater value.
To keep up with my latest reviews and more Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook.
Tetris was developed by Nintendo and Bullet-Proof Software and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Game Boy and rereleased on the 3DS eShop. The game was released in North America on the eShop on December 22nd, 2011 with an MSRP of $3.99. The copy used in this review was provided by the publisher. The game was played by the reviewer for over 20 years.
