You would be hard pushed to find someone that hasn’t played Tetris at some point in their life. A simple to pick up and play, but hard to master puzzle game that is timeless. Tetris Effect doesn’t set out to change what you know and love. Instead it improves upon it in ALMOST every way.
The main mode is called Journey, which is fitting because what starts off as a fairly basic backdrop slowly starts to take on a life of itself as you progress through the levels. The music and setting begin to morph with every line you clear. It is almost mesmerising how quickly the game manages to go from mundane to extraordinary.
The decision to include a VR option was smart and it is absolutely the best way to play. Specifically with a VR headset and headphones is where you will find the best experience. That is not to say that the game isn’t impressive in standard 2D mode, because it is. But if you have the option of full immersion I recommend taking it. Headphones, as stated above also really adds another dimension to the game. This is true for VR and 2D play time.
Each level has a different setting, aesthetic and music ranging from swimming with dolphins to being on the moon. This manages to keep the game feeling fresh constantly despite the fact that you are in the same gameplay loop the entire time. One thing I would note is that if you are affected by flashing lights, this is definitely a game to avoid.
In terms of difficulty Tetris Effect will provide a real challenge. Having not played a Tetris game in so long at first I was content just clearing lines as and when I could, but before long I was back in the swing of things and lining up Tetris (clearing 4 lines at once) whenever possible. You do have difficulty options in the game. Beginner, normal and expert with a practise option thrown in for good measure.
Even selecting beginner difficulty the game can get tough at times. At certain stages the rate of the drops begin to ramp up culminating in a crazy speed that had me just trying to survive the wave. If you do survive, the drop rate begins to slows down again and you then assess the mess left behind and see if you can salvage it or hold out until that section is completed.
Effects Modes is the alternative to the regular Journey mode and is a more focused experience. There are challenges such as clear as many target blocks as you can before the time runs out, earn as many combos as you can before the time runs out, play with a 150-line limit where the speed increases with every clear and many more. There is even some chilled out stages in here under the ‘Relax’ banner and while the drop speed does increase there is no game over. This mode is great to get you used to playing under pressure and instead of forcing you to start again when the screen fills it just clears the and continues on at the speed you left off at.
There are however two downsides to this excellent title. First, the lack of online or local multiplayer. Being able to battle against your friends would have been a great rush and it does feel like a strange omission. Second, the price. While this is likely as good as Tetris can get (minus the gripe above), £34.99/$39.99 is a steep price for a game that has been offered for less than a buck on phones in the past.
Overall Tetris Effect is the same game you know and love, but with a level of immersion I have never seen before. There is no doubt the game is best experienced in VR, but if you don’t have a headset I still think you will be blown away with headphones. It is easy before you start to dismiss it as a simple game especially with the incredible titles we have had this year, but few are this addictive.
VdZe.
Reviewed on PS4. This game is also a PSVR title. A review code provided by the publisher.