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Review of The Next Tetris on PlayStation

by Hemal Harris Hemal Harris photo Jan 1999
Cover image of The Next Tetris on PlayStation
Gamefings Score: 8.5
Platform: PlayStation PlayStation logo
Released: 01 Jan 1999
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Various (supervised by The Tetris Company)
Publisher: Hasbro Interactive, Crave Entertainment

Introduction

Ah, Tetris! The game that makes perfect sense to a digital design major and equal amounts of chaos to those who can barely organize their sock drawer. With The Next Tetris, the classic puzzle game has undergone some serious upgrades that could make even your mom's Tetris skills feel inadequate. Welcome to the challenge that's about to evict a ton of your brain cells, one block at a time.

Gameplay

In The Next Tetris, players are thrown into the exhilarating (and sometimes terrifying) world of tetromino stacking with a fresh twist: the avatar-designed Cascade Mode. This mode gives players an adrenaline rush by allowing combos to trigger 'cascades' of block-breaking action. Think of it as a party for your falling blocks, where every cleared line invites more blocks to tumble like your ambitions in an existential crisis. The goal? Land those tetrominos perfectly, clear lines, and become the ultimate Tetris King or Queen (crown not included). Skills needed? You'll need serious quick-thinking prowess and reflexes sharper than your average cat. Positioning blocks in the right manner feels akin to putting together IKEA furniture, except without the abyss of confusion and existential dread that follows. Players must also master rotating and placing blocks in mid-air, which feels like a puzzle magician's greatest trick. Not to mention that you'll be fighting against gravity and time while your brain flips more than the blocks! Add in multiplayer modes like Cascade Battles, and you're in for a wild ride - because what could be better than crashing your friend's digital dreams just as they believe they've mastered their stack? There's a sweet mix of strategic thinking and rapid execution; if you think you can just casually place blocks, think again. You have to stay one step ahead, and if you don't, well, let's just say your gaming session may turn into a monument of failure... or as we professionals like to call it, a "teetering tower of doom."

Graphics

Visually, The Next Tetris re-energizes that nostalgic backdrop of falling blocks with a vibrant flair. The colors scream at you, and the graphics are so crisp they could slice through boredom like a hot knife through butter. The graphics duo of psychedelic colors combined with flashing borders helps to keep players engaged, perhaps even a little distracted-but hey, sometimes that's what Tetris is all about! Who wouldn't want to lose themselves in a cascade of colors while feeling their sanity slip a little? It's like looking into a kaleidoscope made by a hyperactive artist.

Conclusion

The Next Tetris breathes new life into what many thought was just a game about colored blocks falling from the sky. Sure, it's still fundamentally Tetris-but why fix what isn't broken? The twists in gameplay, coupled with new challenge modes, make it an inviting puzzle masterpiece. Sure, it might occasionally hurt the ego when you send your blocks stacking up to the heavens while your high scores mock you with their absence... but remember: in the world of Tetris, every player has their off days. Overall, if you're ready to challenge your brain and bring out your inner Tetris god, get your hands on The Next Tetris. Your thumbs may hate you, but your brain will thank you!

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