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Tetris Splash
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Graphics & Sound:
Tetris Splash brings the age-old classic puzzle game back, but with a new aquatic veneer. Imagine the Tetris you know and love, but this time, taking place in an aquarium. You can select between a freshwater or saltwater aquarium, flipping Tetris pieces while clownfish meander around in the background. Everything is crisp and bright and pretty to look at, although I was disappointed at the lack in variety of the fish species. I'm a porcupine puffer fan myself and had hoped to have one swimming in my tank, but alas, no.
Appropriately Tetris-y music plays in the background, both renditions of the famous Tetris theme, plus new tunes as well, and the soothing ambient aquarium bloops and gurgles that occur while you play are very relaxing. You can also utilize the custom soundtrack feature if you'd prefer to listen to your own tunes. Aside from that, you have your typical "piece-flipping" sound effects that occur, as well as a mellow voice that gently announces "Tetris" when you get one, or Single, Double or Triple if you aren't so lucky.
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Gameplay:
If you've played Tetris at all, you know what to expect from Tetris Splash. You are presented with puzzle pieces that you must rotate and build up to form Tetrises, or layers of 4 or more rows deep. Forming these Tetrises makes those rows disappear and sends mayhem down on your opponent, if you are playing a multiplayer game. If you are playing a Single Player game, then you are simply trying to go as far as you possibly can. You will see a preview box showing you what the upcoming piece will be and you can swap that out with the next piece, if that is more optimal to your game plan. You can choose to play Marathon, which is a survival type mode where you fit puzzle pieces until your board fills completely up, Timed, where you play for a set amount of time, and Free Play, where you just play to be playing.
Since this is an Xbox Live Arcade title, of course there's multiplayer. You can play with up to five other people over Live where it's basically last man standing, or up to three locally. Tetris Splash offers downloadable content in the form of buying additional fish, but since this title is already priced at 800 MS Points, it seemed kind of cheap to make you pay for fish, only starting you off with a scant few types. There are 12 Achievements that you can earn with Tetris Splash, so you will be building your gamer points as well. |
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Difficulty:
When playing the Single Player game and starting from the beginning, the pieces start off at a slow, manageable pace, giving you plenty of time to decide where to place them. As you progress, racking up points and making Tetrises, your level increases and the pieces start falling at a faster rate. It ramps up at a perfectly manageable pace, however, throughout the game. At least, until you have passed the point of no return. Your difficulty in Tetris Splash more depends on who you are playing against, at least where multiplayer is concerned. When you begin an online game, you have the option to join a game where you will be matched with others of your skill level. You might still get completely owned, but at least it will take a little longer than it would were you battling a Tetris Master.
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Game Mechanics:
The controls in Tetris Splash are very simple and easy to get used to, assuming you are a beginner. As the pieces fall, you move them across the screen with your Left Analog Stick and set them in place with the (A) button. There's a shadow which appears at the bottom showing you where your piece will fit to help you make your decision. If you want to speed things up, you can also slam the piece into place or simply pull it down at a quicker pace. Every moment you save when placing the piece nets you additional points and points increase your level. Aside from that, you'll want to build a strategy when playing against others, balancing keeping your own level of blocks reduced, while allowing it to build so that you can form Tetrises. When you form a Tetris, 4 rows of silver blocks appear towards the bottom of your opponents' screens. These are designed to slow the player down and will require perfectly fitted blocks to complete the spaces around them and destroy them. You wiping out a Single, Double or Triple row on your side results in either 1, 2 or 3 silver rows being dumped on your opponents. A few of these in rapid succession could be the difference between a win and a loss.
Overall, Tetris Splash is a fun addition to a puzzle game fan's library, assuming they don't have other versions of the game. Since it doesn't have as wide a variety of modes as some previous releases of Tetris have had, and considering that you have to buy varied fish for your aquarium, you may want to pass on it if you already have another form of Tetris. If you are a die-hard Tetris fan, however, and a lover of all things aquatic, it may be just right for you. |
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-Psibabe, GameVortex Communications AKA Ashley Perkins |
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