It doesn’t matter what platform Tetris is on, Tetris is always just Tetris.
The fact is that Tetris Axis in 3D really doesn’t add much to the usual Tetris formula; but it does look pretty cool.
This title, Tetris Axis, also got me thinking: Was I really that bad at Tetris as a child? I remember not being able to make it past 20 lines. In Tetris Axis, I made it to a respectable 80 (at least respectable by my standards).
Tetris Axis features online play, which is a rare addition to any 3DS title. It also has the usual Tetris modes with one interesting inclusion, climb mode (this mode was also available in Tetris Party for the Wii and DS). In climb mode, you build an ascending bridge with Tetris blocks in order to help a small stick man reach a goal. Although, it doesn’t exactly follow the traditional Tetris formula, this mode is a ton of fun and breathes new life into Tetris’ venerable, yet rigid puzzle formula.
Of course, the classic marathon mode is included and it’s just as much fun as it’s always been. In Fever mode your goal is to clear as many lines as possible in 60 seconds. Survival mode involves lines being formed from the the top of the play field continuously making it smaller. You also have the ability to play against the CPU in a one on one line sending battle. The game also features a party option that offers even more crazy modes, my personal favorite being Jigsaw. It involved creating a set image with Tetris pieces. All of these modes are entertaining alternatives, but I get the impression that usually people purchase a Tetris game to play the traditional Marathon mode. That’s why I buy Tetris anyway.
The Augmented reality modes are interesting but feature a smaller play area than that of a regular game of Tetris. For those that don’t know what AR cards are, they’re small playing cards that come with the 3DS. When you point the 3DS’s camera at them, an image pops out on the screen in 3D, only this image is surrounded by the real world objects you’re pointing your camera at (the entire process is a little hard to explain). The smaller play field is a strange design decision and ruins the fun of using AR cards with Tetris Axis. Also, not all game modes are playable with AR cards, just Marathon and Climber.
The 3DS’s bottom screen really isn’t utilized much and that’s somewhat disappointing. I’m not sure what I expected, but I’d like to see more than my avatar dancing around (something I actually found extremely distracting) and a few basic statistics about my current game.
Overall, Tetris Axis is a solid game; it offers a classic Tetris experience and includes a few interesting new features. I was particularly fond of the game’s party mode, although many of these mini games really didn’t feel much like Tetris. One thing bugs me about Tetris Axis though; it’s difficult to justify paying $29.99 for a game that can be purchased from the iOS app Apple store for $0.99. Sure, you could argue that Tetris Axis is in 3D and includes a slew of new features, but in the end, it’s still just Tetris.
Pros
- It’s Tetris on the go
- The 3D effect is cool
Cons
- It’s expensive and doesn’t really add much new to the Tetris formula
- No matter what developers do, Tetris is still just Tetris
- The AR mode is very disappointing
Overall Score: 7/10
Recommendation: Don’t Buy It! (Unless you’re a self professed Tetris fanatic)
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