The standard Tetris mode will naturally be the main draw when you're alone, but there are five other modes to this game, which - thankfully - are neither boring nor mere confusing additions to the puzzler. 'Push Mode' features two players building up blocks from the centre of the playing field, with cleared lines pushing the blocks further towards the opponent. This can be played against the CPU, but is perhaps one of the most fun multiplayer modes thanks to the panic that rushes when the playing area nears your side of the field.
There's also a Mission Mode for those seeking some objectives with their block-busting, with Legend of Zelda style hearts representing a time limit in which you must complete certain tasks before you knacker yourself. And as if that wasn't enough, there's a completely loopy mode called 'Catch' where you move a base block around to catch falling Tetris bricks - the objective being to build a 4x4 block and explode your stack to hit falling Metroids and earn a great big points bonus. This is the most adventurous new mode here, and to be honest, we're not sure if it's a fun new way to play or just plain awkward. It certainly is interesting though.
To earn itself the 'DS' moniker, there are two new touchscreen Tetris modes. Thankfully, the press release didn't mean playing classic Tetris with the stylus when it said you could move blocks around with the touchscreen. 'Tower Mode' sees you moving large Tetris blocks in order to bring a Balloon Fight style cage to the bottom of the screen, while 'Puzzle' gives you a set number of blocks to use in order to clear the whole screen. We thought these modes would be tacked on and serve no real interest outside the standard mode, but these hold just as much entertainment as the classic game does, and with 200 puzzles it's going to be hard to resist for those with a crossword and wordsearch fetish.
Tetris was always a decent multiplayer game, but the DS version really shines. Ten people can play on just one DS card being used as a host, with the Classic, Mission and Push modes being available. As already mentioned, you'll find the Push mode most satisfying with a second player, but ten Tetris players duking it out is almost as nutty as the 8-player offering in Bomberman.
You just gotta make sure you have enough DS' (and friends) though. And, of course, Tetris DS makes full use of the impressive Nintendo WiFi connection, with a classic 2P standard mode, 4-player battle mode with items and the always-entertaining Push mode. There's a small problem with finding people to play online, but there's something about being schooled by three hardcore Japanese players that makes you both respect them, learn from them and get agitated at the same time... It's great fun!
SPOnG Score: A-
Tetris is given a whole new lease of life, thanks to the extra modes, but mostly in part to the online aspect of the game. The Nintendo WiFi connection adds a new dimension to competitive play that goes beyond the link cables of yesteryear. But fundamentally, beside the extra features, this is Tetris, just as you left it, just as you love it. It's still furiously addictive, still has that 'one more go' element to it, and the presentation helps both enhance the nostalgia that the game has, yet still keeps the game contemporary. Tetris is one of those games that never grows tired with age. If Nintendo packs this in free with Nintendo DS' all over again, Tetrismania is sure to return.
