PlayStation 2

Tetris Worlds

Besides those two minor hiccups, Tetris Worlds is a comprehensive disc that provides an above-average amount of block-dropping entertainment. Most of the new interpretations of Alexei Pajitnovs masterpiece are well-done and different enough to add an appreciable amount of substance, and its my firm belief that every gamer worthy of the title needs to own at least one copy of his landmark creation. If you dont already have one, Tetris Worlds is an excellent version of an outstanding game.

Tetris is a terrific game for kids. It's easy to grasp, understand, and play at any age above five, or so. It inspires creative thought, planning, strategy, and doesn't have a violent bone in its body. The annoying music, backgrounds, animations, and the unnecessary game modes work better with kids than adults. Kids will delight in those extras, whicb admittedly make Tetris a much less stuffy game. The multiplayer community, from what I saw, is fairly kid safe but, as always, you should exercise caution when letting kids go on Xbox Live. That said, you could always buy the older non-Live Xbox version, or the versions for other platforms. -Andrew S. Bub

In the end though, all these changes sink Tetris Worlds. The change to the way that the pieces lock in makes Tetris just way too easy. It's not that Tetris Worlds is a bad game, it's decent enough and I have played enough Tetris in my day that any way I can get my fix is welcome. Hardcore Tetris fans will definitely want to give it a look, just don't expect it to become your new Tetris of choice. Thirteen years later and nothing can still top the NES and Game Boy versions.

In the end we find ourselves thoroughly disappointed with the successor to a once great series of puzzlers. Best likened perhaps to trying to improve on the ancient game of chess, the old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" shoots into our skulls like the contents of dirty Civil War musket. If you're looking for a rewarding block-dropping experience however, save yourself the thirty-five bucks and pick up a portable version. Chances are it'll be cheaper, more fun, and less inclined to promote suicidal megalomania.

One of the key draws of Tetris has always been its elegant simplicity--a simplicity that allows for open interpretation, which is attested to by the countless forms it has taken on consoles, the PC, cell phones, calculators, and various Web-based platforms. Now, Blue Planet Software has brought six different variations on the Tetris formula together for Tetris Worlds on the PlayStation 2. With its wealth of gameplay modes and passable presentation, Tetris Worlds probably would have been one of the best iterations of Tetris yet. Unfortunately, Tetris Worlds also introduces one particular change to the gameplay that renders the classic game all but unplayable.

The graphics are pretty sparse, but the soothing, futuristic music sort of grew on me. The sexy female voice that whispers during the story mode was initially alluring but eventually got irritating. There's a new "ghost piece" feature, which shows a shadow of where the piece will land, and it's very helpful for beginners. Then there's the questionable "hold piece" move that lets you set aside a piece for later use. Where I come from that's considered cheating! I really wish THQ had spent less time on bells and whistles and more on the gameplay. Tetris Worlds left me feeling cheated and disgusted.