Tetris Ds Online
Tetris DS is a puzzle title for the Nintendo DS featuring familiar Tetris gameplay with a Nintendo theme and several new modes. Since the first Tetris handheld title was released on the original Game Boy, the series has been a great system-seller, sometimes even releasing multiple titles per system under the guidance of Nintendo and other publishers. Tetris DS was developed internally by Nintendo. However, to set it apart from the previous games in the series, the game capitalized on Nintendo's famous retro games and characters, which include the Mario franchise, as the backdrops and inspiration for the Tetris action. The game is also part of Nintendo’s Touch! Generations series of games, 'intended for a variety of demographics'.
Gameplay[edit]Each mode recalls a particular game in Nintendo's history. Backgrounds have been updated. The uniting theme behind any Tetris title is to arrange Tetriminos, shapes made of four colored blocks, into horizontal lines in a 10 block wide well. When a row of the well is filled with blocks, regardless of color, the row will disappear and a player’s score will increase. Bonus points are awarded for clearing more than one row at once. Clearing four lines is called a 'Tetris,' and is worth the most points. However, as soon as one mass of blocks is laid, another begins to fall. If the blocks ever overflow out of the arena, the player fails. Unlike most other puzzlers, such as Puzzle League, the blocks do not always come in the same arrangement. Instead, there are seven different block patterns. They may be rotated as a group, even when first landing on other blocks or the floor, but their form will not change. Also, players may speed up the game by warping blocks to the floor in certain modes instead of waiting for them to fall. Markers at the floor show where they will land. It is also possible to 'hold' a Tetrimino until it is needed later. Tetris DS sets itself apart through its wide variety of modes. Each mode keeps the same basic rules intact, but is very liberal with them. Also, up to ten people can play against each other at once with local multiplayer. The main draw of the game is the utilization of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which allows for multiplayer games for two to four players. This title is truly a compilation of six game play modes. Each of the modes is themed after a particular famous Nintendo title and utilizes its own goals and rules. However, all revolve around the original Tetriminos concept. Modes[edit]Standard[edit]In multiplayer mode, the top screen shows opponents' play fields.
Standard mode is a version of the basic Tetris game; it has no new twists or new rules in single-player mode compared to other games based on the Tetris Guideline. However, it does keep the ability to rotate blocks after they have landed, which was introduced in Tetris Worlds. This concept is relatively new to the series, but it was altered for this version, and a time limit in multiplayer mode adds back some of the challenge that it took away when the infinite spin concept was first introduced. Each time ten lines are cleared, the theme of the level changes and difficulty increases. Slightly modernized game footage from one of Nintendo's classic games encased in what appears to be a television can always be seen on the top screen while a sprite from the same game sits to the right of the play field on the touch screen. The background songs are remixes of classic songs from the featured game. However, the meters and play field are never altered. In multiplayer mode, the top screen is dedicated to the opponents' play fields. In multiplayer mode, clearing multiple lines will dump more blocks onto the player with the target mark on their play field on the top screen. An additional offensive element comes in the form of items. The game gives players the choice to play traditional Tetris or to play with items inspired by Super Mario Bros. and the Mario Kart series. Marathon levels[edit]
Multiplayer items[edit]Items appear only in multiplayer mode and are earned by clearing special ? Blocks that appear within a Tetrimino.
Push[edit]Push mode can be compared to a tug-of-war. However, players push instead of pull.
Push Mode was designed for players who wanted a more competitive way to play than just comparing scores. Players are virtually seated across from each other, with a pile of blocks in the center. The Tetriminos are like missiles in this mode. and can be sent by the player just as quickly as they can play the game. If one clears a row, the mass moves toward his or her opponent, decreasing the opponent’s play area and increasing the player's. The player who pushes the pile all the way out of the screen towards their opponent wins. The mode is decorated by a Donkey Kong inspired environment. Pauline and Donkey Kong can be seen at the very top of the screen when it scrolls, and Mario walks around the girders on the top screen, dodging barrels and using the ladders. Mario's Hammer and Pauline's Parasol are located to the left of the playing field. Also, as ones play field grows smaller, fire erupts from the Oil Drum at the bottom of the screen. In the original game, barrels burned up when they hit this fire. The classic Donkey Kong beeps play in the background. It speeds up as the blocks near one of the edges. Touch[edit]Only Tetriminos on the touch screen can be moved in Touch Mode.
Part of Nintendo's effort to use the Nintendo DS' touch screen in all possible games, this mode allows players to use their stylus to shift and rotate a pre-set arrangement of the blocks. While most other modes feature falling blocks, this mode has them already in place. By arranging them in horizontal lines, they will disappear. The game ends when no more combinations can be made. Players strive to clear the most points possible. Balloon Fight provides the backdrop for this mode. Balloon Fighter and the enemies can be seen flapping their way through the sky on their balloons. There are also gray pipes which release light blue balloons. Starry skies and buried fossils make the background. The unaltered main theme plays in the background. However, there are occasionally fanfare blasts based on one’s progress. Puzzle[edit]Puzzle mode is one of many single-player options.
Puzzle mode presents players with the challenge of clearing all of the blocks already on their screen using only the blocks in their inventory. To succeed players need to think ahead and know how the puzzle will change based on each possible outcome. The Tetriminos can be rotated in any direction before being dropped, but once a location is selected, players cannot manipulate them. However, there is no time limit, so players may think for as long as they need. This mode takes place in Mario's bakery from Yoshi's Cookie. However, instead of Yoshi Cookies in the oven, there are Tetriminos. Mario sits to the right operating the machine while Baby Yoshis hold a sign showing the puzzle's level number. The touch screen's background is decorated with the promotional artwork from the game featuring Yoshi in a pile of cookies, which shows a winking Yoshi when the puzzle is cleared. Mission[edit]'Holding' blocks is a key strategy in this mode.
Unlike Puzzle mode, where the challenge's goal remains the same throughout the game, in Mission mode it changes every time the challenge is met. For example, the game may ask a player to use a square O Tetrimino to clear two rows of blocks at once. In this case, the player should line up two horizontal rows of block each eight across, but a space matching the block should be left open. Then, when the desired block begins to fall from the top of the play field, the player should place it so that two complete rows are formed. The challenges get more complex as time passes. In multiplayer mode, players race to see who can clear each mission first. This mode takes its artistic inspiration from The Legend of Zelda. On the top screen, a waterfall resembling the opening screen of the title flows as a background to the goal. On the bottom screen, an elaborate mountainside fortress serves as the background. In the play field, one can see a series of caves. A sprite of Link, Octorok or another character from the game appears on the bottom screen based on how far the player has progressed. The sprite has been turned into a flat 3-D object that spins around. A remix of the overworld theme plays in the background. Catch[edit]Players control the clump of blocks rather than the falling ones.
While the other modes instruct players to drop and adjust blocks into the play field, Catch mode is the only mode players instead control the play field. Boundaries are removed and the field can be moved anywhere in two dimensional space or rotated. Only the descent speed of the Tetriminos can be controlled. As they fall from the top screen to the bottom, players must ram the mass into the blocks to catch them. Players can attach them to on the top, bottom or the sides. If a player allows a Tetrimino to miss, rams into one during a rotation, or makes contact with a Metroid, they will lose energy. The game ends when no energy remains. The mass contains one flashing block. Players attempt to establish a four by four mass of blocks that includes the flashing one. When this happens, the mass will detonate shortly after, taking all blocks and enemies directly above, below, or to its sides with it. Players also have the option of pressing the X Button to detonate immediately. A new block then begins flashing. Also, some energy is regained though this process. The mode's visuals imply a mass moving up a large corridor from the original Metroid game. Samus' many sprites can be seen throughout the level, including a cascade of jumping sprites showing how Samus jumps from one ledge to another. Also, enemies from the game serve as hazards. Music[edit]Music is a feature located in the Options menu where the player can listen to 'records' of songs heard throughout Tetris DS, most of which are arrangements of music from the represented Nintendo games.
Other cameos[edit]The title screen features characters interacting with Tetriminos. Several other cameos that are not part of the main game play are also included in the game. Title screen[edit]Many of the game's featured characters appear in the top screen if players wait at the title screen. The following cameos are in order of appearance.
Menus[edit]With few exceptions, Professor Hector from Gyromite can be seen in the top screen during the menu, as well as the stage from Mario Bros. On the touch screen, the opening for the Famicom Disk System is the background. Records[edit]The Records menu displays a sprite of a character from an NES on the top screen, which changes every time the player gains 1000 points (this does not apply after the player earns more that 10000 points). To earn points, the player must set a high score or complete anything they have not done before in different modes of Tetris DS. Below is a list of the top screen sprites:
Staff[edit]
Gallery[edit]Box art and logos[edit]
Character artwork[edit]It has been requested that additional images be uploaded for this article. Remove this only when the image(s) have been uploaded for this article. Specifics: See Talk:Tetris DS
Screenshots[edit]Media[edit]
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Tetris DS Puzzle Mode is the name given to an online Flash game that appeared on the Nintendo Arcade section of Nintendo's official website, where it was simply listed as Tetris DS. It is meant to function as a demo for the Nintendo DS title of the same name, specifically its Puzzle mode.