Tetris, as it was when I played it on my gameboy cir. 1997, has always been my go-to answer for greatest video game of all time. My argument for this high honor has typically been Tetris’ simple yet addictive gameplay loop in combination with its ubiquity. Tetris is arguably the most recognizable video game in the world. I mean, how many video game titles have been colloquially adopted as verbs?
As great as Tetris is, there’s always been the potential for it to become even greater than its tight gameplay. But how do you improve on a game that for many people, including myself, is near perfect? Some designers have tacked on battle modes or various themes. Some of these versions are interesting but none truly transcend the elegance of the original versions. If we examine the game through the lens of the elemental triad (story, mechanics, technology, and aesthetics), it’s clear that the mechanics are the strongest pillar of Tetris’ design. What about the other three elements? Story is the hardest to crack because it's hard to identify with tetrominos. You could introduce characters outside of the falling block wall, but those would just pull attention away from the mechanics. Beyond story and mechanics, technology and aesthetics have also remained largely unchanged, resulting in a presentation that has been usually unemotional...until recently.
Tetris Effect, named for the phenomenon in which repetitive tasks manifest in our hypnagogic dreams and memories, iterates on the game’s original concepts and adds audiovisual euphoria. The designers at Enhance Games thrust the players into the virtual reality space and immerse them in an experience that merges their actions with sound effects, music, and visual effects.
Visually, Tetris Effect is pure eye candy. Each round of Tetris Effect’s campaign, titled The Journey, is set against a variety of beautiful backdrops, each with their own music and sound effects. The tetrominos shimmer in time with the beat of the music. One moment you will venture deep into the ocean, where schools of fish swim around you and your wall of blocks, the next you will be thrown into deep space. Fireworks erupt each time you clear a line or four.
The sound design in Tetris Effect consists of widely varied original music in concert with tactile audio effects for every interaction the player makes. Each turn, drop, and line clear flows naturally with the music. The speed of the puzzles ramps up and down within each level to match musical transitions. The tempo progression through the whole game isn’t linear however. It feels more like an album. Some moments are serene, while others are intense. Often there are moments where I found myself subconsciously maneuvering my tetrominoes to the beat of the music. I felt one with the experience.
Tetris Effect, is the perfect example of updating a classic game for the modern age. Even though the mechanics remain untouched for the most part, the enhancement of the other elements of the triad pull the game, and the medium, closer to a form of interactive audiovisual poetry.