Tetris 64
Encyclopedia
is a puzzle game for the Nintendo 64
. It was released only in Japan
in 1998. The whole game is in English. It is the only Nintendo 64 game that can make use of the Nintendo 64's bio sensor which was included with the game.
Tetris 64 offers a few variations on the original Tetris
,
The bio sensor is a Nintendo 64
accessory produced by SETA
and only available in Japan. It was sold on its own or packaged with Tetris 64. The bio sensor looks like a Nintendo 64 controller pak with a wire coming out of it with a clip on the end. One end of the sensor plugs into the extension port on the Nintendo 64 controller, and the other end clips onto the player's ear
. The device measures the user's heart rate.
The game was also recommended for import
to English speaking territories because all in-game text is in English.
The game was criticized however for its poor graphics and simple backgrounds which could not compare to other Tetris games out on the system at the same time, such as Magical Tetris Challenge
or The New Tetris
.
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
. It was released only in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1998. The whole game is in English. It is the only Nintendo 64 game that can make use of the Nintendo 64's bio sensor which was included with the game.
Tetris 64 offers a few variations on the original Tetris
Tetris
Tetris is a puzzle video game originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov in the Soviet Union. It was released on June 6, 1984, while he was working for the Dorodnicyn Computing Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR in Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
,
- Tetris - The standard tetris game not differing from the original.
- Giga Tetris - The normal tetris game, but with oversized tetrominoTetrominoA tetromino is a geometric shape composed of four squares, connected orthogonally. This, like dominoes and pentominoes, is a particular type of polyomino...
es which break up into smaller pieces. - Bio Tetris - The normal tetris game using the bio sensor. The game is sped up or slowed down depending on the user's heart rateHeart rateHeart rate is the number of heartbeats per unit of time, typically expressed as beats per minute . Heart rate can vary as the body's need to absorb oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide changes, such as during exercise or sleep....
.
Bio Sensor
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
accessory produced by SETA
Seta (company)
SETA Corporation was a Japanese computer gaming company, founded on October 1, 1985...
and only available in Japan. It was sold on its own or packaged with Tetris 64. The bio sensor looks like a Nintendo 64 controller pak with a wire coming out of it with a clip on the end. One end of the sensor plugs into the extension port on the Nintendo 64 controller, and the other end clips onto the player's ear
Ear
The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
. The device measures the user's heart rate.
Critical reception
The game was praised for its multiplayer mode, which at the time was the only Nintendo 64 Tetris game which allowed 4 player mode, while most puzzle games still had not made the step into the four-player arena,- "Tetris 64 manages to do so and delivers the best possible multiplayer gameplay." (IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
)
The game was also recommended for import
Import
The term import is derived from the conceptual meaning as to bring in the goods and services into the port of a country. The buyer of such goods and services is referred to an "importer" who is based in the country of import whereas the overseas based seller is referred to as an "exporter". Thus...
to English speaking territories because all in-game text is in English.
The game was criticized however for its poor graphics and simple backgrounds which could not compare to other Tetris games out on the system at the same time, such as Magical Tetris Challenge
Magical Tetris Challenge
Magical Tetris Challenge, known in Japan as Magical Tetris Challenge Featuring Mickey, is a puzzle game for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color and PlayStation . It was released on January 14, 1999. It is a version of Tetris featuring Disney characters. It was also released in the arcades on the Seta's...
or The New Tetris
The New Tetris
The New Tetris is a puzzle video game for the Nintendo 64. The game was developed by H2O Entertainment and published by Nintendo, based on the latter's popular Tetris series...
.