Tetris Party
Encyclopedia
Tetris Party is a puzzle video game by Hudson Soft
for WiiWare
. An installment of the Tetris
series, the game supports the use of Mii
s and the Wii Balance Board
, and features both local and online multiplayer in addition to several single-player modes unique to the game.
The game was released in Japan on October 14, 2008, in North America on October 20, 2008, and in Europe and Australia on October 24, 2008.
A retail version called Tetris Party Deluxe, which was announced by Tetris Online, Hudson Soft
, Nintendo Australia
and Majesco, was released in North America on June 1st, 2010, in Europe on September 3rd, 2010 and in Australia on October 14th, 2010 for the Wii
and the Nintendo DS
systems.
There is also a version from the DSiWare called Tetris Party Live, which was released in North America on November 22, 2010 and later in the PAL region on December 3, 2010.
The multiplayer versus modes support up to four players offline and six players online through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
, and feature new powerups that utilize the pointer and motion functions of the Wii Remote
. The game also keeps skill charts and statistics, and features online leaderboards and more than 130 achievements for players to monitor their progress.
The game does not include any multiplayer marathon modes. Garbage is not optional in multiplayer mode as it was in The New Tetris
.
There was a total of four tournaments where the top 500 in the first and third tournaments and top 100 in the second and fourth tournaments would be credited with 1,200 Nintendo points to use for either the Wii Shop or DSiWare Shop.
scored the game a 9/10, calling it "the best console version [of Tetris] we've seen in years" and a "must buy", though they were slightly disappointed in the somewhat limited online multiplayer. WiiWare World gave it 8/10, praising the online play in general and calling it "the most robust online Tetris experience money can buy" next to Tetris DS
, though they were also disappointed in the limited online play modes and felt the game is geared more towards local multiplayer than for solo players.. The Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 91%. They were very impressed by the "addictive online play" and commented on the "great variety of modes". They also loved the "classic Tetris gameplay" and thought it was "good value for your points." However they did mark it down as they thought the "Balance Board mode was a bit gimmicky." It was nominated for multiple Wii-specific awards by IGN in its 2008 video game awards, including Best WiiWare Game and Best Puzzle Game.
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
for WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
. An installment of the 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...
series, the game supports the use of Mii
Mii
A is a digital avatar used in Nintendo's Wii and Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. They allow users to capture a likeness of themselves and others. After creating one using the Wii's Mii Channel or the Nintendo 3DS's Mii Maker, they can be used as playable characters in various titles for the...
s and the Wii Balance Board
Wii Balance Board
The Wii Balance Board is a balance board accessory for the Nintendo Wii video game console. Along with Wii Fit, it was introduced on July 11, 2007 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo...
, and features both local and online multiplayer in addition to several single-player modes unique to the game.
The game was released in Japan on October 14, 2008, in North America on October 20, 2008, and in Europe and Australia on October 24, 2008.
A retail version called Tetris Party Deluxe, which was announced by Tetris Online, Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
, Nintendo Australia
Nintendo Australia
Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd. established in 1994, located in Victoria is Australia's local head office, sales, licensing and distribution centre for products and other Intellectual Properties created by Nintendo Co., Ltd of Kyoto, Japan and is owned by Nintendo Co., Ltd in Japan. Prior distribution...
and Majesco, was released in North America on June 1st, 2010, in Europe on September 3rd, 2010 and in Australia on October 14th, 2010 for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
systems.
There is also a version from the DSiWare called Tetris Party Live, which was released in North America on November 22, 2010 and later in the PAL region on December 3, 2010.
Game modes
Tetris Party introduces a number of new game modes. In addition to the 15-level traditional single player only marathon mode, the single and multiplayer versus modes, and Vs. Hot Lines and Team Battle modes returning from earlier games, as well as the return of Bombliss, these new modes include:- Beginner's Tetris: The traditional 15-level game with larger blocks, a smaller play field and new TetriminoTetrominoA tetromino is a geometric shape composed of four squares, connected orthogonally. This, like dominoes and pentominoes, is a particular type of polyomino...
s such as a three-block line, a two-block line and a small three-block L-shape. - Wii Balance Board Tetris: A variation of Beginner's Tetris in which players control falling Tetriminos using the Balance Board, leaning left and right to move the Tetrimino, leaning forward or backward to drop it, and squatting to rotate it in a clockwise direction. This game type also includes a 3-minute high-score mode called "Balance Ultra" and a Vs. Computer battle mode.
- Co-op Tetris: Two players work together simultaneously on a double size play field to clear lines.
- Field Climber: The player builds layers of blocks to help a tiny man reach the top of the screen. The mode is time-based, and also available in online versus play.
- Shadow: Players must race to fill in a background image with Tetriminos, while not allowing any pieces to lie outside of the puzzle in the process. This mode features new Tetrimino shapes, and a total of 30 puzzles.
- Stage Racer: The player guides a single Tetrimino downward through a narrow twisting passage, being sure not to get it caught on the sides.
- Dual Spaces: A ReversiReversiReversi is a board game involving abstract strategy and played by two players on a board with 8 rows and 8 columns and a set of distinct pieces for each side. Pieces typically are disks with a light and a dark face, each face belonging to one player...
-inspired mode where players section off empty space, and gain points for every empty space they lock out by placing their Tetriminos to create larger areas of their own color.
The multiplayer versus modes support up to four players offline and six players online through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
, and feature new powerups that utilize the pointer and motion functions of the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
. The game also keeps skill charts and statistics, and features online leaderboards and more than 130 achievements for players to monitor their progress.
The game does not include any multiplayer marathon modes. Garbage is not optional in multiplayer mode as it was in 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...
.
Tournament play
Both Hudson and Tetris Online have organized tournaments for players of the game, with the first held in December 2008. Each tournament involves the different game modes in Tetris Party, with the first and third tournaments featuring four rounds with four different game modes contested in each.There was a total of four tournaments where the top 500 in the first and third tournaments and top 100 in the second and fourth tournaments would be credited with 1,200 Nintendo points to use for either the Wii Shop or DSiWare Shop.
Reception
IGNIGN
IGN 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...
scored the game a 9/10, calling it "the best console version [of Tetris] we've seen in years" and a "must buy", though they were slightly disappointed in the somewhat limited online multiplayer. WiiWare World gave it 8/10, praising the online play in general and calling it "the most robust online Tetris experience money can buy" next to Tetris DS
Tetris DS
Tetris DS is a Touch! Generations puzzle game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. THQ announced Tetris DS before E3 2005, and scheduled it to make an appearance at the show. However, the company decided to cancel the game, and Nintendo released their own make of Tetris DS in...
, though they were also disappointed in the limited online play modes and felt the game is geared more towards local multiplayer than for solo players.. The Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 91%. They were very impressed by the "addictive online play" and commented on the "great variety of modes". They also loved the "classic Tetris gameplay" and thought it was "good value for your points." However they did mark it down as they thought the "Balance Board mode was a bit gimmicky." It was nominated for multiple Wii-specific awards by IGN in its 2008 video game awards, including Best WiiWare Game and Best Puzzle Game.