3D Tetris

Last updated

3D Tetris
3D Tetris.jpg
North American box art
Developer(s) T&E Soft
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Series Tetris
Platform(s) Virtual Boy
Release
  • NA: March 22, 1996
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

3D Tetris is a 1996 puzzle video game developed by T&E Soft and published by Nintendo for the Virtual Boy. It was released on March 22, 1996, only in North America. Players control multiple falling blocks, rotating and positioning them to clear layers in a three-dimensional environment similar to Tetris 's gameplay. The game contains multiple modes and variations thereof, as well as different difficulty settings and levels. Parts of 3D Tetris are rendered as 3D wire-frame models. A version of the game entitled Polygo Block [a] was set for release in February 1996 in Japanese markets, but was never released. The game received mostly negative reviews with critics panning it for a lack of originality.

Contents

Gameplay

Players move falling blocks to fill up a three-dimensional well. VB 3D Tetris (Polygo Block).png
Players move falling blocks to fill up a three-dimensional well.

3D Tetris is a puzzle game that uses a three-dimensional playing field as opposed to the traditional two dimensions used in most other versions of Tetris. The play field, called a well, contains 5 vertical layers that players fill with falling three-dimensional blocks. These blocks can be rotated horizontally and vertically, as well as positioned in four different directions. Each block displays a shadow underneath it which indicates where it will land. The game's camera continually adjusts itself, but players can manually readjust it. [1] The HUD displays a radar which provides information about each of the well's five layers, as well as the next block to fall, which is represented by a character. [2] [3] The game contains multiple different modes: 3-D Tetris, Center-Fill, and Puzzle, each having variations in how they play. [4] Players can modify the difficulty in these modes as well as the rate by which the blocks fall. [4]

In the 3-D Tetris mode, a layer disappears when it is filled with blocks, scoring players points which are displayed in the HUD. If blocks stack over the top of the well, the number of layers will go down by one. The game is over when the final layer is lost. One game mode is based on accumulating points, while the other mode requires players to complete multiple levels by clearing all five layers in each. [2] In the Center-Fill mode, players place blocks in symmetrical patterns around center blocks placed in each well's layers. If a block is placed in a layer's center block, it disappears, and any other blocks in the layer will also disappear, if they have been successfully placed in a symmetrical pattern. [5] Points are gained based on the number of blocks in, the complexity of, and the height of the symmetrical layer. [6] A symmetrical pattern is indicated by a symbol shown in the HUD's radar, as well as the player's score. Like the 3-D Tetris mode, layers will be lost if the blocks go over the top of the well, and the game ends when all layers are lost. One variant requires players to complete as many layers as possible, while the other is the same except with obstacles added. [6] The variant Clear It! requires players to clear ten symmetrical layers on each stage to progress to the next stage. [7] In the Puzzle mode, a shape is displayed in the well at the beginning of each stage. Players are tasked with getting to the highest stage possible by placing blocks in the displayed shape to progress to the next stage. At the end of each stage, a stage-ending animation is displayed. If an incorrect shape is placed, the game ends. [8] 3D Tetris includes an option to save high scores and names entered from the 3-D Tetris and Center-Fill modes, along with progress in the Puzzle mode, to a battery backup. [9]

Development and release

3D Tetris was developed by T&E Soft and published by Nintendo in North America. A version was planned for Japanese markets entitled Polygo Block, which was to be released in February 1996, but was never released. [10] Like all other Virtual Boy games, 3D Tetris uses a red-and-black color scheme and uses parallax, an optical trick that is used to simulate a 3D effect. [11] The game contains 30 different block types, and renders each one as a 3D wire-frame model until they fall to the bottom of the well, where they are filled in. [1] It was the last game released on the Virtual Boy in North America. [12]

Reception

3D Tetris received mostly negative reviews. One common criticism was over the game's 3D perspective and red-and-black visuals. Entertainment Weekly staff experienced eye strain while playing the game, while writer Jeremy Parish experienced headaches. [16] [17] Aaron Curtiss of the Los Angeles Times felt that the 3D effects clashed with the Virtual Boy's visuals, while GamePro writer Scary Larry found its audio and visual presentation minimal. [18] [14] GamesRadar+ writer Brett Elston found it difficult to tell what was happening because of the visuals. [19] While Next Generation staff argued that all game modes missed the mark due to lacking the "simple elegance" of Tetris, VideoGames staff was less critical. They felt it was less appealing than Tetris due to the 3D effect, but nevertheless executed well. [15] [20]

The controls and gameplay received a mixed response. Aaron Curtiss felt the way the play field moved was difficult and frustrating, identifying the controls as difficult, a sentiment shared by Scary Larry. However, Larry felt that the game had the potential to be addictive. [18] [14] Staff for Game Informer argued that a 3D Tetris had potential, but it was not executed well, criticizing its slow pace. [13] Jeremy Parish also found pace issues with the game, adding that it also had issues with being too complex. [17] Dave Frear of Nintendo Life agreed that it started out too slowly, but noted that pace increase in higher difficulties made it much more fun. [1]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ポリゴブロック, Hepburn: Porigo Burokku

Related Research Articles

<i>Tetris</i> 1985 video game

Tetris is a puzzle video game created in 1985 by Alexey Pajitnov, a Soviet software engineer. It has been published by several companies on more than 65 platforms, setting a Guinness world record for the most ported game. After a significant period of publication by Nintendo, in 1996 the rights reverted to Pajitnov, who co-founded the Tetris Company with Henk Rogers to manage licensing.

<i>Dr. Mario</i> 1990 video game

Dr. Mario is a 1990 puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. It was produced by Gunpei Yokoi and designed by Takahiro Harada. The soundtrack was composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.

<i>Yoshis Cookie</i> 1992 video game

Yoshi's Cookie is a 1992 tile-matching puzzle video game developed by Tose and published by Nintendo for the NES and Game Boy platforms in 1992. A Super NES version was released the following year, developed and published by Bullet-Proof Software.

<i>Tetris Attack</i> 1995 video game

Tetris Attack, also known as Panel de Pon in Japan, is a puzzle video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A Game Boy version was released a year later. In the game, the player must arrange matching colored blocks in vertical or horizontal rows to clear them. The blocks steadily rise towards the top of the playfield, with new blocks being added at the bottom. Several gameplay modes are present, including a time attack and multiplayer mode.

<i>Warios Woods</i> 1994 video game

Wario's Woods is a puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released in Japan and North America in 1994 and Europe in 1995 for both the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A spin-off of the Mario series, players control Toad in his mission to defeat Wario, who has taken control of the Peaceful Woods. Gameplay revolves around clearing each level by using bombs to destroy groups of enemies. The game also features a multiplayer mode that allows two players to compete against each other.

<i>Pokémon Puzzle League</i> 2000 puzzle game for the Nintendo 64

Pokémon Puzzle League is a puzzle video game in the Puzzle League series developed by Nintendo Software Technology and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Released in North America on September 25, 2000, and in Europe on March 2, 2001, its Puzzle League-based gameplay has a focus on puzzle-based strategy in the game's grid-based format. To advance to new levels, players are required to combat the game's trainers and gym leaders, similar to the ones featured in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. One of several games based on the Pokémon anime, it features lead protagonist Ash Ketchum, his Pikachu, his companions Brock and Misty, the Kanto Gym Leaders, and other characters from the series.

<i>Dr. Robotniks Mean Bean Machine</i> 1993 video game

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a falling block puzzle game developed by Compile and published by Sega. It was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in North America and Europe in November 1993, and ported to the Game Gear in 1993 and Master System in 1994.

<i>Pokémon Puzzle Challenge</i> 2000 video game for the Game Boy Color

Pokémon Puzzle Challenge is a puzzle video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color. Released in Japan on September 21, 2000; in North America on December 4, 2000; and in PAL regions on June 15, 2001, it is the second Pokémon-themed entry in the Puzzle League series. While its Nintendo 64 counterpart Pokémon Puzzle League is visually based on the Pokemon anime, Puzzle Challenge instead draws inspiration from the Pokémon Gold and Silver games. The game features multiple modes of play and support for competitive play between two players. Puzzle Challenge was later digitally re-released via the Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console line on November 6, 2014.

<i>Wetrix</i> 1998 video game

Wetrix is a 3D puzzle video game developed by Zed Two, the studio of brothers Ste and John Pickford, for the Nintendo 64 and personal computers in 1998, and the Dreamcast and Game Boy Color in 1999. The player's goal is to hold water bubbles falling on a 3D isometric landscape. To do this, enclosures are created with Uppers, which fall in a similar manner to Tetris blocks, that raise the ground. While water can be evaporated with fireballs, hazards such as Mines, Ice Cubes, and earthquakes also fall and ruin the player's construction.

<i>Tetris & Dr. Mario</i> 1994 video game

Tetris & Dr. Mario is a 1994 puzzle video game compilation published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It contains enhanced remakes of Tetris (1989) and Dr. Mario (1990), which were originally released for both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy in North America. Both games include split-screen multiplayer and a "Mixed Match" mode that transitions between the two games.

<i>Pac-Attack</i> 1993 puzzle video game

Pac-Attack, also known as Pac-Panic, is a 1993 falling-tile puzzle video game developed and published by Namco for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis. Versions for the Game Boy, Game Gear and Philips CD-i were also released. The player is tasked with clearing out blocks and ghosts without them stacking to the top of the playfield — blocks can be cleared by matching them in horizontal rows, while ghosts can be cleared by placing down a Pac-Man piece that can eat them. It is the first game in the Pac-Man series to be released exclusively for home platforms.

<i>Marios Picross</i> 1995 video game

Mario's Picross is a 1995 puzzle video game developed by Jupiter and Ape Inc. and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is a compilation of nonogram logic puzzles. The game stars Mario who chisels away at puzzle grids to form pictures. The game initially received positive reviews, with reviewers citing its length and addictive nature as a positive, but its grid sizes and absence of typical Mario elements as a negative.

<i>Bomberman: Panic Bomber</i> 1994 video game

Bomberman: Panic Bomber is a 1994 puzzle video game developed and published by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine on December 22, 1994. It was later released for the Neo Geo, Super Famicom, Sharp X68000, FM Towns, NEC PC-9821, Virtual Boy, and PlayStation Portable. It saw a re-release for the Wii and Wii U's Virtual Console services. Panic Bomber is a falling block game with the players' goal being to clear matching blocks using bombs, ensuring that their screen does not fill and that their opponents' screens do. It received mixed to positive reception, identified as a decent game by multiple critics. It has been compared to the falling block puzzle game Tetris. The Virtual Boy version received a mixed reception for its handling of the platform's visual capabilities.

<i>Tetris</i> (Game Boy video game) 1989 video game

Tetris is a 1989 puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is a portable version of Alexey Pajitnov's original Tetris and it was bundled with the North American and European releases of the Game Boy itself. It is the first game to have been compatible with the Game Link Cable, a pack-in accessory that allows two Game Boy consoles to link for multiplayer purposes. A remaster, Tetris DX, was released on the Game Boy Color in 1998. It was released for the Nintendo 3DS' Virtual Console in December 2011 without multiplayer functionality. The game was released on the Nintendo Switch Online service in February 2023.

<i>Magical Tetris Challenge</i> 1998 video game

Magical Tetris Challenge is a 1998 puzzle video game by Capcom for the arcade, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and PlayStation. It is a version of Tetris featuring Disney characters. It is one of the few Nintendo 64 games to be entirely in 2D, in addition to being Capcom's first game for the console. The Japanese arcade cabinet and cover art was done by Kenichi Sudo, while the North American cover art was done by Robert Griggs.

<i>Tetris: Axis</i> 2011 video game

Tetris: Axis, released as Tetris in some regions, is a puzzle video game developed by Hudson Soft for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in all regions in October 2011 and was published by Namco Bandai Games in Japan, Nintendo in North America, and Tetris Online in Europe and Australia.

<i>Tetris 2</i> (1993 video game) 1993 video game

Tetris 2, known in Japan as Tetris Flash, is a puzzle video game developed by Tose and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was ported to the Game Boy in 1993 and Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994 by Bullet Proof Software.

<i>Cosmo Gang the Puzzle</i> 1992 video game

Cosmo Gang the Puzzle is a 1992 falling block puzzle arcade video game developed and published by Namco worldwide. The third game in its Cosmo Gang series, succeeding that year's Cosmo Gang the Video, players stack groups of blocks and aliens known as Jammers in a vertical-oriented well. The objective is to clear as many objects on the screen before they reach the top of the screen. Blocks are cleared by aligning them into complete horizontal rows, while Jammers are cleared by defeating them with blue-colored spheres.

<i>V-Tetris</i> 1995 video game

V-Tetris is a 1995 puzzle video game developed by Locomotive and published by Bullet-Proof Software in Japan for the Virtual Boy. Its gameplay involves the player clearing horizontal lines by moving pieces of different shapes that descend onto the playing field by filling empty spaces in order to make completed lines disappear and gain points across three modes of play.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Frear, Dave (July 23, 2009). "Review: 3D Tetris (Virtual Boy)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ 3D Tetris Instruction Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 1996. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Polygo Block". Famicom Tsushin (ファミコン通信) (in Japanese). No. 363. December 1, 1995.
  11. ↑ "Backwards Compatible: The Virtual Boy". Good Game . June 1, 2009. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  12. ↑ Rignall, Jaz (November 26, 2014). "System Swan Songs: The Last Games Released on the Greatest Consoles". USgamer . Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  13. 1 2 "3D Tetris". Game Informer . May 1, 1996. Archived from the original on October 19, 2000. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 Scary Larry (August 1996). "3D Tetris". GamePro . Vol. 8, no. 8. Oakland, California: IDG. p. 70. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Tetris 3-D". Next Generation . No. 19. Imagine Media. July 1996. p. 81.
  16. 1 2 "Digital Review". Entertainment Weekly . April 5, 1996. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  17. 1 2 Parish, Jeremy (April 25, 2019). "Tetris concludes our trip through the U.S. Virtual Boy library". Retronauts . Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  18. 1 2 Curtiss, Aaron (May 2, 1996). "Nintendo Virtual Boy Measures Up to Billing". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  19. ↑ Elston, Brett (January 11, 2011). "Nine Virtual Boy games the 3DS can completely redeem". GamesRadar+ . p. 4. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  20. ↑ "3D Tetris * Virtual Boy * Nintendo * $39.99". VideoGames. May 1996. p. 61. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.