Tetris HD Review (PS3)

Tetrominoes fall from the heavens and it's your job to arrange them into solid lines. The PlayStation 3 version may introduce some new features such as 1080p visuals, 5.1 surround sound and exclusive multiplayer modes, but at its very core it is still the same old Tetris.

There's a strong argument that states Tetris is the greatest game ever made. It's telling that this PlayStation 3 iteration should do so little with the formula and yet still end up playing like it's a brand new concept. Even though we've played Tetris on practically every system ever released, the gameplay remains just as compelling today. New game types are introduced to keep the package feeling fresh, but it's the game's core Marathon mode that makes this such a perfect PSN title to have sitting on your hard-drive. Tetris is the perfect time-killer.

Despite a worryingly small user-base so soon after release, EA's done a fantastic job implementing multiplayer into this PlayStation 3 version of Tetris. There's a range of modes on offer, including competitive and co-operative gameplay types. Perhaps most impressive is just how snappy the multiplayer is. Once you're in a lobby, the gameplay is almost instant. The battle modes allow you to send lines over to your opponent's screen, as well as use power-ups to hinder their progress. Something we found really neat about the multiplayer is that players who are knocked out of the battle early can choose to practice while the competitive match continues. It gives you something to do other than twiddle your thumbs while you're waiting for the match conclusion. It's the little touches that make Tetris' multiplayer superb.

Similarly to the PlayStation Minis version of Tetris, the PlayStation 3 version includes a series of mini-achievements called "Feats". These reward you for completing specific challenges in the game, some of which are skill based while others are cumulative. Achieving "Feats" improves your overall progress bar, lending a sense of achievement to the fairly open-ended game.

In shooting for a minimalistic look, the PlayStation 3 version of Tetris ends up a little bland. Sure the graphics look sharp in 1080p, but the backgrounds (which can be changed) are bland and uninteresting. Nintendo found interesting ways to make Tetris' inherently simplistic style attractive on the DS. It's a shame that's not the case here.