Tetris Plus

Tetris Plus

PlayStation - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Jaleco Publisher Jaleco Published 1995-12-?? Platforms Arcade, Game Boy, PlayStation, Saturn Genres Active puzzle, Puzzle Themes Cartoon Multiplayer Simultaneous versus Distribution Commercial

Tetris Plus is an action puzzle video game developed and published by Jaleco for the Arcade in December 1995, then, the next year, ported to Saturn, PlayStation, and Game Boy (each by Natsume). Additional ports were developed for the Jaguar and Nintendo 64, but were never released. The game is a variant of Tetris and was followed up by Tetris Plus 2.

In addition to the normal game play modes, Tetris Plus introduces puzzle mode which has an archeology professor exploring ruins at various dig sites around the Earth with his assistant. Your goal is to eliminate garbage blocks so that the archeologist can reach the bottom of the well before the slowly descending spiked ceiling crushes him.

Personal

Own?	No.
Won?	Yes. Puzzle mode, normal difficulty.
Finished	Game Boy: 2023-06-25.

I hadn't heard of Tetris Plus when it came out. When I was in my early 40s, I was looking for a new Game Boy game to play, and began playing it based on the title alone. It wasn't until I was nearly finished with its story mode that I discovered it was first made for superior platforms.

Review

4	5	5	5	6

Best Version: PlayStation

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

• The new puzzle mode is a fresh new take on Tetris which requires you to learn new methods of game play. As you get into the more difficult levels, you'll have to learn how to get better at clearing lines more smoothly as well as how to throw away unwanted blocks. It also teaches you to monitor the actions of the archeologist and hate him when he stupidly climbs into the spikes!
• The large cutscene graphics are attractive and the Professor's animation is adorable.
• The additional shape preview is very beneficial in the puzzle mode.
• The game's music fits the game. There aren't any standout tracks, but, as in previous Tetris games, as you get close to failing, the music becomes more intense.
• Having unlimited continues in puzzle mode is very much needed.
• A lot of the garbage blocks in puzzle mode are designed in interesting shapes, many of which have shortcuts if you know how to manipulate them.
• Allowing the player to edit their own puzzle mode levels is a nice addition.

Bad

• Although the puzzle mode is fun, it's not really enough to warrant a whole new title. The only other modes are the tired endless and vs. modes, the game doesn't even have the earlier B-type mode. More work should have been put into the game to expand the original formula further.
• I don't like that pieces against the wall won't shift over when you rotate them.
• Puzzle mode's ending is quite underwhelming for how hard it gets.
• The final level of the Game Boy port is unbalanced by being a lot harder than all previous levels. I probably failed on it about 100 times before finally beating it.

Ugly

• Nothing.

Media

Arcade Art

• 

  Cabinet - USA.

• 

  Marquee - USA.

• 

  Instructions - 1 - Japan.

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  Instructions - 2 - Japan.

• 

  Instructions - 3 - Japan.

Box Art

• 

  Saturn - Japan - Focuses on the chibi characters.

• 

  Saturn - USA - Focuses on the ancient temple aspect.

• 

  Saturn - Europe - Pretty dull, only a suggestion of ancient temple.

• 

  PlayStation - Japan - Even more chibi characters.

• 

  PlayStation - USA - Just less of the Saturn art.

• 

  PlayStation - Europe - Even more boring.

• 

  Game Boy - Japan - The PS1 art with a bust backdrop.

• 

  Game Boy - USA / Europe - Pretty colors, but doesn't showcase the new game play at all.

Documentation

• 

  Manual - Arcade - Japan

• 

  Manual - Game Boy - USA.

• 

  Manual - PlayStation - USA.

• 

  Manual - Saturn - USA.

• 

  Arcade - Japan - Flyer 1.

• 

  Arcade - Japan - Flyer 2.

Font

The font from the Game Boy port is included in the Video game font collection.

Videos

Longplay - Arcade - USA.

Longplay - Saturn - USA.

Longplay - PlayStation - Europe.

Longplay - Game Boy - USA.

Play Online

Game Boy (Japan), Game Boy (USA)

Representation

Strong female character?	Fail	The assistant is the only woman, but she exists as a plot device in cutscenes.
Bechdel test?	Fail	There is only one woman.
Strong person of color character?	Fail	Neither character appears to be a person of color.
Queer character?	Fail	There are no queer characters.

Titles

Language	Native	Transliteration	Translation
English	Tetris Plus
Japanese	テトリスプラス	Tetorisu Purasu	Tetris Plus

• MAME code: tetrisp

Links