Review: Tetris Forever (Nintendo Switch)

Tetris Forever cements Digital Eclipse’s wizardry over their Gold Master Series. The interactive documentary format they’ve pioneered makes video game history come alive, and if any game has a fascinating history, it’s Alexey Pajitnov’s Tetris. I’ve been playing it since the NES, but I’ve learned so much (and been entertained doing so) from this great release.

As the third entry in the series (fourth if you count Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration,) fans are becoming increasingly familiar with the celebrated timeline approach. If not, the Tetris entry might be the one to seal the deal, as it were. It’s the most popular property Digital Eclipse has tackled yet. And while nearly 20 versions of Tetris are available to play in this compilation, it’s the game’s five-chapter history presentation that may win out as the prime highlight. As a youth, Alexey read the ideal book, played with the right riddle toys, and got the suitable education, which led to him creating the poster child for video game endurance.

Of course, there is so much more to the history, and part of the fun is taking your time to read each timeline entry and watch every video. I enjoyed learning about Henk Rogers (whose daughter, Maya, is the CEO of Tetris Inc.) and watching his home movies from the ’80s. Seeing footage of him in the former Soviet Union on a tourist visa, attempting to acquire the rights to Tetris, had me holding my breath slightly. The tenacity on display ultimately paid off.

Naturally, I must discuss some of the games, although a pragmatic approach prevents me from covering each in detail. There’s a recreation of the 1984 original, which is cool as a curiosity but probably won’t garner many replays. That’s true for much of the game selection here, and it says less about the oldies and more about how polished and refined Tetris has become through the years. The most interesting among the originals might be the Famicom version of Tetris as it uses “an early control scheme.” Muscle memory will make you grateful that you can adjust the controls. The NES best seller is not here, which is a bummer, as Nintendo is holding it back to add value to Switch Online. But I appreciate the changing background imagery of the computer versions.

Tetris sequels follow, at least up to 1999. And this isn’t a case where I can say, “If you’ve played one, you’ve played them all,” as there is diversity among the imports. Again, you’ll find some different versions of the same game, and some might get just a play or two. One of the best ways to get a taste of these is through the all-new Tetris Time Warp, which has you bouncing through “different eras of Tetris in real time to experience a variety of classic graphic styles and play mechanics.” Time Warp has variety and replay value with leaderboards (local only). By tapping into nostalgia while offering a fresh take, it might be the best game in terms of excitement. That approach is favorable, especially as the overall assortment of games leans towards the odd end. I’m not sure what the thought process was for this selection, and while licensing issues are doubtless a part, they’d be a smaller one. Tetris might be Forever, but this release (with so many missing favorites) probably won’t be. It’s still great, though.

Are there any games that aren’t under the Tetris banner? Well, there’s a simpler version of Go, notable as an earlier console release that acted as a spark leading to Tetris expansion. But you can learn more about that in the timeline videos. What I want to mention is Hatris, an overlooked puzzle gem. As a kid, I remember seeing ads for this one in magazines, but I didn’t pick it up. More fool me, as the game is great. It’s less in the Tetris mold and more (for comparison’s sake) like Yoshi, although it predates Nintendo’s puzzler. Three versions are included (Famicom, Game Boy, and NES). This underrated game is addictive (my most played game in this collection) and has awesome chiptunes.

One of the points I raised about Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story applies here also, and that’s for Digital Eclipse to be mindful of how these Gold Series releases get marketed. Tetris Forever is catchy, but Tetris: The Early Years of Tetris: Volume 1 might have better conveyed and defined the narrow scope of this collection. Still, $34.99 works out to less than two bucks a game. Even if many of these don’t represent Tetris at its addictive best, there’s something to say for the convenience of jumping in and out. Plus, there’s added value for those who enjoy comparing versions or exploring imports. It’s a shame there’s no soundtrack player. Most of these games have catchy tunes, and Tetris even had a Japanese soundtrack in 1990. It disappoints to see it mentioned when there’s no way to hear it. Not to mention the CD-i version, which got a mere two sentences without even a picture.

On the one hand, you could reasonably argue this compilation feels closer to a starter pack. Many favorite, more defined versions of Tetris are absent. Some odd choices aside, there’s a good amount of content for fans to enjoy, even those who doubtless already own multiple versions of Tetris. The greatness of Hatris, the excitement of the all-new Tetris Time warp, and the nostalgic ’80s and ’90s stories of a gaming icon make it a must. This Digital Eclipse release satisfies your Tetris craving and makes for a great package “from Russia with love.”