Named by Entertainment Weekly as the number 1 "new classic" video game of the past twenty-five years (almost all of video game history), it was never a question of if Tetris would grace Nintendo's wildly popular WiiWare digital distribution service, but when. While we still don't have a precise date, Official Nintendo Magazine has confirmed that the Hudson Soft developed Tetris Party will be released this autumn with a slew of Wii-specific features.
Obviously, Mii integration is a must. They make parents and children happy and were an absolutely charming addition to Dr. Mario Online RX. Wi-Fi multiplayer? Of course, but we had that in Tetris DS. We all love Tetris and will play it forever, but what makes this version new? Why, ten never-before-seen modes of play, naturally! These modes will include IR pointing-and-shooting support for the Wii Balance Board (seen implemented above, apparently).
A new Tetris on the Wii is bound to be a huge hit with the casual mom-and-pop crowd, assuming they can figure out how to download WiiWare. While many would look at the new game modes and argue "if it ain't broke...", and while 99% of Tetris players will never play any mode other than traditional "clear the stack", I must admit that I rather enjoyed all of the alternate takes on Tetris presented in Tetris DS. From the "Push" versus mode where two players took either side of a single stack and tried to push it towards the opponent to the "Catch" mode where the player rotated and navigated a single satellite as it collected floating Tetris blocks in space, these modes took the familiar Tetris formula and introduced new twists and mechanics that kept the experience fresh and exciting for those looking for a new challenge. While I have no idea how much fun shooting or balancing Tetris blocks will be in practice, I'm certainly willing to give it a shot when Tetris Party hits WiiWare this autumn.
Related articles:
It's Dangerous To Go Alone
Whatcha Playing: Lost Winds