Tetris Effect Review

Genre: Puzzle Game
Players: 1
Playtime: 6 hours (Includes clearing the main Journey mode, trying out each of the various Effects modes, and playing around a bit in Theater mode)


When Tetris Effect was first announced at E3 2018, the combination of one of the world's most infamous puzzle games, Tetris, being directed by one of the industry's highest regarded musical game developers, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, sounded like a match made in heaven.  With such high pedigrees packaged together in such visually dazzling flair, this is an experience that certainly leaves an impression of awe and wonder.  But does it bring enough new ideas or innovation to make visiting this classic puzzler worthwhile once again?  Ready those blocks as we line up the pros and cons to fall in place with this review.

Music / Gameplay

As is expected from the creator of such games as Rez and Lumines, the soundtrack of Tetris Effect is incredibly catchy, meditative, and times incredibly moving.  What makes the music stand out even more though is just how ingrained such is into every aspect of the experience.  From the visual effects to every rotation of the block to every line cleared, the sounds and scores correspond perfectly as a natural extension to the experience.  Likewise, the same can be said for the gameplay, of which the classic Tetris formula still stands strong.  Tying every input and block placed into an artistic display of visuals and sound make the gameplay feel so much more engaging and gratifying, really putting the player into the zone.  It really is quite amazing just how masterfully this unison is achieved, so make sure to play this game with a good set of headphones.

Art / Visual Effects

As mentioned briefly above, the visual splendor play an equally impressive role in creating such a beautiful experience and exemplifying the other components of music and gameplay.  With such imaginative, artistic depictions and an impressive overhaul of visual and particle effects, these worlds and little stories come alive to create entrancing experiences like none other.  If you should also have a PlayStation VR headset, many of these worlds become even more wonders of awe and wonder as giant pendulums swing around or you become encompassed by the majesty of outer-space.  The game is still enjoyable without VR, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that VR really kicks this game up quite a notch in terms of immersive wonder.

A stunningly beautiful experience as you soar across the blue Earth, all the more emphasized in VR.

Uninspired Challenge

While the classic gameplay of Tetris is as solid as ever, it's disheartening to see that more creativity or thought wasn't put into creating more interesting means of challenge.  As was the case back in 1984, your only real opponent in this game is speed and the limits of your reflexes.  When playing the "story" based Journey mode, the sudden influx of speed for the sake of "challenge" can create a bit of a disjointed experience.  Meanwhile in Effects Mode, there are a few other various means of play, but time remains the crux of their means of difficulty, which is a shame as some of those modes have some clever ideas.

Lack of Multiplayer / Portability

It's also a shame that this is an experience that can't be more easily shared, be it by means of local multiplayer or online.  Rather, the only sharing this game includes is a global ranking / scoreboard system.  With great multiplayer Tetris games like Tetris DS or Tetris Party, the absence of multiplayer feels sorely missed, especially since the flourish of music could have made for some really neat Tetris duels, or even cooperative experiences.  Perhaps music or VR was part of the challenge or reason for not pursuing multiplayer, but being solely a single player experience feels all the more lacking in part also due to its lack of portability.  Tetris is a game that is best enjoyed on a whim and in variable spurts.  Being tethered to a home console (and possibly to a VR headset) makes this a restrictive experience that likely to see less play due to these limitations.

For a game who promotes a message of unity and connectivity, the reality is a rather disjointed, single player experience.

High Price Point

Marketed at $40, this is a bit of a high price of entry for what may have limited play time.  If you're not into high scores or mastering quick reflexes, expect around 5 or so hours of gameplay, which may give you hesitation to wait for a sale.  But then if high scores are your groove, or you're just looking for some meditative jams, you may find this value more reasonably fair.  It doesn't necessarily devalue the game, but just something to be aware of and to keep in consideration.

Tetris Effect is a mastery of compelling Tetris gameplay, stellar music, and stunning visual design to create a beautiful, unified experience like none other.  Unfortunately due to a lack of new ideas in gameplay or other core features that make Tetris such an accessible and shareable experience, Tetris Effect becomes a much harder sell.  Overall though, the exemplary harmony of art and gameplay displayed here manage to mostly rise above these faults and deliver a journey still very much worth experiencing.

If you have questions or thoughts about this game, please feel free to comment and discuss below.  Thanks.  And happy gaming!