Super Tetris

Without a doubt, Tetris is probably the most popular puzzle game ever created for the computer or console. Created by a Russian programmer years ago, Tetris and its hundreds of clones, sequels and knock-offs have made it to every port available, from PC to cellular phone. Super Tetris is another of these spin off games, and was developed by Sphere Incorporated. It was released for play on the PC format in the early nineties by Spectrum Holobyte Incorporated. Like others in its class, it is a real-time strategy and puzzle game that involves falling blocks.

Tetris gleans its name from the Latin term for “four.” Each of the blocks used in the game resembles a letter of the alphabet and is made up of four sections. There are Zs, Ts, Ls, Js, Ss, Os, Is and so forth. The object of the game is to manipulate these falling letter shape blocs as they make their way down a vertical playing field and place them in an organized manner on the field in order to make solid horizontal lines of colored blocks across the field. With their different shapes and jags, this is sometimes very tricky, made more so by the fact that the game picks up in speed as it continues. When a horizontal line is formed, it is removed from the field of play. Once the blocks are stacked all the way to the top of the field, the game is over. It is possible to remove up to four horizontal lines at one time by successfully manipulating the blocks into a solid pattern and then dropping the four segment long “I” block into the appropriate hole. This is called a Tetris and is the basis for the game’s name.
Super Tetris is very similar to the original game, but it features some upgrades and additions to further increase the strategy of the game. The lightning bolt will eliminate an entire row, gaps and all. The bomb block will randomly explode between two and sixteen blocks in a radius around where it is placed. These new blocks can be used to shore up the gaps created in the playing field. Sometimes, however, they are unwanted and will monkey wrench a strategy by destroying a very organized pattern. Super Tetris also allows multiplayer mode, and cooperative multiplayer mode, which is new an interesting.
In short, Super Tetris is basically classic Tetris all over again, with a couple of new twists and a new, fun background. It is a very playable game, especially to gamers who enjoyed any of the previous Tetris installments.