115 lines
6.1 KiB
Plaintext
115 lines
6.1 KiB
Plaintext
|
|
TETRIS
|
|
|
|
Detente lives! At least in the form of Spectrum HoloByte's TETRIS (The Soviet
|
|
Challenge). TETRIS, which has been described as the "Rubik's Cube" of computer
|
|
games, is brought to us through the combined efforts of AcademySoft in Moscow,
|
|
Andromeda Software Ltd. in London, and Spectrum HoloByte in the USA. This review
|
|
is based on the Macintosh version; Apple II/IIgs and Atari ST version notes
|
|
follow.
|
|
|
|
One might very well suspect our Russian comrades of ulterior motives in
|
|
releasing this game to the West, because its addictive properties were enough to
|
|
make my brother forgo his weekly fix of "L.A. Law" in an effort to beat my high
|
|
score. Quick fingers and a quick mind are required to succeed at TETRIS.
|
|
|
|
You could call TETRIS something of an animated jigsaw puzzle, but it's much
|
|
more than that. The parts of the puzzle are little four-square pieces that range
|
|
in size and shape from 2x2 squares, to 1x4 rectangles, to more complicated
|
|
configurations. As the game begins, these pieces fall from the top of the
|
|
screen, one by one. Before they reach bottom, you must manipulate them so that
|
|
they interlock without leaving any gaps. Using the keyboard, you can rotate the
|
|
pieces and move them to the left or right in an attempt to fill the remaining
|
|
gaps.
|
|
|
|
Whenever you succeed in filling an entire row without gaps, that row drops off
|
|
the bottom of the screen. As soon as you have completed a certain number of
|
|
rows, you advance to the next level. Should you fail to fill any rows properly
|
|
(or fail to fill them quickly enough), the pieces will continue to descend until
|
|
there's no space left on the screen for new pieces to fit. At this point, the
|
|
game ends.
|
|
|
|
As you see, the premise of the game is fairly simple, but this rather dry
|
|
description fails to convey the true tension and challenge of the game. As your
|
|
level increases, so does the speed at which the pieces fall. By the 10th level,
|
|
you're pretty much at a loss, unless you have the manual dexterity of a
|
|
professional pianist. Speaking of music, the Russian folk tunes and compositions
|
|
that accompany each level are incredibly well done. (Listen to them through an
|
|
external speaker to fully appreciate the music!) As your speed increases, so
|
|
does the tempo, which definitely adds to the fast and furious pace of the last
|
|
few levels.
|
|
|
|
The background graphics are painstakingly detailed, and a wonder to behold on
|
|
the Mac II's color screen; even on a plain Mac Plus they're terrific. The
|
|
alternating scenes depict various aspects of Russian life, from farming and
|
|
hockey to the manned space launches.
|
|
|
|
There are a number of game options that offer more challenging variations, such
|
|
as Advanced Mode, and the ability to increase the number of rows present on the
|
|
opening screen. In addition, there's a Tournament Mode, in which the computer
|
|
keeps track of the exact sequence of falling shapes so that each competitor can
|
|
play under equal conditions, with the exact same pieces.
|
|
|
|
The game package also includes a TETRIS desk accessory. Although the DA lacks
|
|
sound, background graphics, and a few other features, the puzzle is identical in
|
|
all other respects. Now you can play a quick game of TETRIS while...ahh, waiting
|
|
for your...um, spreadsheet to...uh, let's see...recalc! (Yeah, that's the
|
|
ticket.)
|
|
|
|
During gameplay itself, I could detect no bugs. However, there were a few times
|
|
when the scoreboard would "forget" certain high scores I had previously entered.
|
|
I tried to get Spectrum HoloByte to comment on the anomaly, but as of this
|
|
writing, they hadn't responded. This is a rather minor problem, though, and it
|
|
doesn't in any way interfere with my enjoyment of the program.
|
|
|
|
TETRIS is a great game for anyone who enjoys addictive puzzles, excellent
|
|
graphics, fast-paced arcade action, and Russian music -- not necessarily in that
|
|
order!
|
|
|
|
APPLE II AND IIGS VERSION NOTES
|
|
|
|
Spectrum HoloByte was extremely considerate: They included versions of TETRIS
|
|
for all Apple II series computers in one package. The 5-1/4" disk comes with a
|
|
hi-res version for the old II and II+, and a double-hi-res version for the 128K
|
|
IIe and IIc. The 3-1/2" version is for the IIgs.
|
|
|
|
The lower resolution versions lack sound; otherwise, all Apple versions play
|
|
exactly like the Macintosh program, with one addition: You can use a joystic
|
|
Personally, I preferred the keyboard.
|
|
|
|
TETRIS on the IIgs makes me glad I have my computer. Wonderful music, superb
|
|
background pictures, and adherence to "human interface" standards result in an
|
|
outstanding game -- it's addicting!
|
|
|
|
A word of caution: The IIgs version I received had some bugs. The game wouldn't
|
|
support desk accessories, occasionally crashed when "Quit" was selected, and
|
|
crashed spectacularly when the Tournament option was engaged. One other
|
|
difference: There is no TETRIS Desk Accessory in this version.
|
|
|
|
Overall, this game is as good on a IIgs as on a Macintosh (in my humble
|
|
opinion). Give it a 9 out of 10 and a permanent place on my hard drive --
|
|
especially since it's not copy-protected!
|
|
|
|
ATARI ST VERSION NOTES
|
|
|
|
Although the Atari ST version of TETRIS differs in minor ways from other
|
|
versions, one thing remains unchanged: the game itself. The Russian music and
|
|
the graphic pictures of Soviet life are fine, but are so completely unnecessary
|
|
that they vanish. All that matters is TETRIS, which is one of the most addictive
|
|
puzzles you're going to find...in any country. The game is so incredibly easy to
|
|
grasp and becomes such an obsession, that it simply _must_ be a subversive trick
|
|
of _glasnost_.
|
|
|
|
There is no desk accessory in the ST version, and the disks are File and
|
|
Options Menus, which can be effected with keystrokes. The keystrokes needed to
|
|
control the game are but a handful, and they work perfectly.
|
|
|
|
The ST version runs on any ST with 512K (including the Mega series) and a color
|
|
monitor. A second disk drive is supported. Although the bells and whistles are
|
|
useful for nothing more than a price increase, ST owners cannot afford to bypass
|
|
TETRIS. It's too good to miss.
|
|
|
|
TETRIS is published and distributed by Spectrum HoloByte.
|
|
|
|
*****DOWNLOADED FROM P-80 SYSTEMS (304) 744-2253
|
|
|