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IGN Review of Tetris Axis
Whenever a new gaming platform hits the market, a new version of Tetris inevitably follows. Not surprisingly, Nintendo continues the tradition with Tetris: Axis for the Nintendo 3DS.
It practically goes without saying that the main Tetris game rocks. It's a solid puzzle formula, and that's exactly why it's been a gaming staple for over two decades. But with so many versions on the market, each boasting some new mode or feature, Axis needs to pack some serious punch to make it worth buying another collection of something most of the world already has on their phone and numerous other portable devices. While Axis doesn't represent the best of the franchise, if you're looking for a mode-heavy Tetris in stereoscopic 3D, it certainly doesn't disappoint.
Axis boasts over 20 (!) ways to play everyone's favorite falling block game. In addition to classic mode, you can also partake in other cool Tetromino-based games, such as Fever (a fast-paced, 60 second round of crazy Tetris action with a variety of items to further the madness), Stage Racer (which has you frantically flipping and moving one block through a down-scrolling maze) and Tower Climber (where you must stack blocks around a cylindrical tower so that a little stick figure dude can collect health and make his way to the top).
Of course, some of the modes turned out more successful than others. Bombliss (in which you strategically place blocks to clear the stage by triggering explosions) failed to get me addicted, and the AR functionality (where you use the system's included AR cards to watch the blocks fall in real life in either standard Tetris or Tower Climber) didn't add as much to the experience as I hoped it would. Still, with such a variety you can hardly begrudge the handful of modes that didn't turn out so hot.
Axis features a plethora of multiplayer options, allowing up to eight players to challenge each other in a variety of modes with both local and online support. You can also use Download Play to share the game with up to seven other 3DS owners who don't have the cartridge - an excellent addition that helps justify the need for a new collection.
The biggest detriment to this otherwise impressive compilation comes in the form of the lackluster presentation. It's inevitable that the title should draw comparisons to its immediate Nintendo handheld predecessor, Tetris DS - and those comparisons are less than favorable for Axis. Tetris DS managed to make this classic puzzler feel fresh again, cleverly incorporating Nintendo characters and featuring impressive and memorable visuals. Axis fails to capture this same magic, and just offering the chance to play Tetris again in a few different ways isn't enough to make up for it.
The developer's best effort at style seems to come in the form of Mii support. But although Axis lets you use your Mii - which dances on the bottom screen while you work your Tetris magic on the top screen - the animations are surprisingly limited, making it funny for the wrong reasons as your character repeats the same move ad nauseam during any given game. Still, I appreciate how the game makes good use of all the system's special capabilities. In addition to AR and Download Play support, it also utilizes SpotPass, allowing players to collect items for use in Fever mode.
©2011-10-04, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
It practically goes without saying that the main Tetris game rocks. It's a solid puzzle formula, and that's exactly why it's been a gaming staple for over two decades. But with so many versions on the market, each boasting some new mode or feature, Axis needs to pack some serious punch to make it worth buying another collection of something most of the world already has on their phone and numerous other portable devices. While Axis doesn't represent the best of the franchise, if you're looking for a mode-heavy Tetris in stereoscopic 3D, it certainly doesn't disappoint.
Axis boasts over 20 (!) ways to play everyone's favorite falling block game. In addition to classic mode, you can also partake in other cool Tetromino-based games, such as Fever (a fast-paced, 60 second round of crazy Tetris action with a variety of items to further the madness), Stage Racer (which has you frantically flipping and moving one block through a down-scrolling maze) and Tower Climber (where you must stack blocks around a cylindrical tower so that a little stick figure dude can collect health and make his way to the top).
Of course, some of the modes turned out more successful than others. Bombliss (in which you strategically place blocks to clear the stage by triggering explosions) failed to get me addicted, and the AR functionality (where you use the system's included AR cards to watch the blocks fall in real life in either standard Tetris or Tower Climber) didn't add as much to the experience as I hoped it would. Still, with such a variety you can hardly begrudge the handful of modes that didn't turn out so hot.
Axis features a plethora of multiplayer options, allowing up to eight players to challenge each other in a variety of modes with both local and online support. You can also use Download Play to share the game with up to seven other 3DS owners who don't have the cartridge - an excellent addition that helps justify the need for a new collection.
The biggest detriment to this otherwise impressive compilation comes in the form of the lackluster presentation. It's inevitable that the title should draw comparisons to its immediate Nintendo handheld predecessor, Tetris DS - and those comparisons are less than favorable for Axis. Tetris DS managed to make this classic puzzler feel fresh again, cleverly incorporating Nintendo characters and featuring impressive and memorable visuals. Axis fails to capture this same magic, and just offering the chance to play Tetris again in a few different ways isn't enough to make up for it.
The developer's best effort at style seems to come in the form of Mii support. But although Axis lets you use your Mii - which dances on the bottom screen while you work your Tetris magic on the top screen - the animations are surprisingly limited, making it funny for the wrong reasons as your character repeats the same move ad nauseam during any given game. Still, I appreciate how the game makes good use of all the system's special capabilities. In addition to AR and Download Play support, it also utilizes SpotPass, allowing players to collect items for use in Fever mode.
©2011-10-04, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved