Tetris Party

Overview

Tetris Party is a falling-block puzzle game developed by Hudson Soft (along with Tetris Online, Inc.) and published digitally by Hudson Soft for the Wii (as a WiiWare title) in Japan on October 14, 2008 (by Hudson Soft), in North America on October 20, 2008 (by Tetris Online, Inc.), and in Europe on October 24, 2008 (by Nintendo).

A downloadable adaptation of the long-running Tetris series of puzzle games, Tetris Party brings the classic gameplay to the Wii with a wide variety of game modes (including both offline and online multiplayer). While most modes do not use the system's signature motion controls, the game includes support for Miis and the Wii Balance Board.

The game later received an updated retail successor with Tetris Party Deluxe, which also received a handheld Nintendo DS version. It later received a Nintendo 3DS sequel with Tetris Axis. As the Wii Shop Channel was discontinued on January 30, 2019, there is no way to purchase or re-download this version of the game.

Game Modes

Single Player

• Marathon is the standard Tetris gameplay without any gimmicks. By default, the game's goal is to clear Level 15, although this can be changed to the goalless "Endless" setting.

• Computer Battle tasks players with outlasting a computer-controlled opponent of a chosen Level (1-15). Like standard versus modes, players send garbage block rows to their opponent through large line clears.

• Field Climber is a stage-based mode similar to the Tetris Plus and Gussun Oyoyo series in that the player has a semi-autonomous character that moves along the playfield while using blocks to climb. The objective is to lead the character to top of the playfield as fast as they can (and avoid crushing them with tetrominoes) while collecting all flags on the playfield.

• Shadow is a stage-based puzzle mode where players use a variety of pieces (including single blocks, dominoes, trominoes, and tetrominoes) to paint a shape represented by a shadow. Players have a limited amount of time to complete the shape and are scored based on how little pieces are outside of the shape. To aid them, they can skip a limited amount of pieces in their queue.

• Stage Racer tasks players with maneuvering their tetromino down a lengthy course down to the goal, utilizing spins to squeeze through gaps while avoiding getting caught on the auto-scroll. Players can move the piece freely, and the piece does not lock in the playfield. There are several courses based on the different tetromino shapes, and players are timed based on how fast they complete them.

Multi-Player

These modes can be played with up to four players offline and six players online, with support for free-for-all (Battle Royale) and team (Team) modes, as well as computer-controlled opponents.

• VS Battle is the standard versus multiplayer, allowing players to attack others with garbage block rows. In addition, players can enable Items that can be used to hinder opponents (sometimes making use of the Wii Remote's motion controls).

• VS Field Climber is a multiplayer version of the Field Climber mode, with players racing to have their character collect all flags and reach the goal first. Players can enable obstacles.

• VS Hot Lines tasks players with being the first to clear a line over each of the seven marked lines on the playfield. Items can be enabled.

• VS Shadow is a multiplayer version of the Shadow mode, with players racing to paint as much of the shape as they can within the time limit (with blocks outside of the shape deducting points).

• VS Stage Racer is a multiplayer version of the Stage Racer mode, with players racing to maneuver their tetromino down the course and reach the goal first.

• Co-op Tetris is a two-player version of the Marathon mode, with both players sharing the same 20×20 playfield. Unlike co-operative modes in previous games, both players can move their pieces through each-others. Endless mode can be enabled.

• Duel Spaces is a turn-based versus mode where both players share the same 20×20 playfield. Similar to the game of go, players are tasked with acquiring more territory than their opponent, and can "enclose" empty spaces to acquire them as additional territory.

Other Modes

• Beginner's Tetris is a simpler version of Marathon mode that, as the name implies, is intended for beginners. It includes a smaller 5×10 playfield with larger blocks for easier visibility. By default, the game utilizes an easier set of pieces (a two-block domino, both L-shaped and I-shaped trominos, and a square tetromino). Players can opt to include the T-shaped and I-shaped tetrominoes with the Normal difficulty. Endless mode is optional.

• Wii Balance Board Tetris is a variation of Beginner's Tetris that utilizes the Wii Balance Board for physical gameplay. Shifting the player's posture leftward and rightward moves the piece in either direction, while leaning upward or downward soft-drops the piece. Squatting on the board rotates the piece. There are three modes: Balance Marathon (clear Level 15), Balance Ultra (three-minute score attack), and Balance Computer Battle (outlast CPU opponent).