While one of the most iconic videogames of all time, Tetris is also one of the simplest. There’s no point explaining what it is- it’s bloody Tetris. You know the score.
That said, there are a few additions to the standard Tetris formula available in the PSP Mini release. Several new modes are available which shake things up a bit, including ones which shift the playing area sideways during gameplay and another which challenges you to stay underneath a laser marker. The odds are, however, that you’ll stick with the standard Tetris mode. Everything acts as expected- you still get a preview of the next block to fall and you can also ‘store’ a tetrimino for later use. High score tables are available but only work at a local level, thanks to the limitations placed on the Mini range. The lack of worldwide leaderboards is a downer but was expected.
EA has tried quite hard to keep an ancient game feeling fresh- the classic Tetris tunes have been remixed (not to everyone’s taste, but that’s very subjective) and swap out every few difficulty levels. In-game achievements are also unlocked through gameplay, as are additional game modes. You’ll get some solid game time out of this Mini if you put some effort in.
While the game has little flourishes like including pro replays (which made me very self-conscious of my own Tetris inadequacies) the presentation felt very cheap compared to the DS release, which featured Nintendo themes and was extremely well polished. The DS version also featured a competent multiplayer offering. That said, this is nearly six times cheaper than that retail version was upon release and, despite being one of the more expensive Minis, there is value to be found in it.
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