Tetris DS (NDS) Playthrough
245A playthrough of Nintendo's 2006 puzzle game for the Nintendo DS, Tetris DS.
After years of rehashing the original Tetris and slapping the name on random unrelated puzzle games, in 2006 Nintendo finally brought the brand back to handheld gaming prominence in a big way with the launch of Tetris DS.
Not only is the cart jam packed with 80s Nintendo fan-service, but it also offers about a bazillion new game modes that meaningfully change up the standard Tetris formula, each wrapped up in a theme based on a classic franchise.
Here's what's in the video:
Standard mode
The classic A-Type game that switches themes between levels to give it the feel of a "Nintendo All-stars" mode.
0:31 How to play
1:45 Marathon game
17:26 Line Clear game
19:37 Vs. CPU
Catch mode (Metroid)
Instead of moving the blocks as they come down, you move and rotate a core to catch the falling pieces in order to create squares that form bombs.
30:27 How to play
32:42 Catch game
Mission mode (Zelda)
A rapid-fire set of tasks that must each be completed before Link runs out of hearts.
47:27 How to play
48:41 Marathon game
Puzzle mode (Yoshi's Cookie)
Clear the playfield in 3-to-5 turns using only the pieces that you are given.
59:50 How to play
1:01:51 Puzzle game
Touch mode (Balloon Fight)
Rearrange a precariously stacked group of blocks to free the guys locked in a cage at the top.
2:15:33 How to play
2:16:34 Touch Puzzle game
2:30:59 Tower game
Push mode (Donkey Kong)
Tug-of-war Tetris on a board that resembles an industrial football field.
2:42:47 How to play
2:44:27 Push game
Needless to say, there's a lot of unique content here that'll keep you busy for weeks.
The core Tetris gameplay has been updated in a number of ways. You can hit a shoulder button to place a piece in reserve, and pieces can continue to be moved once they touch down so long as they're being actively rotated in a move that the game calls "T-spin." This becomes a thoroughly necessary move to master at the higher levels since pieces eventually start appearing at the bottom of the playfield without any falling animations. It feels more forgiving at first, but it's much more challenging than previous games once you've reached a certain point.
As excellent as the gameplay is, for me, the most memorable part of Tetris DS is the ludicrously enthusiastic presentation. Enhanced recreations of scenes from several NES games play out on the top screen while giant paper-like 3D figures spin around behind the playfield on the bottom, and the fantastic soundtrack is made up of energetic remixes of classic themes. The music is actually my favorite part of the entire package - the rock and dance-infused takes on iconic Nintendo tracks are on point and are fun to listen to even outside the game.
Tetris DS was the best Tetris game to have been released in years back in 2006. It's every bit as iconic as the 1989 Game Boy version, and in my mind, it stood at the top of the mountain until Tetris Effect came about and one-upped it in 2018. If you're a fan of classic 1980s era Nintendo, Tetris DS is a heartfelt tribute that absolutely deserves your attention.
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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