Game:

Tetris Party (2008)

Duration: 8:57

1,693 views

4

Hot Lines is something of an odd name if you ask me, but the goal is pretty straightforward. You are charged with the task of clearing the specific lines indicated on the matrix before any of your opponents can.

It actually feels rather similar to how Dr. Mario gained a Flash mode, because the goal in either game remains the same as always, clearing viruses or lines on the play field, except it's more about being the first to make very specific clears.

I really like modes like these, because they promote a slightly different mindest than you might normally use when playing the game and the sorts of "reckless" moves you wouldn't make normally become valid and rewarding tactics...like say specifically trying to build up your matrix with lots of holes so you can clear lines higher up rather than the absolute lowest you can get.

Incidentally, you'll notice that there are powerups at work in this mode, some of which might prove more useful than others.

I really wanted to crush the Tetris Climber (using the powerup bearing his likeness will place one on each of your opponents' matrices), because instead of a Game Over, you receive a Tetris-worth of blocks added to your field, which would actually save you the trouble of having to build tetrimino towers up higher to clear the Hot Lines.

Most of the powerups are rather straightforward, and some of them are controlled by pointing the remote at the screen.

Any lines that end up cleared as the direct result of a powerup's influence will not count as an actual clear, they just disintegrate and don't count to the player's advantage. This is especially useful in Hot Lines if you want to sabotage somebody's attempt to reach one.

Other Statistics