Tetris is one of the most popular puzzle games in the world. It probably doesn’t need much of an introduction, but I’ll give it one anyway. You match up different descending shapes to fill a line. In filling up a line you cause it to disappear. You’ll want to keep doing this to avoid filling up the game area because, if you do that, you’ll reach a game over.
Puyo Puyo is less popular, but still a known quantity in the puzzle game world. In it you have two blobs drop at a time, with the goal being to match up four of the same colour and make sure you don’t fill the game area. It’s been over ten years since a game in the franchise released in the West and that brings us to the title at hand. Puyo Puyo Tetris combines the worlds of Tetris and Puyo Puyo in a way that fits surprisingly well.
Although you can play with just yourself against no opponents, the most fun from the game comes from challenging others, whether they be AI based or not. If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t have people over often and likes being humiliated by strangers there’s even an online option. When playing against others you’ll find yourself with the option to play in various modes.
The mode variety isn’t the only thing that will help make it accessible to others though. You also have the option to play Tetris or Puyo Puyo even if your opponent is playing the opposite. It’s a nice touch which means fans of one game don’t have to compromise because someone wants to play another. Up to four players can play at once and the matches can lead to some frantic back and forth that will have many a swear word said.
Your goal to win may be made slightly harder or easier depending on how you play the game. In Tetris clearing multiple lines will place lines underneath your opponent, pushing them ever closer to the top. In Puyo Puyo getting a chain of pops will result in unpoppable blobs landing on top of you. There’s ways to clear both of these issues but they provide a hindrance that can turn a game on its head in seconds. It’s once you hit the point of effectively utilising these tactics that the game really starts to click together.
It can be overwhelming seeing everything on offer, and the game tries to make it as easy to digest as possible. There are videos to watch that help explain the rules but there’s also an Adventure mode. The Adventure mode throws a ridiculous story at you to set up the numerous Tetris and Puyo Puyo battles that is fairly well voiced for what it is. It won’t win any awards but it doesn’t take itself too seriously which is a positive. The steady progression of the Adventure mode also helps you train up in specific ways of playing. Once you’re confident enough to take a step in to the other game modes you should hopefully be much better prepared.
Versus is your standard outlast your opponent battle. Party mode throws power ups in to the mix which can make things far more frantic as you rush for the high score. Swap mode has the players switching between Puyo Puyo and Tetris at timed intervals and trying your best not to fill either of the game areas, which are kept separate. If you fancy making things even more confusing there’s Fusion mode which makes you play Tetris and Puyo Puyo on the same board. Big Bang mode wraps up the multiplayer game modes, in which you have to complete pre-arranged waves as quickly as possible.
There’s plenty on offer in Puyo Puyo Tetris and it looks great whilst showing it all off. It’s definitely a more fun experience with friends but there’s still an addictive quality to it in single player. Even when things are getting hectic on the screen the game doesn’t stammer and the explosion of colour and sound creates an experience that’ll make you smile. It’s not just a great modern upgrade of one puzzle game, but two. It may be the kind of thing that looks crazy on paper but somehow Sonic Team have made it work.