Tetris DS
Developer	Nintendo SPD Group No.2
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform	Nintendo DS
Release dates	March 20, 2006[1] April 18, 2006[2] April 21, 2006[3] April 27, 2006[4] April 27, 2006[5] July 7, 2007[6]
Languages	English Japanese French (Europe) German Italian Korean Spanish (Europe)
Genre	Puzzle
Ratings	ESRB: - Everyone[?] CERO: - All ages[?] PEGI: - Three years and older[?] USK: - All ages[?] GRAC: - All ages[?] ACB: - General[?]
Modes	Single-player 2-10 local multiplayer 2-4 Wi-Fi
Format	Nintendo DS: Game Card
Input	Nintendo DS: Gamepad
Serial codes	NTR-ATRE-USA NTR-ATRJ-JPN NTR-ATRP-EUR NTR-ATRE-AUS NTR-ATRK-KOR

“Do you Tetris with others?”

—Tetris DS tagline

Tetris DS is a puzzle game for theNintendo DS released in 2006. Though it is a standardTetris game,Tetris DS was both developed and published byNintendo, who capitalized on some of their games and franchises, includingSuper Mario, as the backdrops and inspiration for theTetris action.

Gameplay[edit]

Each mode references a particular game in Nintendo's history. Backgrounds have been updated.

The uniting theme behind anyTetris title is to arrange Tetriminos, shapes made of four colored blocks, into horizontal lines in a 10 block wide well. When a row of the well is filled with blocks, regardless of color, the row will disappear and a player’s score will increase. Bonus points are awarded for clearing more than one row at once. Clearing four lines is called a "Tetris," and is worth the most points. However, as soon as one mass of blocks is laid, another begins to fall. If the blocks ever overflow out of the arena, the player fails. Unlike most other puzzlers, such asPuzzle League, the blocks do not always come in the same arrangement. Instead, there are seven different block patterns. They may be rotated as a group, even when first landing on other blocks or the floor, but their form will not change. Also, players may speed up the game by warping blocks to the floor in certain modes instead of waiting for them to fall. Markers at the floor show where they will land. It is also possible to "hold" a Tetrimino until it is needed later.

Tetris DS sets itself apart through its wide variety of modes. Each mode keeps the same basic rules intact, but is very liberal with them. Also, up to ten people can play against each other at once with local multiplayer. The main draw of the game is the utilization of theNintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which allows for multiplayer games for two to four players.

This title is truly a compilation of six game play modes: Standard, Push, Touch, Puzzle, Mission, and Catch. Each mode is themed after a particular famous Nintendo title and utilizes its own goals and rules. However, all revolve around the original Tetriminos concept. Only the Standard, Push, and Puzzle featureSuper Mario themes; Touch mode is themed afterBalloon Fight, Mission mode is themed afterThe Legend of Zelda, and Catch mode is themed afterMetroid.

Modes withSuper Mario content[edit]

Standard[edit]

In multiplayer mode, the top screen shows opponents' play fields.

• Play Modes: Single player, local multiplayer, Wi-Fi
• Theme:Super Mario Bros.,Super Mario Bros. 3,The Legend of Zelda,Metroid,Donkey Kong,Balloon Fight,Ice Climber,Excitebike,Devil World,Urban Champion,Duck Hunt,Tetris

Standard mode is a version of the basicTetris game; it has no new twists or new rules in single-player mode compared to other games based on the Tetris Guideline. However, it does keep the ability to rotate blocks after they have landed, which was introduced inTetris Worlds. This concept is relatively new to the series, but it was altered for this version, and a time limit in multiplayer mode adds back some of the challenge that it took away when the infinite spin concept was first introduced.

Each time ten lines are cleared, the theme of the level changes and difficulty increases. Slightly modernized game footage from one of Nintendo's classic games encased in what appears to be a television can always be seen on the top screen while a sprite from the same game sits to the right of the play field on the touch screen. The background songs are remixes of classic songs from the featured game. However, the meters and play field are never altered. In multiplayer mode, the top screen is dedicated to the opponents' play fields.

In multiplayer mode, clearing multiple lines will dump more blocks onto the player with the target mark on their play field on the top screen. An additional offensive element comes in the form of items. The game gives players the choice to play traditionalTetris or to play with items inspired bySuper Mario Bros. and theMario Kart series.

Marathon levels[edit]

These are the Marathon levels withSuper Mario content.

Multiplayer items[edit]

Items appear only in multiplayer mode and are earned by clearing special? Blocks that appear within a Tetrimino. All of them are from theSuper Mario franchise

• Mushroom: While traditionally a beneficial item, when used on an opponent in this game it speeds up the descent of the Tetriminos.
• Boo: The player's opponents will not be able to see the upcoming blocks, destroying their foresight.
• Banana: This item flips the playing field horizontally. While at first this appears relatively useless, the formations of blocks coming from the ceiling do not change, meaning that it is most effective against people who have played the classic game before.
• Lightning: The affected players cannot rotate their Tetriminos for a set period of time.
• Red Shell: Usually an offensive item, in this game the Red Shell is defensive. Two rows will be cleared from the user's play field.
• Super Star: The user becomes invincible to their opponents' attacks. Additionally, the user receives only the straightI Tetriminos.

Push[edit]

Push mode can be compared to a tug-of-war. However, players push instead of pull.

• Play Modes: Single player, local multiplayer, Wi-Fi
• Theme:Donkey Kong

Push Mode was designed for players who wanted a more competitive way to play than just comparing scores. Players are virtually seated across from each other, with a pile of blocks in the center. The Tetriminos are like missiles in this mode, and can be sent by the player just as quickly as they can play the game. If one clears a row, the mass moves toward their opponent, decreasing the opponent’s play area and increasing the player's. The player who pushes the pile all the way out of the screen towards their opponent wins.

The mode is decorated by aDonkey Kong-inspired environment.Pauline andDonkey Kong can be seen at the very top of the screen when it scrolls, andMario walks around the girders on the top screen, dodgingbarrels and using theladders. Mario'sHammer and Pauline'sParasol are located to the left of the playing field. Also, as ones play field grows smaller, fire erupts from theoil drum at the bottom of the screen. In the original game, barrels burned up when they hit this fire. The classicDonkey Kong beeps play in the background. It speeds up as the blocks near one of the edges. The mode also features sprites from theClassic NES Series version ofDonkey Kong.

Puzzle[edit]

Puzzle mode is one of many single-player options.

• Play Modes: Single player
• Theme:Yoshi's Cookie

Puzzle mode presents players with the challenge of clearing all of the blocks already on their screen using only the blocks in their inventory. To succeed players need to think ahead and know how the puzzle will change based on each possible outcome. The Tetriminos can be rotated in any direction before being dropped, but once a location is selected, players cannot manipulate them. However, there is no time limit, so players may think for as long as they need.

This mode takes place in Mario's bakery fromYoshi's Cookie, more specifically, the NES version of the game, as Mario is in his chef outfit. However, instead ofYoshi Cookies in the oven, there are Tetriminos. Mario sits to the right operating the machine whileBaby Yoshis hold a sign showing the puzzle's level number. The touch screen's background is decorated with the promotional artwork from the game featuringYoshi in a pile of cookies, which shows a winking Yoshi when the puzzle is cleared.

Music[edit]

Music is a feature located in the Options menu where the player can listen to "records" of songs heard throughoutTetris DS, most of which are arrangements of music from the represented Nintendo games. The following table lists theSuper Mario-themed songs:

Other cameos[edit]

The title screen features characters interacting with Tetriminos.

Several other cameos that are not part of the main game play are also included in the game.

Title screen[edit]

Many of the game's featured characters appear in the top screen if players wait at the title screen. The followingSuper Mario cameos are in order of appearance.

• Donkey Kong: Donkey Kong and Mario appear on screen, where the blocks are used as barrels. Donkey Kong throws them at him, who smashes them with thehammer. Occasionally, Donkey Kong Jr. will climb down the right side of the screen, distracting the plumber for long enough to get hit.
• Super Mario Bros.: Mario jumps on a block as if it were a Goomba, then uses one as a floating? Block containing ten coins.
• Yoshi's Cookie: Tetriminos roll towards Yoshi, who simply eats them.
• Mario Bros.: Mario and Luigi chase each other until Luigi hits a floating Tetrimino that acts as aPOW Block. More specifically, this refers to the Famicom start-up screen, in which Mario and Luigi chased each other around while hitting the button to change the color scheme.

Menus[edit]

With few exceptions, Professor Hector fromGyromite can be seen in the top screen during the menu, as well as the stage fromMario Bros. On the touch screen, the opening for the Famicom Disk System is the background.

Records[edit]

The Records menu displays a sprite of a character from an NES game on the top screen, which changes every time the player gains 1000 points (this does not apply after the player earns more than 10000 points). To earn points, the player must set a high score or complete anything they have not done before in different modes ofTetris DS.

Below is a list of the top screen sprites from theSuper Mario franchise:

• 0-999 Tetris Points:Mario fromSuper Mario Bros.
• 1000-1999 Tetris Points: AMushroom fromSuper Mario Bros.
• 2000-2999 Tetris Points: ABlooper fromSuper Mario Bros.
• 6000-6999 Tetris Points:Yoshi fromYoshi's Cookie
• 8000-8999 Tetris Points:Bowser fromSuper Mario Bros.
• 9000-9999 Tetris Points:Raccoon Mario fromSuper Mario Bros. 3
• 10000+ Tetris Points:Frog Mario fromSuper Mario Bros. 3

Development[edit]

In late 2004,THQ andTOSE Software Co. announcedTetris DS before E3 2005 and scheduled it to make an appearance at the show and be released in March 2005. However,The Tetris Company decided to cancel the game,^[7] leading to THQ filing a legal complaint against the company alleging a breach of its license agreement,^[8] and Nintendo announced their own make ofTetris DS on January 10, 2006.^[9] Following its original release, THQ later settled the dispute on June 9, 2006.

Staff[edit]

Main article:List of Tetris DS staff

Gallery[edit]

Logo and box arts[edit]

• 

  The game's logo

• 

  UK box art

• 

  French and Dutch box art

• 

  Italian box art

• 

  German box art

• 

  Japanese box art

• 

  Korean box art

Character artwork[edit]

• 

  Bowser

• 

  Koopa Troopa

• 

  Lakitu

• 

  Super Mushroom

• 

  Donkey Kong

• 

  Pauline

• 

  Frog Mario

• 

  Goomba

• 

  (Small)Mario

• 

  Luigi

• 

  Raccoon Mario

• 

  Tanooki Mario

• 

  Yoshi

Screenshots[edit]

Multimedia[edit]

It has been requested thatmore audio and/or video files related to this section beuploaded.Specifics:Super Mario-related media Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See thehelp page for help getting started.

Mario Tetris

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Total Yoshi

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DK Push

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Mario, Link, and Yoshi

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Basement Tetris

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Mario Tetris 3

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Bowser Battle

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Tetris DK

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CongraTetris

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CongraTetris -Super Mario Bros. Ground Theme

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CongraTetris - Starman

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Starman

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Help:Media file •Having trouble playing?

Names in other languages[edit]

Notes[edit]

• The Nintendo DSversion ofMario & Sonic at the Olympic Games features the Mario Puzzle Mix and Bowser Battle songs from this game as selectable songs in the Gallery.
• The puzzle mode received an online demo throughNintendo Arcade calledTetris DS Puzzle Mode.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Tetris DS coverage on otherNIWA wikis:

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Hard Drop Tetris Wiki

Metroid Wiki

StrategyWiki

The Cutting Room Floor has an article onTetris DS.

Wikipedia has an article onTetris DS.

• Official North American website (Wayback Machine)
• Official Japanese website
• Official Korean website
• GameKult.com—Tetris DS
• IGN DS—Tetris DS Gamespace
• Nintendo Database—Tetris DS
• Infinite spin rule on Hard Drop Tetris Wiki
• Tetrimino on Hard Drop Tetris Wiki

• Tetris series
• Games
• Puzzle games
• Nintendo DS games
• 2006 games
• 2007 games
• Games with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

• Articles with unsourced ratings
• Articles with sections that need more media
• Pages with audio files