Digital Eclipse Highlight: Tetris Forever (Danny’s thoughts and memories)

Since it’s creation in the 1980s to now, Tetris is one of those few video games that has transcended beyond just being a simple game that was played on a computer. Nowadays there aren’t too many people that don’t know what Tetris is, let alone understand how to play it. And that right there is the appeal of Tetris – the learning curve is very easy to where you don’t have to be a gamer to figure the gameplay out, but once you do you may find yourself wanting to play it again, and again.

So how exactly do you play Tetris? Well, there’s blocks called Tetrominoes that fall down onto the bottom of the screen, and you have to line them up horizontally to clear them. The more lines you clear, the higher your score gets. Now as you go things will get more difficult as the descending speed of the blocks increase, thus keeping you on your toes.

When I first got a chance to play this on my cousin’s NES way back when I didn’t have the slightest idea of what i was doing, let alone what the game was about, so I was stumped. But even then, Tetris still left an impression on me. And when I got to play the Game Boy version of it years later on an old Game Boy station at a WalMart that’s when I began to figure it out, though I still remember having to stand on my toes just to see the game on the display.

With this compilation you get the Tetris experience and more. Along with some many notable versions you also get to play the original Electronika 60 version that Pajitnov had created, along with the first PC version.

(For me I’ve had a chance to play both the Electronika version and the Famicom version as of this post, with the latter being the most notable. Though the control scheme does take a little getting used to.)

Not only that but as is the case with Digital Eclipse, the compilation is chock full of incredible behind-the-scenes featurettes/tidbits that give Arcaders a chance to learn just a bit more about the history of this game, and from the people themselves, notably Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers.

In all, this is a classic that that is worth adding to your library. If you have ever heard of Tetris in some way, shape or form or even had the opportunity to play it, then you will instantly see why this game is as addicting as it is. Is it just the sheer simplicity of it that strikes a chord even with those who aren’t Arcaders/Gamers? Or just that desire to want to just complete one more line or set of lines? Maybe it’s one or the other, or maybe all of the above. Whatever the case may be, Pajitnov created something that is beyond a simple game, and one the world has embraced. And even decades later is still a fun title with all the many versions out there.

So if you’re still curious, I say go check this compilation out. While the digital version is currently the only way to enjoy these games, there is no doubt physical copies will be made at some point later on.

But however you choose to play Tetris, take to heart these words from the two who were there in the thick of the battle for the rights: