2001 video game
Tetris Worlds is a version of the video game "Tetris". Originally released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance, it was later released for Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 in 2002. In 2003, an Xbox Live version titled "Tetris Worlds Online" and a single-disc compilation version (bundled alongside "") were released for the Xbox. The latter was bundled with Xbox systems.
The platform-specific versions of "Tetris Worlds" were developed by three different companies. Blue Planet Software developed the PC and PlayStation 2 versions, Radical Entertainment developed the GameCube and Xbox versions, and 3d6 Games developed the Game Boy Advance version. All versions were published by THQ under license from The Tetris Company. "Tetris Worlds" was THQ's first "Tetris" game. The company later published "Tetris Advance" also for the Game Boy Advance, "Tetris Elements" for Windows and Mac OS X, and "Tetris Evolution" for the Xbox 360. Every version except for Game Boy Advance features a distinctly whispering female voice (Kimberly Unger, credited as eKim) as the announcer. The game has been translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese.
Gameplay.
Gameplay consists of normal "Tetris" games. However, there are several game modes, tweaking the way the game works.
Story mode.
The goal is to evacuate the homeworld of the Minos before their solar system's sun Hadar goes supernova.
The player can send their Mino Tetrinaut to six different worlds, then play the Tetris variant of that world. When the player plays enough of that world, more Minos are rescued. The better the player does, the more Minos rescued. They will then work to create the world into a home for Minos.
Arcade mode.
This mode is where the player plays two-minute "Tetris" games of any variant. This is also where multiplayer games are played. The Arcade mode variants are listed as follows:
Reception.
The Game Boy Advance and Xbox versions received "mixed" reviews, while the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, where the GBA version was ported and published by Success on April 26, 2002, followed by the Xbox version on November 14, and the GameCube version on December 20, "Famitsu" gave it a score of one six, one four, and two sixes for a total of 22 out of 40 for the GBA version, and 24 out of 40 for the Xbox version. "Tetris Worlds"' Game Boy Advance version was a runner-up for "GameSpot"'s annual "Worst Game" award among console games, which went to "Kabuki Warriors".
In the PS2, PC, and GBA versions, gameplay contained one major difference from a normal Tetris game. In classic Tetris, when a Tetrimino touches the bottom of the screen, it locks in place. However, in these versions, Tetriminos do not lock until players make them lock (e.g., by using Hard Drop to lock them immediately), allowing players to rotate and move the pieces indefinitely until they are satisfied. Critics said that this made the game too easy (although the countdown clock still runs while the player is using unlimited move and rotate) and "GameSpot" said that it "broke Tetris". However, the GBA version features a hidden version of classic Tetris (titled "Popular" Tetris) that plays without this feature. It is accessed by holding the L button and pressing select on the "Marathon" game select menu. However, since it is not part of the "Default" presentation, many reviews did not factor in this mode.
In the GameCube and Xbox versions, the "Easy Spin" feature was made optional. However, they still received mostly mixed reviews.
In the United States, "Tetris Worlds"' Game Boy Advance version sold 960,000 copies and earned $26 million by August 2006. During the period between January 2000 and August 2006, it was the 20th highest-selling game launched for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS or PlayStation Portable in that country.
By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version of "Tetris Worlds" had sold 850,000 copies and earned $18 million in the United States. "Next Generation" ranked it as the 71st highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country.
References.
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