Tetris by Nintendo Author: DJ Tigresa and MC Pantera Email: djtigresa@classicgaming.com, mcpantera@classicgaming.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh goody a handheld system we can take with us to play games on the go. The name of this system is called a Gameboy and with it comes a puzzle game called Tetris which is designed by Alexey Pazhitnov in Russia. This is based on the NES version of the game but has some differences ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authors' Note ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Walkthrough is the sole property of Chiguretha "Tigresa" Steel and Pansela" Pantera (aka Ice and Ember Queen X). It can be distributed via Usenet with proper credit given. Copyright 1989 This walkthrough is also part of a dual pack that we coupled with Tetris for the Nintendo Entertainment System. In a way, both games are the same but there are a few differences between the two besides the fact that the NES is in color and the Gameboy is in some sort of green monochrome. You also get to have a 2-player mode just like the Tengen version which is no longer on sale. DRAT! Damn Nintendo and they lawsuits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Story/Objective ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well there isn't really a story to this game. The basic object of this game is to rotate and guide each of the falling pieces into an area so you can fill a whole row with pieces of the blocks to make at least one line. You are merely playing for lines to advance through levels as well as for points. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Controls ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Start - starts game/pause/unpause Select - Turn off preview of next block A - Select option, rotate clockwise B - Go back, rotate counterclockwise D-pad - highlight options Left - move pieces left Right - Move pieces right Down - Drop pieces faster ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Options ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are few options. First choose between two modes of play (Mode A and Mode B). Then you choose between three tunes of play or without music. Afterwards, you choose which level of difficulty to start with between level 0 to 9 and if you chose Mode B you choose the height of loose pieces. This version of Tetris contains a 2-player mode where with a connection cord, player 1 controls Mario and Player 2 controls Luigi and they go one on one in the best five out of nine series. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Modes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mode A - You are playing til you play no more. The game only ends when the blocks reach the top of the screen. The longer you last, the faster the blocks will fall down as you level up. Mode B - The objective here is to clear 25 lines by any means neccesary. You chose the level of difficulty and the height of handicap. If the blocks reach the top, you lose but if you clear 25 lines, you win. The score is tallied by the number of Tetrises, Triples, Doubles, and Singles you got. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is no specific way to keep score since the score is randomized each time you land a piece or make a line. There are four sets of lines to make: Single (clearing one line) Double (clearing two lines) Triple (clearing three lines) Tetris (clearing four lines) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pieces ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are 7 pieces that fall which you guide into place. Four Bar --- | | --- | | --- | | --- | | --- Four Square --- --- | | | --- --- | | | --- --- T-Block --- --- --- | | | | --- --- --- | | --- L-Block and L-Block Reverse (J-Block) --- | | --- | | --- --- | | | --- --- --- | | --- | | --- --- | | | --- --- Z-Block and Z-Block Reverse (S-Block) --- --- | | | --- --- --- | | | --- --- --- --- | | | --- --- --- | | | --- --- These blocks are referred to as Tetrads because each piece consists of four mini-squares. Here is an explanations of the pros and cons of what the pieces do. Z-Block and Z-Block Reverse (S-Block) Pros: They can fill in corners with pockets when turned sideways and leave an extra space for other pieces to fill. Cons: The block might be opposite of the piece you needed. Especially for the left side for S-Blocks and right side for Z-Blocks +++++ L-Block and L-Block Reverse (J-Block) Pros: They can make triples, can adjust to the situation, can cover corners better than Z-Blocks and S-Blocks Cons: Can come out when the opposite piece is needed, bulky +++++ T-Block Pros: can fit in every pocket, rotates easily in tight spaces Cons: Can't dig in deep like the L-Block, J-Block, and Four Bar can. +++++ Four Square Pros: Can make doubles without much vertical space Cons: Can't be rotated, often comes out while there is not enough space +++++ Four Bar Pros: only piece that can make a Tetris Cons: often too wide for horizontal placement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gameplay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When you choose a level of starting difficulty in Mode A, clearing ten lines more than 10x the starting level will increase the level of difficulty and advance each level for every ten lines thereafter. Ex: Start on level 0, you advance to level one after ten lines then level two after twenty lines and so forth If you make it to level 8 or 9 then when you lose the game, you get a scene of the rocket blasting off afterwards. The higher the level the bigger the rocket. If mode B, if you complete level 9, you'll get a special scene of an orchestra. The higher the level the bigger the orchestra and a rocket blasting off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two player mode ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You use a link cable to face off against one another. There is however a twist to the game. For each double or more lines you complete, a bunch of "junk" gets added to the opponents side of the field and adds to their peril. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Closing Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for taking the time to get on the Usenet and read this wonderful guide. Be sure to read our NES version of the guide as well. Chiguretha and Pansela Steel 1989