The iconic game of stacking colorful bricks is back again, and this time, it is better than ever! Tetris Effect: Connected is a classic tile-matching puzzle game developed by Resonair and Monstars but published by Enhance Games. Tetris Effect: Connected was first released in November 2020 and is now available on PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Oculus Quest, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. There is an anticipated release for Nintendo Switch in October 2021.

  The Tetris Effect franchise welcomed Tetris Effect: Connected with several well-appreciated upgrades and improvements. Tetris Effect: Connected includes exciting never-played-before cooperative and local multiplayer modes alongside a competitive mode. The competitive mode is notably a nod to the first console versions of Tetris, which had a signature visual style with strict game rules to accompany it.

Tetris Effect: Connected proves that its creators have found a brilliant way to stick to the classic style while introducing an addictive and unique spin on it. It is a breathtaking and beautiful reimagination of what is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable and popular puzzle games in history!

Gameplay

As a long-time lover of the Tetris universe, I was very excited to give Tetris Effect: Connected a trial. Tetris Effect: Connected features the same old classic technique of stacking tetrominos. Players must place tetrominos into a designated playfield, making sure that they create complete lines.

The Tetromino shapes drop one by one from the top of the playing matrix at a specific speed. You can then guide the tetromino blocks by either moving them left or right or rotating them to position them perfectly. If you succeed at aligning the tetromino blocks to form a perfect complete line, the completed lines disappear and clear from the playfield, giving more room for coming blocks. 

Another addition I greatly appreciated with Tetris Effect: Connected was the music upgrade. The music certainly does something to get you into that focused state of mind with the timely tempo changes. As you experience the ups and downs of trying to stack your tetromino locks perfectly, you will discover that your moves also affect and change the soundscape. This subtle but clever inclusion makes you all the more engaged in the immersive nature of Tetris Effect: Connected. The switches between fast-paced electronic music and a more soothing series of sounds were a delightful touch to this Tetris upgrade. Tetris Effect: Connected players enjoy dozens of themes and music across the different stages of which the gameplay presented is synchronized to the beat and pace of the music.

Stack to Kill The Boredom

As the name of the game suggests, Tetris Effect: Connected was made with one sole purpose in the mind of its developers: to connect players across platforms and bring them closer. This all-new and exciting upgrade comes with a robust multiplayer expansion as a long-awaited companion to the already addictive single-player modes made available before its emergence. From the sleek design to the brilliant music, backgrounds, and special effects, lovers of classic Tetris would find it hard to find fault with Tetris Effect: Connected. You can choose to either play against one player or join hands with a pair of friends to form a team. With your team of three, you can play together to play against other players and teams in specific challenges and specific competitions called boss battles. You will find that these modes and the AI-controlled bosses are incredibly challenging. Even the easy mode could very well pass for a level in the hard mode! 

After enjoying many rounds of classic Tetris, Tetris Effect: Connected gives players a chance to adjust their Tetris experience to their preferences. With Tetris Effect: Connected, I got to experience the game as a more interconnected and alive environment thriving with people from all over. I enjoyed exploring new levels and new challenges as I took my time to explore active missions. Unlocking new and exciting cosmetic items was a cute and warmly welcomed side add-on that I occasionally allowed myself to get carried away with to get out of the intense obsession with beating records.

Enjoy The Connected Journey

As I shared earlier, Tetris Effect: Connected gives Tetris a new depth and dimension like never seen before. The cooperative maps are amusing in their way as fellow players show up as little sharks, making the player community feel even more lively. However, a dent I found in the cooperative efforts put into Tetris Effect: Connected was the inability to mix local and online players. 

The main competitive mode that Tetris Effect: Connected offers is the Zone Battle. This competitive model incorporates the classic one on one matches mechanism found in previous Tetris Effect versions. While the Zone Battle is immersive and addictive, I admit that it could have been even more epic. Tetris Effect: Connected underwent a significant cut out of the quirky but exciting modes and gameplay rules that would have made it even more of a hit.

The Zone Battle merges all three players’ grids in such a way that you have a three-way split screen madness spread right in front of you with a menacing Tetris boss waiting to counter your every move! For someone who spent many of their earlier years playing Tetris, they would easily agree that Tetris Effect: Connected is a heartwarming spin on the grandfather of all puzzle games!