It's always hard to review a game that, at its core, is flawless in many ways. In contrast, Tetris Evolution brought a few things to the table that proved, well, less than perfect.
Tetris Evolution offers a series of different ways to play, including: Marathon, Ultra, Go Low, Eraser, Score, Cascade, and Hotline. Each features a different scoring formula, or puts you against the clock to complete certain goals. This sort of variation was pretty refreshing, but as a fairly traditional Tetris player, I didn't see myself really exploring or finding that much enjoyment in the alternative modes. However, that sort of flexibility allowed for developing different strategies within the game.
One thing that I believe the game got praised for, but I strongly disagree with, is the number of customization the game has to offer. There are a series of different backgrounds (including animated ones), skins and music choices you can change to fit your own personality. On the down side, at times they became really distracting or were a strain on the eyes. Especially for the elite Tetris player, (not to say I am one,) seeing animations of bright colors only make the game more difficult - and not in the good "challenge" sort of way. Though you could always default to a skin and background that is more subtle, I felt like the other options served no purpose other than to bulk up the size of the game. I mean, does Tetris really need all the room an HD-disc has to offer?
Another thing that the game is lacking on, at no fault of it's own, is it's online play. It's rare (if ever) that you'll find someone else playing on Live, and the chances are slim to none that you'll find that the opponent is matched at your skill level. This proves frustrating as well, especially seeing as a couple achievements are based on that online play.
There were a few strengths within the game, other than it just being Tetris. The local multiplayer (it supports up to 4) proves to be a great party addition, as the gameplay runs smoothly. The soundtrack selections are pretty nice as well - they offer something new, and some of the loop tracks are actually sort of catchy.
The achievements are definitely challenging - but in all fairness, they should be. Thankfully, they are far from unattainable if you're willing to put in the time to learning the science within the gameplay. Through mastering T-spins, Tetris line-clears, and understanding the different game modes, it can be done. Don't get too ahead of yourself, though - even as the Tetris guru you might consider yourself, they can take a few days of gameplay to pound out.
Seeing as you can find Tetris Evolution in a lot of bargain bins, the game can pay out pretty well. However, if asked if I would purchase the game at $30, I'd definitely pass. The game doesn't offer as much as I was hoping, and for a fraction of that price you can resort to Arcade alternatives like "Tetris Splash".
3.0