The Next Tetris
Release Date: October 4, 1999
Platform: Windows PC and Sega Dreamcast
Buy: Amazon
One Player
One Player game is just you against the clock. You complete one round when all garbage on the bottom row is removed. If you complete 3 rounds within the 5-minut time limit, your rank goes up. The higher your rank, the more garbabge lines you get and the faster the pieces will fall. How many ranks you earn is based on the total time you spend clearing rounds. (Your initial start rank is 2.)
How many ranks you move up is based on the total time it takes you to clear 3 fields.
2:31-5:00 1 rank up
1:16-2:30 2 ranks up
Up to 1:15 3 ranks up
Two Player
In the two player game, players compete to clear the garbage at the bottom as quickly as possible. Depending on the time taken to clear the garbage, the indicator display changes. When one players wins three consecutive games, the rank goes up or down based on the indicator display.
- The green indicator appears when you win and it took you less than 2 minutes to clear the field.
- The yellow indicator appears when you win and either you took longer that 2 minutes to clear or your opponent's pieces hit the top of the playfield.
- The red indicator appears when you lose, either because your pieces hit the top of the playfield or because your opponent cleared all of his or her garbage.
Changing Your Rank
Your rank changes after you win three consecutive games:
- A majority of the three icons are green and total clear time is less that 1:30 = 3 ranks up
- A majority of the three icons are green and total clear time is between 1:31 and 3:00 = 2 ranks up
- A majority of the three icons are green and total clear time is 3:01 or over = 1 rank up
- Opponent wins three in a row and a majority of the three icons are yellow = 1 rank down
Distracting Your Opponent
You can distract your opponent by clearing multiple lines at once or with Cascades. The degree of confusion is based on how many lines you clear at once.
- Clearing 2 lines spins your opponent's playfield on its X-axis.
- Clearing 3 lines spins your opponent's playfield on its Y-axis.
- Clearing 4 lines spins your opponent's playfield on its Z-axis.
You can increase the effects with Cascades.
- 2-3 Cascades spin the opponent's playfield many times.
- 4 Cascades spin the opponent's playfield many times and darken the playfield.
- 5 Cascades spin the opponent's playfield many times, darken the playfield and all the pieces change into the same color (gold).
These effects will wear off after a while.
Marathon
In Marathin mode, you compete against the clock to clear the garbage at the bottom. When one round is cleared, the level goes up by one. Higher levels brings more garbage lines and faster falling pieces, up to a maximum of 15 levels. You will start at level 2.
Practice Mode
Practice mode presents a series of levels in which you have to clear the bottom row of garbage with a certain number of pieces. Choose the level you want to play from the menu.
"Target Steps" shows you how many pieces you should use to clear the garbage. "Steps" indicates how many pieces you have used so far. If you use more pieces than "Target Steps" specifies, you will continue to receive new pieces until you do clear the garbage.
Score Marathon
In Score Marathon mode, clear lines to score points. Every time 5 lines are cleared, the falling speed increases. When your pieces hit the top of the playfield, the game is over. There is no garbage or time limit in Score Marathon mode.
"Last Added" shows you the points earned from the last time you cleared lines.
Scoring
Score = (Number of lines you clear) X (Number of Cascades + 1)
Classic Tetris
Since the Classic Tetris mode is identical to the original version, this game mode has no Multiminos or Cascades.