No Puzzle Here: Tetris DS Rocks!

If you haven't bought Tetris DS yet, I have an idea of what you might be thinking...

Do we really need another Tetris game?

Well, I'm going to do my best to convince you that the answer to that question is an unmistakable YES. Here are the reasons why:

New Gameplay Modes: While there's (obviously) the original form of Tetris waiting to be played, that's far from the only mode of play that Tetris DS has to offer. For traditionalists who are looking for a minor twist to the standard game, travel with Link to Hyrule for the Mission Mode-- where you must perform certain tasks before Link's hearts run out or the blocks reach the top of the screen. For players looking for a competitive challenge, try joining Donkey Kong in Push Mode... where the objective is to push the blocks all the way up (or down) into your opponent's Danger Zone. For a more drastic change, there's Catch Mode, in which players must fill a block with blocks and try to clear cubes of at least four blocks by four blocks. Lastly, there's the Touch Mode, in which players use the stylus to drag down Tetronimos in order to clear lines and create chains.

Still not satisfied? Hmmm... How about...

Wi-Fi Multiplayer: Yes, Tetris DS takes advantage of the Nintendo DS' Wi-Fi capabilities. So, if you happen to be dining at a McDonald's with a Wi-Fi Hot Spot, you could take some time and play against opponents from around the world... for free! You can battle one-on-one, in a four-way battle with power-ups, lock up in the aforementioned Push Mode against an opponent that you cannot see. This option alone almost infinitely extends the replay value of the game, if the single-player modes become stale.

OK... you're still shaking your head. You're quite the tough cookie. Here's another reason that Tetris DS impressed me:

Nintendo NEStalgia: Yes, Nintendo capitalized on its popular franchises to highlight the game. From Mario to Samus Aran to Link and beyond, longtime Nintendo fans will appreciate the nods to the NES era. Each mode has its own Nintendo theme, in fact. When playing standard Tetris, you'll hear a remix of themes from the Super Mario Bros. series... plus, if you look at the top screen, you can see Mario making his way through various areas of the Mushroom Kingdom. That's only one example.

This is, perhaps, the best version of Tetris to date. The new modes only add to the concept of the original game, without being outrageous departures from it. The multiplayer and Wi-Fi modes add replay value once you think you've capped your ability playing single-player. Add on some Nintendo fan service by way of popular Nintendo franchises, and, well... you have yourself a winner.

See? I told you that I'd convince you. Much like the original Game Boy came with a good version of Tetris in its own right back in 1989, No Nintendo DS owner should be without his or her own copy of Tetris DS. Sure, the game doesn't come with the system, like it did in 1989, but it's a must-own.

Now get going, before the store closes!