There have been loads of takes on classic Tetris over the years, with some excellent results recently in the form of Tetris 99 and Tetris Effect.
Developed by H20 Entertainment for the N64, Tetrisphere launched in 1997 and met with solid reviews. Let’s see if this spherical beast holds up!
Tetrisphere, Spheres, and Incremental Line Completion Glory
H20 is now defunct, but was based out in Calgary, Alberta in Canada. Tetrisphere was intended for the failed Atari Jaguar console.
Initially called Phear, it was on display at the 1995 CES (Consumer Electronics Show). Thankfully, there’s a video of the Jaguar demo.
After seeing this in action, Nintendo secured the rights to the game (as it did with classic Tetris for the Game Boy). That also brought H20 directly to Nintendo, with the developer working exclusively for the Japanese gaming giant.
Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov was able to contribute to Tetrisphere before its launch, even though he was working for Microsoft at the time.
Featuring a techno soundtrack by Neil Voss and complex, fast-paced gameplay, it was a considerable advance over 1995’s 3D Tetris that launched on Nintendo’s Virtual Boy.
Playing out in a 32×32 square grid, and with over 300 levels to work through, the goal of the game is to work across the grid and clear away the blocks.
To do this, the player shifts them around so the same shaped pieces are touching, which causes them to disappear.
The goal of the title is to uncover enough areas, or expose the sphere’s core, which completes a level for you.
Graphically it looks a bit like Wetrix (1998), which was another invention N64 puzzle game (but with more water).
To mark it out from previous Tetris games, Tetrisphere includes six playing styles:
- Rescue (uncover the sphere’s core)
- Hide and seek (core uncovering variations)
- Puzzle (100 puzzles to solve)
- Time trial (race against the clock)
- VS computer opponent (multiplayer action)
- Lines (lining up pieces in sequence)
The game got its European release in February 1998 and we remember reading its review in our beloved N64 Magazine. However, we never did buy or rent it.
Instead, we gave it a go recently on an online emulator and enjoyed it.
We’re massive Tetris buffs and think Pajitnov’s game has unholy levels of puzzle game perfection—a timeless masterpiece and a genius creation.
H20’s variation met with strong contemporary reviews, ranging around the 8/10 mark. GameSpot even gave it 9.5/10, although the legendary Edge Magazine provided 6/10.
Tetrisphere’s revolutionary approach to puzzle gameplay was celebrated, with its looks, soundtrack, and long-term replay value praised. As was its addictive quality (Tetris is oh-so addictive).
The game only ever launched on the N64 and shifted 430,000 units by march 31st 1998, but was certainly dwarfed by the N64’s big hitting games.
And we feel it’s since slipped into a bit of obscurity. An interesting coda in the history of the Tetris series… but we guess that’s the way it stacks up sometimes.
