Test – Tetris Forever: the ode to a video game classic

After delivering a wonderful tribute to Atari’s past, the Digital Eclipse studio gives us an ode to Tetris with Tetris Forever, a compilation of Tetris games mixed with multiple interviews, period documents and reports.

Does Tetris still have its place in the world of video games in 2024? Despite a timeless concept, it must be admitted that Tetris has had great difficulty in renewing itself and especially in converting younger generations. Some initiatives have certainly had a small success, such as the excellent Tetris Effect Connected, which received critical acclaim. But overall, Tetris doesn’t sell as much as it once did. That didn’t stop the Digital Eclipse studio from coming up with a funny compilation that tells us the story of the game which is perhaps the one that has had the most impact on the history of video games…

The game is entitled to a very addictive multiplayer mode, through the eras.

For its fortieth anniversary, Tetris is therefore offering a compilation based on the “Atari: the 50 anniversary collection” model, a compilation which brought together more than 50 video game “classics” produced by Atari and brilliantly retraced the history of the publisher from its birth to its collapse. Concretely, we therefore find a compilation of several period games, no less than 15 in all, including the original episode released in 1984 on the Elektronika 60. So obviously quite a few of these titles have aged and are not not necessarily captivating to play in 2024, but that is not the question since ultimately this compilation serves more as an interactive museum. We nevertheless find a few little nuggets in the selection like the very nice Tetris Battle Gaiden, a relatively unknown multiplayer episode yet so fun with friends, or the crazy Super Bombliss which blows everything up with bombs. Better yet, Digital Eclipse had the excellent idea of developing a new game that can also be played with several people which will take you on a journey through time between the different versions of Tetris. Really well thought out and above all very fun! Be careful though, several of the games offered are simple variations. You should not expect to be able to play a “recent” opus or episodes developed by Sega and Nintendo, the two giants having refused to integrate their versions of Tetris into this compilation for obvious copyright reasons. However, let it be said, it was with the game released on Gameboy that most players had their first contact with the franchise… The absence of these versions will certainly make fans cringe…

Some episodes have aged very poorly.

But the real interest of this compilation is above all the wonderful journey through time offered by its timeline, which allows you to discover the history of Tetris through period documents, photos, reports and exclusive interviews. The work carried out is simply titanic and for Tetris enthusiasts, Tetris Forever represents a veritable gold mine of information.

However, will an average player find what he is looking for? It must be admitted that at €33.99 the bill remains steep for an interactive documentary which does not include the most popular versions of the game but which nevertheless brilliantly retraces the history of Tetris. Especially since all the funny things, like the 3D episodes which saw the light of day on Nintendo 64, or the more recent opuses released on PS2, Xbox 360 or the latest generation of machines, are absent for subscribers. We understand why, and yes it would probably have been impossible to integrate everything for Digital Eclipse, but it gives a terrible feeling of unfinished business. Fans will understand and will certainly be able to grasp the interest of this compilation which nonetheless remains essential for Tetris fans since it has done a fantastic job of concentrating information and safeguarding the story.

In terms of presentation, the studio produced a flawless presentation with a clear timeline, pleasant to explore and filled with captivating anecdotes.

Our biggest regret in the end concerns the game’s trophies and achievements, which are too easy to obtain and focused on only two games. Adding a little challenge for the fans would undoubtedly have extended the lifespan of the title…

Conclusion

Tetris Forever is a wonderful tribute to the game that will undoubtedly have had the most impact on the history of video games. Digital Eclipse brings us an interactive museum, filled with vintage photos, captivating interviews and very interesting reports that retrace the history of Tetris through the ages. On the games side however, if the compilation includes 15 titles, there are several reissues and above all the most notable games are absent… No Gameboy episode or previous versions of the title. Fans will inevitably be disappointed. However, as we suspected, it was impossible for the studio to deliver a game integrating all the released versions… At €33.99 the bill remains steep for what remains an excellent compilation and a fantastic work of narration.

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