It is no secret that Tetris has meant a lot to me in my life and that Tetris 99 helped me get through a very hard time for me back in July when my mom passed away. I had thought Tetris 99 was a game that we needed without knowing we did, however that mantle was quickly passed to Tetris Effect. This game is a therapeutic, chaotic, calming, and visually beautiful game. When you start up the game, they recommend playing the game with headphone or stereo speakers.
The first thing I noticed about the game is its beauty. Each level has its own distinct background that evolves as you clear lines, as well as its own unique tetrimino design. The backgrounds move and flow in unique ways from dolphins jumping out of the water to Native Americans riding on horseback to even traversing the moon while overlooking the Earth.
The music and sound effects is the next big thing I noticed. The beat starts off slow, but much like the backgrounds, begins to increase pace, and once you pass a predetermined amount of lines it explodes into full form with a beat fits not only the level but the speed at which the level has advanced to.
The addition of the Zone is a great mechanic. Players can stop time, and Tetriminos falling by activating the Zone mechanic. This has two benefits. The first being that it can help one get out of tough situations that generally lead to game over, but also can help players earn extra bonus points and rewards by getting line clear bonuses. It definitely made life a little less stressful especially after dropping a few pieces too fast.
Overall, this is definitely a game I recommend for anyone who a fan of Tetris. As much as I love Tetris 99, this game has become my go to for Tetris. This game is especially for those that were crazy enough to use Music B in the original Tetris game. I give this game a 9 out of 10!