The next installment in my series, 'Juan VS 100', in which I play Japan's favorite video games, is Tetris for the Nintendo Game Boy. Now we're talking.
Tetris (along with Super Mario Bros.) represents my earliest memories of video games. In America, it was packed-in with every Game Boy, and that's how I received mine. Countless hours were spent curled up on the couch, backseats of cars, under the sheets, trying to improve my score. Owning this boxed retail copy now is such a nostalgia trip.
Oh...Tetris is Russian, isn't it? Please excuse the bad timing.
Sweet Lord, the immaculate condition of this 33-year-old game. Thank you, Japanese people.
I have never looked through a Tetris manual in my life. Interesting that the slide-over technique is taught within. Note the unlimited spin is not yet part of Tetris, making this a less-forgiving version of the game.
Instant time warp. My best thrift find in Japan; an original (mostly) working Game Boy for only ¥110 ($1). Muscle memory intact.
I could also play it on my Super Famicom (Super Nintendo) via a modern Game Boy adapter. This active the color version of the cartridge, which is what you would have seen if played on a Game Boy Color.
And then you have Tetris. Sweet, sweet Tetris. The original still plays wonderfully, while also being a bit more difficult. There is no 'holding' of pieces, so you have to play with what's given to you.
I always preferred the B-Type mode, in which you start the game with garbage blocks all over the screen and pieces falling at an accelerated speed.
When you win, you're rewarded with a catchy little ditty and dance.
And then a rocket (gosh, I hope it's a rocket) launch. Kind of underwhelming...
But end with an impressive score, and you get a massive space shuttle launch.
An easy choice for my number one game so far. I have a feeling it'll stay in the top ten, at least.
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