Tetris Axis

Tetris Axis is a comprehensive, content-packed version of the legendary falling-block puzzle that Nintendo prepared specifically for the 3DS as a flagship content package for fans of the genre. Besides the classic Marathon mode it includes a range of game modes - Standard, Ultra, Sprint, a pulsing techno-and-visual-effects Fever mode, and special modes like Mission, where the player completes specific tasks such as clearing lines under restrictions, or Field Climber with its unconventional rotated playing field, where pieces fall in from the side instead of from above, forcing the player to think in a completely different way than in the classic game.

The game makes full use of the 3DS's capabilities - the stereoscopic 3D effect gives the falling pieces depth, the second screen serves as an overview of upcoming pieces and score, and the title supports both local multiplayer via StreetPass and online leaderboards for comparing performance with players around the world. Controls work both with classic buttons and via touch, giving players a choice according to their preferred playstyle. The visual style combines a clean, clear playing field with richly animated backgrounds and effects that change according to the selected mode and the mood of the track, from calm ambient tones to energetic electronic themes in Fever mode.

Critics received the title as one of the most complete Tetris collections of its time, praising the amount of content and how well it makes use of the console's specific features, including unconventional modes missing from previous versions. Although it was later partly overshadowed by other incarnations of Tetris, Tetris Axis remains one of the most extensive and best-produced entries in the series on a handheld, and it is still an excellent choice for anyone who just wants to play a proper game of Tetris with friends or alone, whether at home on the couch or on a train ride. The sheer number of game modes also guarantees the game won't get stale even after dozens of hours of play.