Tetriss

The title screen

To start this new blog reviewing Free Android Games I've decided to begin with the Tetris clone "Tetriss" which is developed by Tingcon AB and is available for free from the Android Market. The original Tetris was a staple game of the classic Gameboy and has seen so many versions that it was inevitable to see an Android version, though is "Tetriss" able to live up to the immortal game that it's so obviously a clone of?

As we can see in the image to the right of the screen the title screen looks somewhat cheap and even "tacky". The menu (all accessed by using the touch screen) is simple to use though the "Tetriss" logo looks relatively....poor. 

The recogniseable blocks and playing area of Tetris are immediately here for people to see. All of the original 6 block types are in the game and each has their own colour coding, as is common through the coloured versions of the game. The screen is what we are used to though the bottom of the screen has the games control system. The arrows along the bottom move the blocks and allows you to rotate them (as many phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S2 that this was being played on, don't have "buttons" to use). The control method does feel somewhat flawed compared to the original system and it's somewhat fiddly to use despite being simple in design. A mere press of the down arrow sends the block hurling downwards with no control over it at all which is a little bit disappointing and can cause you to make really un-needed mistakes. Although the concept is the same old simple one that it always has been "make a complete line along the screen to delete it" the controls can make the aim of the game trickier than it should be.

As well as the flawed control the system another gripe is the sound, or rather lack of. The game has no in built sounds at all, no chirpy little background music or even a setting to turn it on (see below for what's in the settings menu). Although there is no stopping you from playing your own music over the top by using a music player app it seems an over-sight to have not included any by default.

The settings screen

If, like me, your the type of person who looks for more in your games, you'll again be disappointed. The game doesn't feature a multitude of alternative game modes such as time attack or line attack and the whole settings menu is instead just a difficulty select screen. A rather dull menu and something that should have been built into the game via a levels system rather than the settings screen.

Although I had had high hopes of this free game I've felt rather disappointed. Whilst it is a Tetris clone and it is addictive it just lacks those small things that made the original Tetris so special. The flawed control system is perhaps the biggest problem and although you will be able to get a lot of play out of the game it feels more like an addictive guilty pleasure rather than a must play game that will wear down your battery.

Addictiveness-9/10 It's Tetris. It's addictiveness in a blocks.
Controls-6/10 Simple but flawed. The controls are very basic but they do have their flaws
Graphics-4/10 Very simple and very basic. They do their job but nothing extra
Sounds-0/10 No sounds at all
Originality-0/10 It's an out and out Tetris clone, nothing original here

Total Score
19/50

Gaming mark C

Overall a flawed Tetris clone that will have you both hooked and frustrated in equal measure.