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Tetris Classic Game Pack from Handmark
December 11, 2002
Tetris can be called the “Bejeweled” of its day— it caused massive amounts of time wasting because it was just so completely addictive. And whether you’re old enough to remember when it first came out, or you’re a bit younger and enjoy puzzle games, you’ll be glad to know that this tranlation to the handheld version is completely accurate. Gameplay is deceptively simple— just fit the blocks in the best positions so that you can fill up complete rows that disappear. Don’t let the blocks reach the top of the screen, or the game is over. The datebook and address buttons are used to move the shapes left and right, the down buttom speeds them up if you have them positioned the way you want, and the to do and note/memo pad buttons are used to reconfigure the shapes. About the only thing lacking is good quality sound, but that is a pretty minor quibble. Right now the sound is limited to when a shape is placed or a line is cleared, but I tend to play with the sound off anyway.
Tetris isn’t the only game on this card either; six more games are also included that provide a nice amount of variety. PocketChess is very well done, with the choice to play vs. your handheld or with another player, and there are 8 selectable skill levels. The sound effects are rather nice too, especially the one that signifies that your king is in check—not that that’s one you want to hear too often! You can also get hints on suggested moves, which makes this a good chess tutor as well. The board and pieces are nice and large too, so they’re easy to see, but you can also reverse the board or change the colors as well.
My next favorite is PxColors, which is something of a clone of Bejeweled, but with much simpler graphics. The object of the game is to clear away the largest group of dots of the same color as possible. When the move counter hits zero, the game is over because there are no other possible moves. This game provides the option to change the backgroup color if played on a color device, or you can choose either black and white or greyscale. There’s no sound with this game, but then again, that makes it less likely that you’ll give yourself away in a business meeting…
SolFree is a simple solitaire game that gives you a selection of Klondike Deal 3, Demon, and Baker’s Game. It’s a nice diversion, but not a fancy one. PxCheckers is pretty self-explanatory; I like the fact that the board is nice and big, as with PocketChess, and there are a couple of options regarding skins and colors that add a little fun and personalization. PxGammon is in basically the same vein, with classic gameplay and a few enhancements that allow you to pick the skill level of the computer opponent, a couple of common rule variations, and the color depth of the display.
PokerDice is a very interesting little game that deserves a bit more attention. It’s similar to the standard game of poker, only you play it with dice instead of with cards. The dice represent cards from Nine to Ace, and once they are rolled you can then use them to fulfill a certain game requirement, such as a full house or four of a kind, or the most of a certain one card. You get two rolls in each turn, and then you are required to assign your score to a certain category. It is simple, fun, and yet very challenging. I especially like this one because it’s a new twist on a very old game.
All in all, the Tetris Classic Game Pack provides excellent value for the money. You get seven games on one expansion card for only $29.99, or you can purchase the downloadable version of this collection for only $19.99. Both products are available at the Handmark web site.
PocketGoddess rating for the Tetris Classic Game Pack from Handmark: 
