Tetris is a kind of real-time puzzle. You have to keep a pit free of blocks
by moving and rotating small pieces while they sink from the top to the
ground, one after another. Each time a complete row is filled, it vanishes
and all blocks above fall down. Your game is over when the pit is too
full for the next piece.
The game becomes a bit faster each time a certain amount of rows (20) has
been erased.
Key Control
You have the choice between several key combinations.
See which one you prefer or your system allows.
In two players mode human versus human, the left player may use the
"ASD" or "JKL" keys, the right player the arrow
keys or the numerical keypad.
Move left
A
J
left
4
Rotate
S
K
up
5
Move right
D
L
right
6
Drop
Z (Y)
space
down
0 / 2
Sink
X
M
PgDn
1
Scoring
In a solo game, you can submit your name and score to this Applet's
host once you are game over and have received at least 1000 points.
Your data will be kept in the global
high-score table.
If you don't want to submit your score, you can disable this
procedure in the options menu.
1 point per row you dropped
100 points for one erased row
200 points for two erased rows
400 points for three erased rows
800 points for four erased rows
If you play with preview, these scores are reduced to 80%.
Also note that if you deactivate the computer player, you will lose your
current score.
Two Player Mode
The two player mode is a knock out competition.
By erasing 2, 3 or 4 rows all at once you send your adversary
1, 2 or 3 rows of "garbage" appearing at the bottom of his pit.
You can also play against the computer. Use the handicap setting
to set the number of rows the computer will "think" before
moving the piece. The default (one row) is already quite tough.
Monochrome Mode
Whereas sound effects are not very important, a color display definitely
is. But if you do not have access to a color display, use the monochrome
mode to play.
You can also use this mode for an interesting experiment:
Toggle the monochrome mode, compare it with the colored version and see
how colors influence your optical recognition abilities.
Nightmare Mode
Most beginners suspect the game to choose some pieces according
to a kind of worst-fit algorithm. This is not true. If you want to
see how a real worst-fit selection feels, turn on
the nightmare mode. However, this mode had to be slightly randomized
and you will sometimes be faced with the second worst piece instead.
While you are in nightmare mode, you gain twice the normal scores.
The preview does not work in this mode, so you should turn it off.
Tetris is a kind of real-time puzzle. You have to keep a pit free of blocks
by moving and rotating small pieces while they sink from the top to the
ground, one after another. Each time a complete row is filled, it vanishes
and all blocks above fall down. Your game is over when the pit is too
full for the next piece.
The game becomes a bit faster each time a certain amount of rows (20) has
been erased.
By erasing 2, 3 or 4 rows all at once you send your adversary
1, 2 or 3 rows of "garbage" appearing at the bottom of his pit.
Whereas sound effects are not very important, a color display definitely
is. But if you do not have access to a color display, use the monochrome
mode to play.
Most beginners suspect the game to choose some pieces according
to a kind of worst-fit algorithm. This is not true. If you want to
see how a real worst-fit selection feels, turn on
the nightmare mode. However, this mode had to be slightly randomized
and you will sometimes be faced with the second worst piece instead.