Tetris Effect: Connected
- November 10, 2020
- Resonair
- 11h median play time
Tetris® Effect: Connected is a rhythm-based puzzle game that synchronizes visually stunning effects, music, and sound to your gameplay. With over 30 stages, 10 modes, and cross-platform multiplayer, this addictive reinvention of Tetris offers a unique and breathtaking experience for both single-player and collaborative/competitive play. The game features exclusive Zone mechanic, allowing players to stop time and enter a transcendent state.
Reviews
- music2,548 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in "Tetris Effect: Connected" is widely praised for its immersive and dynamic qualities, seamlessly integrating with gameplay to enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the variety of tracks that adapt to their actions, creating a rhythmic and engaging atmosphere that elevates the classic Tetris formula. While many find the soundtrack to be a standout feature, some critiques mention a lack of options for customizing music preferences, with a few tracks being less appealing to certain players. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack makes this version of Tetris a unique and memorable experience.
“Tetris effect is hypnotizingly beautiful and one of the best experiences I've had with not only a puzzle game, but a game that makes music so intrinsically important to the experience without it being a rhythm game.”
“It's a transcendent interactive audiovisual experience with evocative visuals, captivating music and a great sense of rhythm and flow.”
“The music, visuals, and gameplay are all integrated together in a really pleasing way, and all of the graphical effects are beautifully done.”
“The music is bad, just plain bad, I think it's supposed to be reactive to the player actions but that just makes it sound worse, and good luck finding the Tetris theme, it's not here outside of an event or something, which is dumb.”
“The reason I want to not recommend is because half of the music sucks and it is a heavily important aspect to this game.”
“The music completely ruined it.”
- graphics1,522 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Tetris Effect: Connected" are widely praised for their stunning and immersive quality, with many players highlighting the vibrant visuals and dynamic music that enhance the gameplay experience. The integration of visuals and sound creates a captivating atmosphere, making it feel like a transcendent audiovisual journey. However, some users note that the flashy graphics can be distracting during intense gameplay, and there are concerns about performance on lower-end systems. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal is a significant draw, elevating the classic Tetris experience to new heights.
“The music, visuals, and gameplay are all integrated together in a really pleasing way, and all of the graphical effects are beautifully done.”
“It's a transcendent interactive audiovisual experience with evocative visuals, captivating music and a great sense of rhythm and flow.”
“The mesmerizing graphics and dynamic music respond to your gameplay, creating an experience that is both visually and aurally captivating.”
“Now to the game itself: it is horribly unoptimized, and crashes constantly these few months (story-mode expert) even on low-settings with upgraded graphics drivers!!!”
“The core element seems to be the campaign, during which the visuals can be extremely distracting.”
“The actual playing area is pretty small, the visuals just take over the viewing area.”
- gameplay872 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Tetris Effect: Connected* retains the classic Tetris mechanics while introducing the innovative "zone" mechanic, which allows players to temporarily freeze time and clear multiple lines at once, adding depth and excitement to the experience. The game is praised for its responsive controls, a variety of engaging modes, and a seamless integration of stunning visuals and a dynamic soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay. While some players find the audiovisual effects occasionally distracting, the core gameplay remains addictive and satisfying, appealing to both newcomers and veterans of the franchise.
“The gameplay is engaging and the soundtrack makes it just perfect.”
“The zone mechanic adds so much fun to the gameplay, especially considering the meter doesn't have to be full to be used, making it a constant feature.”
“The music, visuals, and gameplay are all integrated together in a really pleasing way, and all of the graphical effects are beautifully done.”
“It's the seemingly useless experience bar and leveling system that doesn't change anything about the gameplay itself.”
“The zone mechanic nearly destroys the experience, and is the reason this game cannot be considered 'Tetris.' Players build up a gauge by clearing lines that allows them to enter the 'zone,' a state that slows the drop rate of pieces and amplifies the points (in single player) or garbage sent (in multiplayer).”
“Further exacerbating this issue is the fact that the zone mechanic further obscures the visuals of the already hard to see levels, making playing this on a Steam Deck or Switch an exercise in frustration.”
- story236 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect has received mixed reviews, with many players noting the absence of a substantial narrative. While there is a "journey mode" that offers a brief and emotional experience through its levels, it is often described as too short and lacking depth. Overall, players appreciate the audiovisual elements that evoke feelings akin to storytelling, but they express disappointment in the minimal and underwhelming story content.
“There was a moment playing the story mode that made me emotional and on the verge of tears... just pure bliss and joy.”
“The visuals and music told a story through each level that you played through, and it was simply beautiful.”
“The story mode in this game is superb; I like it so much.”
“The journey story mode thing is too short.”
“If only there was an actual story.”
“The main 'story-line' isn't too long and definitely beatable in under 2 hours.”
- emotional128 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing surprise at the depth of feelings evoked by what is traditionally a simple puzzle game. Users report experiencing joy, nostalgia, and even tears during gameplay, particularly during the journey mode and in response to the game's stunning visuals and impactful soundtrack. Overall, the game transcends its mechanics to deliver a profound emotional experience that resonates deeply with players.
“One of the most beautiful and emotional games I've played, which sounds silly for Tetris, but having gone through the entire campaign, it really does make you feel something truly special.”
“This game has fixed my depression and has got me through hard times. I did not expect a game to have such an impact on my life; the first time I finished Metamorphosis, I cried from the beauty of the game and the meaning of the songs.”
“The journey mode made me shed a tear... I don't know how they made me emotional by playing Tetris, but they did. 10/10”
- atmosphere80 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive soundscapes, and a soundtrack that enhances gameplay, creating a therapeutic experience that elevates the classic Tetris formula. Players describe it as a beautiful and addictive journey, where the music and graphics work in harmony to provide a relaxing yet engaging environment. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a must-play for those seeking a unique and artistic take on Tetris.
“This is by far one of the most addictive and trippy things I've ever played in my life with an incredible soundtrack and an outstanding atmosphere in the art and graphics.”
“The variety of sounds triggered during gameplay creates an immersive atmosphere, alongside the stunning background visuals.”
“The soundtrack is amazing, the atmosphere of the different levels is astonishing with incredible visuals and the soundtrack for each level is also interactive with how you move the blocks.”
“The real selling point is its atmosphere.”
“By the way, overall community atmosphere will tell you as if this game is very chill, relax time-killing game.”
“Ok, so VR doesn't really add anything aside from some atmosphere, but it's still Tetris and Tetris is always awesome.”
- optimization68 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting constant crashes, stuttering, and poor performance even on low settings. While some users noted that it runs well on specific systems or platforms, the general consensus is that the game is overloaded with effects that hinder gameplay and readability, making it feel unplayable for many. Despite initial good performance, updates have exacerbated these issues, leading to frustration among the player base.
“Other than the great optimization, the music is heavenly, the controls can all be changed, and you can play this like classic Tetris, no ghost or anything, or you can play it as modern Tetris or as modern Tetris with zone.”
“The wait was worth it and this game is very well optimized for high framerates and resolutions.”
“With stunning visuals, compelling music, various game modes, perfect multiplayer experience, and great game engine performance, this is the perfect Tetris game you have to play.”
“Now to the game itself: it is horribly unoptimized, and crashes constantly these few months (story-mode expert) even on low settings with upgraded graphics drivers!”
“Every single update that the devs have pushed since has caused the stuttering to become more and more pronounced and now even the single player is a stuttering mess.”
“Tldr: the devs have turned a fantastic game into a stuttering and unplayable mess that is not worth $5, let alone $40.”
- replayability64 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, enhanced by a variety of game modes, including multiplayer options and unique effect modes that keep the experience fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful visuals, captivating music, and smooth gameplay, allowing for countless hours of enjoyment without it feeling repetitive. Overall, it is considered one of the most replayable iterations of Tetris, appealing to both casual and competitive players alike.
“Best version of the best game ever made... unlimited replayability!”
“I think that this game has almost infinite replayability with the multiplayer stuff, meaning if you have enjoyed Tetris at all ever, this game is probably gonna be a good value to you.”
“The singleplayer alone is worth the price, but the multiplayer modes (score attack, co-op, 3v1 boss battles, classic mode) give it infinite replayability.”
“Despite these minor inconsistencies, the multiplayer component significantly enhances the game's replayability and social engagement.”
“If you start exploring the effect modes, you find a ton of gimmicks that really increase replayability and set this game apart from other Tetris games.”
“Again, it's Tetris but with tons to do from the journey mode to connected, which is now the vs. mode with many modes within those modes. They even have 24-hour events where you can become the boss and fight 1v3 modes, and the game thanks you personally for your effort. Not to mention the effects mode and the leaderboards, plus the game leaves you on a cliffhanger that they could add more to the journey mode.”
- humor38 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this Tetris game is highlighted by its vibrant colors, funny sound effects, and whimsical mechanics that create a sensory overload experience. Players enjoy the amusing visuals and chaotic gameplay, particularly in modes that introduce unpredictable elements, making the game feel lighthearted and entertaining. Overall, the combination of funny graphics, quirky music, and humorous game modes contributes to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
“Funny music and bright flashing lights at 3am that make me go blind mwuahahahaha :3”
“There is a campaign mode where you unlock new themes and music and there are multiple solo and PvP modes yet there even is a 3 players vs 1 boss mode on different difficulty settings which is very funny :)”
“The effect modes give you some classics, like marathon, ultra, and sprint, but also some brand new modes, like purify, which has you clearing colored blocks before more spawn, master, which takes the speed beyond 20g by gradually decreasing the lock delay, and mystery, which is an absolutely hilarious RNG fest that'll flip your inputs, turn your stack upside down, give you huge 'minoes, and more.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 64 % negative mentions
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time to achieve progression or unlock content. While some enjoy the challenge and are willing to grind for top scores, many find the experience stressful and feel that certain achievements are overly grindy, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“My only complaints are that some achievements are really grindy and the price point can be a tad bit steep if not on sale.”
“A game that's meant to be relaxing is super stressful and tedious.”
“My only major issue with the game is how grindy the player progression is, but this is irrelevant for the actual gameplay.”
- stability20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on various platforms like the Steam Deck and VR devices, users report occasional bugs and glitches, particularly during online matches. Disconnections and matchmaking issues are common complaints, with some players experiencing frustrating gameplay interruptions. Despite these problems, many still find the game enjoyable and worth playing.
“Totally worth it and runs great on the Steam Deck.”
“Runs great on the Steam Deck, nice relaxing game that is even better than ever on a nice mobile device like the Steam Deck.”
“Game runs great under Rift S, Quest 1 and 2.”
“My opponent freezes or glitches out, and everything dies, so be sure to use Ethernet.”
“My only complaint would be that sometimes the online experience can be buggy, but it's a pretty rare problem.”
“The matchmaking takes a while, and it's just really buggy when getting in and out of matches.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized for its high pricing, which many users perceive as a cash grab, especially given the game's simplistic nature. While the game offers a fresh take on Tetris without intrusive elements like ads or gimmicks, the pricing strategy has led to disappointment among players who expected a more value-driven experience.
“Cool project and a fresh take on Tetris effects, but the pricing seems like a cash grab on the name.”
“Despite advertising a completely contrary experience, there's a portion of the game that undermines the entire concept.”
“Why aren't they advertising this?!”