Tetris Party has a wealth of worth in both its single player and multiplayer offerings. On the single player front, you can choose from Beginner's Tetris (a simplified version of the game with bigger blocks), Marathon (non-stop Tetris action), Computer Battle (take the CPU on head-to-head), Field Climber (help a little man climb the Tetris pieces to the top of the grid), Shadow (fill in an object using Tetris pieces) and Stage Racer (speed-based challenge where you must complete stages using Tetriminos). There's plenty here for you to sink your teeth into, ensuring that your $12 gets you plenty of gameplay. Then there's the Balance Board game, but you've already seen enough of that to know what's up. On the multiplayer side, there's just as much fun to be had.
When you connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connect, you will see an area for news and tournament information. There isn't anything there now, but in the future, you'll be able to participate in tournaments and get the latest info without leaving your couch. On top of that, there's the fun of actually playing.
Once you start searching for an opponent, you'll be dropped into a lobby screen where you can enjoy some Tetris while waiting for an opponent to connect. Once they do, all that's needed is a simple press of the + button and you're off. Once complete, you can opt to stay in the room and play again or leave. It's incredibly simple and very good for those who don't have a ton of time to sit around waiting for a game to start. It ensures you spend less time waiting and more time playing.
It may just be Tetris, which is kind of "been there, done that," but Tetris Party impressed me. The price might be a bit too high compared to similar experiences on WiiWare, but, overall, the game is very deserving of your hard-earned cash. And if you decide to get the game and are looking for some folks to play, check out Game Night, where we're sure to be clearing some lines!
Final score: 8.5/10
We're always looking for new games to enjoy. We've got plenty of other WiiWare reviews, if you're into that kind of thing.. If you're so crazy that you want to go to the store and buy something when you could be playing World of Goo or Mega Man 9, we can help with that, too.