We’ve played Tetris Effect: Connected on multiple platforms already. But that wasn’t going to stop us jumping in one more time on PSVR 2.
The PSVR 2 experience of Tetris Effect: Connected is undoubtedly the best of them all, too. Sure, no matter how you play, Tetris Effect is an audiovisual tour de force. But take it to virtual reality, where you’re surrounded by the dazzling visual effects, and it becomes a transcendental experience. There’s nothing else quite like it.
Of course, at its very basic, this is still a game of Tetris. And so if you get absolutely no joy from the act of arranging tetrominoes as they fall, carefully arranging them to clear lines, you probably won’t enjoy Tetris Effect: Connected so much, either. But this is Tetris like you’ve never played it before. The game is almost secondary to the experience. It’s so entrancing that it’s hard to put into words. Play it on a flat screen, and it’s mesmerising. In VR, it’s another level.
You’ll have raindrops falling right in front of your face, or stardust or particles floating past your eyes. The beat of drums rings directly in your ear, and horses dance across your screen, almost as if you could reach out to touch them. Focusing on clearing rows of blocks is harder than it’s ever been before, because you simply want to look at everything going on. Tetris Effect: Connected really has to be experienced first-hand to be appreciated.
Your first port of call while playing will most likely be the Journey mode. And this is where you’ll get the most out of the effects of PSVR 2. Journey essentially cycles through the different ‘scenes’ available in Tetris Effect: Connected, and you’ll find yourself transported from tranquil oceans, to Asian-inspired temples to bustling cities and just about everything in between. Every one is a delight, and they all truly shine in VR. Journey also tests your skills: more often than not, tetrominoes fall at a manageable speed. But every so often – as the music tempo rises – they’ll speed up, getting your blood pumping.
Journey mode is far from all that’s on offer in Tetris Effect: Connected, though. You can jump into a vast array of single-player Tetris modes, tasking you to get the best score in a few minutes, for example, or providing you with various other challenges. There are also numerous multiplayer modes, letting you go head-to-head against players to truly test your skills. Thankfully, crossplay is available (and enabled by default) so you can play with others across any platform.
Our favourite of the multiplayer modes has to be the titular, co-operative Connected mode. This teams together three players on a huge Tetris board. You’ll each be responsible for your own section, but will need to complete lines across the whole board. It’s a great twist on the game that works very well – and throws in ‘boss’ battles which really keep you on your toes.
As we said in our original review of Tetris Effect: Connected, this is perhaps the best that Tetris will ever be. And in VR, that couldn’t be more true. On paper, “Tetris in VR” doesn’t sound all that great, and if you’ve never played Tetris Effect before, it’s a hard sell. But spend just five minutes inside this incredible experience, and you’ll never look back.
Tetris Effect: Connected PSVR 2 Review – GameSpew’s Score
This review of Tetris Effect: Connected is based on the PSVR 2 version of the game, via a code provided by the publisher. It’s available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch and PC, with VR versions available on PS4, PS5 and PC.
