Tetris & Dr. Mario

Tetris & Dr. Mario is a 1994 puzzle video game compilation developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It contains enhanced remakes of Tetris (1989) and Dr. Mario (1990), which were originally released for both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy in North America. Both games include split-screen multiplayer and a "Mixed Match" mode that transitions between the two games.

Tetris & Dr. Mario
Developer(s)Intelligent Systems
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Composer(s)Kazumi Totaka
SeriesDr. Mario
Tetris
Platform(s)SNES
Release
  • NA: December 30, 1994
  • EU: July 25, 1995
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Development was by Intelligent Systems, and was one of the last SNES games released in North America. The Japanese version of the game excludes Tetris due to Bullet-Proof Software holding the console rights to the series in Japan. The remake of Dr. Mario was also broadcast through the Satellaview, renamed BS Dr. Mario, and was the last game to be broadcast on the system. Tetris & Dr. Mario received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its controls and multiplayer, particularly the Mixed Match mode. It sold 6 million copies.

Gameplay
See also: Dr. Mario and Tetris (NES video game)
In-game screenshot, showing a multiplayer game of Dr. Mario.

Tetris & Dr. Mario shares a similar design to the respective NES versions of the games included while featuring music from their Game Boy versions. In Tetris, players must use different types of falling tetrominoes to form complete lines from the left to the right of the playfield, without any holes between them.[1] Completed lines will disappear and cause any blocks on top to fall towards the bottom.[1] Players can rotate the blocks to place them in specific spots, and can also hold down to make them fall faster.[1] Once all the blocks reach the top of the screen, the game will be over. Tetris includes the "A-Type" and "B-Type" modes from the Game Boy version, alongside a head-to-head multiplayer mode.[1]

In Dr. Mario, players must use colored pills to defeat the viruses littered around the playfield. Viruses come in red, yellow and blue, and must be eliminated by matching two or more same-colored pills either horizontally or vertically. These pills can be one solid color or a mixture of two, one on each side.[1] Pills can be rotated around, and can be dropped faster by pressing down.[1] Once all the viruses have been cleared, the player will move onto the next stage.[1] The game will be over if the pills reach the top of the screen.[1] Dr. Mario features a two-player mode where both players must compete against each other to clear the stage of viruses.[1]

Alongside both games, a "Mixed Match" multiplayer mode is also included, where players must compete for the most points before time runs out.[1] The mode transitions between both games as players progress, beginning at Tetris' B-Type mode before moving to Dr. Mario and so forth.[1] The player with the most points at the end is deemed the winner.[1] Before the game begins, players can customize the game's music, time limit, and difficulty level.[1]

Development

Tetris & Dr. Mario was developed by Intelligent Systems. It was released in North America on December 30, 1994.[2][3] Composer Kazumi Totaka contributed music to the game.[4]

Reception

Since its release, Tetris & Dr. Mario received generally positive reception. It ranked 27th on IGN's top list of Super Nintendo games, which noted the Mixed Match mode as a large factor for this.[6] IGN writer Fran Mirabella called it a "puzzle lover's dream cartridge," while fellow IGN writer Lucas M. Thomas held that the Mixed Match mode helped it stand out.[7] Tetris & Dr. Mario was particularly successful for its multiplayer component, as noted by The Verge writer Noah Davis.[8] Writer Andromeda praised the Mixed Match mode and the game's controls, stating that they are "better as a pair than they were alone."[5] Author Andy Slaven praised the NES versions of the included games and compared the compilation to Super Mario All-Stars.[9] Retro Gamer writer Stephen Westwood identified it as one of their favorite puzzle games, while TechRadar writer Gerald Lynch noted its absence on the SNES Classic, arguing that it should be included for its Tetris mode.[10][11] It sold 6 million copies, which a Kombo writer attributed to its Mixed Match mode.[12]

References
  1. Tetris & Dr. Mario (PDF). Nintendo. 30 December 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  2. "Tetris & Dr. Mario". IGN. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. "Unsung Heroes: Intelligent Systems". GameZone. May 4, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  4. "Kazumi Totaka". Video Game Music Online. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  5. Andromeda (April 1995). "Super NES - Tetris & Dr. Mario" (69). GamePro. p. 86. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  6. "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  7. Mirabella, Fran (April 17, 2001). "Dr. Mario 64". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  8. Davis, Noah (June 12, 2012). "Tetris: can a Cold War classic evolve for the touchscreen?". The Verge. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  9. Slaven, Andy (2002). Video Game Bible, 1985-2002. Trafford Publishing. p. 172. ISBN 1553697316.
  10. Lynch, Gerald (June 27, 2017). "10 classic games the SNES Mini is missing". TechRadar. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  11. Westwood, Stephen (August 25, 2011). "Devil Dice". Retro Gamer. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  12. "The Slow Decline of the Virtual Console". Kombo. May 4, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
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