Rez creator's musical re-imagining of Tetris launches in November
Tetris Effect, the long-awaited project from Rez and Lumines producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, finally has a release date.
How do you improve on a game like Tetris? Your safest bet would probably be to give it to Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the creative mind behind puzzle games like Rez and Lumines. The end result - Tetris Effect - was revealed at E3 2018 and will launch later this year.
In Tetris Effect, while the core puzzle mechanics remain the same, music has a far greater emphasis (thanks Eurogamer). Each action has a corresponding impact on in-game visuals and audio, allowing for a more hypnotic and meditative experience. Mizuguchi also debuted a "Zone" system, where players can freeze time, drop blocks without pressure, and clear extra lines with ease.
According to Polygon, Mizuguchi has been wanting to develop a Tetris game for years, but the license was controlled by Electronic Arts. After the release of Lumines in 2004, he pitched a concept to the Tetris company, with production starting in 2012. It's been a long road for Mizuguchi, in other words.
Tetris Effect launches on November 9 2018 for PlayStation 4, and will include PS VR support - just in case you wanted to immerse yourself in the experience a little more.