VR and Tetris Effect have made me believe that games can transcend the mediums boundaries

Benji · Dec 1, 2018

I guess I should preface this with saying that I picked up a PSVR for the first time a few month ago. I've been enraptured with the device basically since Day 1 and frankly it far surpassed anything I expected. The sense of presence and transformative nature of VR in general was far beyond what I had ever anticipated it being. Even games I was very familiar with such as Skyrim took on an entirely new level of immersion. I found myself spending hours in VR and being surprised and blown away with gaming in a way I hadn't been in years.

But that's not really what this thread is about. Making games more immersive is cool and all certainly. Taking genres we are traditionally familiar with and flipping them on their head in a way like only VR can as we've seen with Astro Bot is amazing.

But honestly I think Tetris Effect in VR has moved me in a way nothing in gaming ever has. Its transcended the traditional way we think of "gaming" and dare I say it, turned it into something bordering on a spiritual experience. I'm sure this sounds like hyperbole to many of you. Its Tetris right? With what a great soundtrack and trippy visuals?

Well......yes? That's exactly what it is. And yet its also so much more than that. Its in its own weird way a portal to experience something beautiful, profound, and maybe self revelatory. I don't think I've ever been moved by a game in a way this has. The ending sessions of the game brought tears to my eyes to the sheer beauty of what I was experiencing. And in an odd way connected that virtual experience to my daily life. Made me appreciate life more, and also the connections we all share with one another and nature as well. That's something you would be pretty hard pressed to find many games accomplishing, and I think something that can be hugely important to the future of the industry if others pursue it.

Trippy stuff right?

Maybe this doesn't need a spin off thread of its own. But I feel something as profound as this needs pointing out. In a medium that is filled with so much that feels similar or "samey" its wondrous to experience something SO DIFFERENT. And I think Tetris Effect coupled with VR shows us a glimpse of an entirely different world of possibility that is largely unexplored in the rush to make the next Battle Royale or other huge selling genre.

Games truly can be art. If you are in the mood give this gorgeous song a listen

reptilescorpio · Dec 1, 2018

Now go play Area X in Rez Infinite! Very transcendent feeling.

wapplew · Dec 1, 2018

It's all connected.

FF Seraphim · Dec 1, 2018

Tetris VR is amazing. I lose so many hours just playing it. Also with the VR I seem to be able to concentrate more and do generally better.

Starwing · Dec 1, 2018

This was how I felt when I played Wipeout VR as my first VR experience.
While it was pretty mundane compared to Tetris Effect's audiovisual experiences and gameplay, like you I felt I was experiencing something unique rather than just playing a game in a first person field of view. Part of it was because my biggest dream of mine as a kid was to race in the world of Wipeout, with the setting being my hometown no less. I do believe that VR has the creative capacity to create unique experiences.

Supau · Dec 1, 2018

I feel you Benji. I had similar experiences with Child of Eden. Could you imagine a port of that in VR? I'd be sobbing by the end.

Stinkinmushroom · Dec 1, 2018

I just bought a VR and i gotta say Tetris Effect was my only dissapointment so far. Yes the effects are amazing but the blocks are so low res / aliased... Especially compared to more complex games like Moss and Zstro Bot that are way more crisp.

Ps: i agree however that the game itself is amazing and transcending. I get goosebumps all the time on the last song

Crayon · Dec 1, 2018

Im doing backflips over my new vr system rn but im a little skeptical about tetris effect. I mean... Its tetris.

But ill give it a try because you know i can only hear so many people gush about it before i have to see for myself. And you can never tell with vr games until you're in there.

burgervan · Dec 1, 2018

I wasn't super impressed by Tetris in VR. It's a fun game and very stylish, but whenever people go on about it being some crazy experience, I have no idea what they're talking about. I even played it high and it still just felt like Tetris with glitter.

The way it incorporates music is way cooler than it's use of VR.

Benji · Dec 1, 2018

Supau said:
I feel you Benji. I had similar experiences with Child of Eden. Could you imagine a port of that in VR? I'd be sobbing by the end.

Yeah and this is really what I mean when I gush over Tetris Effect. The game is setting out do do something fundamentally different than nearly every other game out there.

Its purpose, through and through, is to try and be uplifting, beautiful, and impactful. What games do that? What games set out to move your mind in that way. Its so rare, and the added effect of VR simply enhances that.

There is so much room in this industry to pursue beautifully creative stuff like this, and yet these experiences are so rare.

Deleted member 41271 · Dec 1, 2018

burgervan said:
The way it incorporates music is way cooler than it's use of VR.

VR makes me puke, but the game is great without any of it. The music bits especially.

Yes, "It's Tetris", but Tetris is great inherently, and this is a particularly good version of it.

Benji said:
There is so much room in this industry to pursue beautifully creative stuff like this, and yet these experiences are so rare.

It's difficult to market. It doesn't look amazing on screenshots. :(

DarthBuzzard · Dec 1, 2018

Machachan said:
VR makes me puke, but the game is great without any of it. The music bits especially.

Yes, "It's Tetris", but Tetris is great inherently, and this is a particularly good version of it.

It's difficult to market. It doesn't look amazing on screenshots. :(

FYI, VR doesn't make you puke as modern VR hardware aren't at fault anymore. It's only certain games making you puke. Tetris Effect in VR would never make someone sick.

Deleted member 41271 · Dec 1, 2018

DarthBuzzard said:
FYI, VR doesn't make you puke as modern VR hardware aren't at fault anymore. It's only certain games making you puke. Tetris Effect in VR would never make someone sick.

Astrobot still did it :( Literally, too.

I also am not good with 3D games where depth perception is an issue, and even have to switch the 3D off for my 3DS, which sucked for ALBW. Some people just aren't made for this, apparently.

Silky · Dec 1, 2018

wapplew said:
It's all connected.

UNITE THE SOUL SO THERES NO DIVISION

skeezx · Dec 1, 2018

honestly i thought it was just okay, as far as mizuguchi mind bending experiences go

just neat twist on tetris, no more no less. maybe if i didn't have experience with rez/child of eden and vr beforehand it'd have blown my mind

DarthBuzzard · Dec 1, 2018

Machachan said:
Astrobot still did it :( Literally, too.

I also am not good with 3D games where depth perception is an issue, and even have to switch the 3D off for my 3DS, which sucked for ALBW. Some people just aren't made for this, apparently.

Astro Bot still moves you artificially. Tetris Effect doesn't. Actually Moss is very much comparable to Astro Bot, being a cute platformer, and that won't cause sickness since you don't ever move outside your own movement.

Lack of depth perception shouldn't be an issue with VR though, because it's the same as real life which means you'll be used to it anyway.

Moz La Punk · Dec 1, 2018

Ha, I just wrote an article in Dutch about this for a gamesite that will appear later this month. I was in a trance, man. That last level and the credits. My god.

Of course, Rez and Lumines are two of my favorite games and its from the same man, so there's that.

Jonneh · Dec 1, 2018

Absolutely. I've never had a feeling quite like Tetris Effect. The stunning visuals, mesmerising music and trance like state enabled by Tetris all culminate and compliment each other. There's nothing quite like playing this game in VR, and this is coming from someone who hasn't been impressed by a VR game before outside of Astro Bot. As you say, it's a spiritual experience.

nachum00 · Dec 1, 2018

Pay Rez Infinite

Crayon · Dec 1, 2018

I want a spiritual tetris experience. :o

julia crawford · Dec 1, 2018

I mean i don't even know what the boundaries of the medium are.

I can only guess you're talking about stuff like the magic circle.

ClarkusDarkus · Dec 1, 2018

And we're in gen 1 with VR, RE7, Tetris, Astro, Lone echo.... Games that truly groundbreak and change the medium.

Even experiences like Air-car show us what is possible in gaming in VR.

Valkrai · Dec 1, 2018

I feel like this game isn't understood well unless you play it. It looks kinda interesting to me but I'm not that much of a fan of Tetris. Is there any demo to try out?

Jonneh · Dec 1, 2018

Valkrai said:
I feel like this game isn't understood well unless you play it. It looks kinda interesting to me but I'm not that much of a fan of Tetris. Is there any demo to try out?

There was a limited demo a week before the game came out but it's no longer playable. I can't recommend the game more though, it's one of the most important games I've played

halfjoey · Dec 1, 2018

With Tetris Effect VR, can you watch the backgrounds with music only and no Terri's game going on?

SapientWolf · Dec 1, 2018

I think the act of playing Tetris puts your mind in a state where it's more open to these type of experiences. I felt the same thing. I walked away a firm believer in VR where before I was skeptical on whether it was truly the next step forward in gaming.

Gamer17 · Dec 1, 2018

What a beautiful write up benji.I feel u have elevated yourself with this experience and got a step closers to get in touch with your higher self (getting in touch with your higher self is the best way to have inner peace and radiance and get connected to the wisdom of universe ). I m gonna keep my eyes open to buy a psvr version 2 soon and try this .

Thanks for the write up.

androvsky · Dec 1, 2018

halfjoey said:
With Tetris Effect VR, can you watch the backgrounds with music only and no Terri's game going on?

It's an unlock.

You have to beat the game's journey mode, which is a decent challenge. When you select the special mode it lets you either make the sound effects from playing the game yourself, or auto-plays the extra effects for you so you really don't have to do anything.

It's very nice to have, but without the stress of playing the game forcing your mental state into a zone it's definitely not the same.

Betty · Dec 1, 2018

That metamorphosis song is one of the best in the game, but it just doesn't sound as good without the tetromino sound effects, same for a lot of other songs.

valeu · Dec 1, 2018

janusff · Dec 1, 2018

I don't have a vr set but Tetris Effect is pretty transcendent on the tv by itself. Can't imagine what it's like in vr. It's a very special game.

chronos4590 · Dec 1, 2018

Agreed this game is sheer beauty in every sense. It feels more like an interactive art piece.

reptilescorpio said:
Now go play Area X in Rez Infinite! Very transcendent feeling.

100% this. First few moments in area x... you'll never feel anything like it. Phenomenal experience

the-pi-guy · Dec 2, 2018

Haven't played Tetris Effect but I can definitely imagine those environments being incredible.

When VR is done right, there's absolutely nothing like it. And it's awesome that so many people are finally getting into it.

Dphex · Dec 2, 2018

i like it so much more on my 4K TV, it´s not even funny...i don´t see how VR enhances this game, the few effects flying around are no exchange for the crumby visual quality...it looks so crisp on a TV and in VR it is superblurry, even on a PS4Pro, most VR games look better than this.

i love Tetris Effect but i don´t play it in VR and it was one of the games which led me to buying PSVR...

Rez, Thumper, Polybius in VR are far better experiences imo

VR and Tetris Effect have made me believe that games can transcend the mediums boundaries

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