Tetris (Nintendo version) Instruction Manual
Developer: Nintendo of America Inc.
Publisher: Nintendo of America Inc. - 1989
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Thank you for selecting the Nintendo Entertainment System(R) TETRIS* Game Pak.
Please read this instruction booklet to ensure proper handling of your new
game, and then save the booklet for future reference.
PRECAUTIONS
1) This is a high precision Game Pak. It should not be stored in places that
are very hot or cold. Never hit it or drop it. Do not take it apart.
2) Avoid touching the connectors. Do not get them wet or dirty. Doing so may
damage the Game Pak and/or the Control Deck.
3) Do not clean with benzene, paint thinner, alcohol or other such solvents.
4) Store the Game Pak in its protective sleeve when not in use.
5) Always check the Game Pak edge connector for foreign material before
inserting the Game Pak into the Control Deck.
Note:
In the interest of product improvement, Nintendo Entertainment System
specification and design are subject to change without notice.
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* "TM AND (C)1987 V/O ELECTRONORGTECHNICA ("ELORG"),
TETRIS LICENSED TO NINTENDO.
(C)1989 NINTENDO.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ORIGINAL CONCEPT, DESIGN
AND PROGRAM BY ALEXEY PAZHITNOV."
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(C)1989 Nintendo of America Inc.
TM & (R) Trademarks of Nintendo of America Inc.
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WHAT IS TETRIS?
TETRIS is a new type of puzzle game from the Soviet Union that tests your
reflexes. It's really simple to play. Seven different shaped blocks fall
down the game field one after the other. The object of the game is to keep
the blocks from piling up to the top of the game field. To do this, you can
move blocks to the left and right, and rotate them as they fall. If you can
completely fill in one horizontal line, that line disappears and you get
points. If the blocks pile up to the top of the game field, then that's the
end of the game. TETRIS is simple, easy-to-understand, but difficult to drag
yourself away from!
TETRIS originally came from the word "tetra" meaning the number 4. By
rearranging four squares, you can make seven different shapes which are the
pieces used in this game.
With TETRIS, you can play two types of games: endurance game A, and game B
where you play for the highest score at the 25th line.
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How to Use the Controls
Controller 1
[ Diagram of NES controller ]
Basic Operations
_
_| |_ <- Moves blocks to the left.
|_ _| ...... -> Moves blocks to the right.
|_| \/ Makes the blocks fall down fast.
Use these controls to select TYPE, LEVEL or HEIGHT.
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Select which way to rotate the block while it is falling down:
A Button: Block rotates 90o clockwise each time button is pressed.
B Button: Block rotates 90o counter-clockwise each time button is pressed.
SELECT button: Use to delete the NEXT display during play. (Press again to
restore.) This will make the game more difficult as you won't be able to see
what the next shape is until it actually appears in the playfield.
START button: Use to start the game.
Press during play to pause. Press again to resume play.
* The license screen will be returned to and the game will be reset if A
button, B button and the SELECT button are pressed at the same time during
game play. The TOP SCORE will not be erased. (This functions in the same
way as the RESET switch.)
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HOW TO PLAY
- GAME TYPE/MUSIC TYPE setting screen
Pick GAME TYPE. (Pick either A-TYPE or B-TYPE.)
Pick MUSIC TYPE. (Pick either MUSIC-1, -2, -3, or OFF.)
A-TYPE game
This is a test of endurance where you must try to get a high score by
completing as many lines as possible.
Choose the LEVEL (falling speed of the blocks) on the LEVEL setting screen.
(The higher the LEVEL, the faster the blocks fall down.)
During the course of the game, the LEVEL gradually increases and the game
gets increasingly harder. When the blocks have reached the top of the game
field, that's the end of the game.
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[ Screenshot of TETRIS A-TYPE game in progress ]
LINES Shows the total number of lines that have been completed since
the start of the game.
SCORE Shows the score you have earned by completing the lines and
dropping blocks.
STATISTICS Shows the number of each of the seven types of blocks that have
fallen so far.
NEXT Shows the next block. (This can be turned off by pressing SELECT
during game play.)
LEVEL Shows the falling speed of the current block on the screen.
PLAYFIELD This is where the action is.
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B-TYPE game
The object of this game is to complete 25 lines.
Select and set LEVEL and HEIGHT (height of the random blocks) at the LEVEL
setting screen. The higher the HEIGHT setting, the higher the random blocks
are placed at the bottom of the game field.
If the blocks reach the top of the game field, your game is over.
* Game B differs from game A in that the level of the game does not change.
[ Screenshot of B-TYPE game] [ Screen shot of B-TYPE LEVEL Setting Screen ]
LINES Shows the remaining number of lines (decreases from 25).
SCORE Shows the score you have earned by completing the lines.
STATISTICS Shows the number of the seven types of blocks that have fallen so
far.
NEXT Shows the next block. (This can be turned off by pressing SELECT
during game play.)
LEVEL Shows the falling speed of the current block on the screen.
HEIGHT Shows the height of the random blocks.
PLAYFIELD This is where the action is.
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TOP SCORE
The names (up to six letters) and the score of the top three players can be
registered for both games A and B.
Use the top and bottom of the + Control Pad to select the letter of the
alphabet. Use the left and right of the + Control Pad, the A button, or the
B button to move the cursor.
Press the START button to go back to the LEVEL setting screen.
* The top scores will be erased from memory when the power is turned OFF.
TECHNIQUE
- Remember that there are seven different types of TETRIS blocks.
- Line up the blocks to form a single line.
[ Diagram ] Align the blocks in a horizontal line making sure there are no
gaps.
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[ Diagram ] If a complete line with no gaps is formed, that line will
disappear from the screen.
[ Diagram ] All the blocks remaining on the screen will fall down one line.
As you get better at the game, you can complete two lines (a double), three
lines (a triple) or four lines (a "TETRIS") with the drop of one block.
Doubles, triples and TETRISes will result in higher scores.
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What should I do when this happens?
The situation in the drawing may occur during the game. [ Diagram ]
First, don't panic! You may be able to fix the hole with the next [ Diagram ]
block. In this case, wait for the next block to land and slide
that block across before the "thud" sound. (See illustrations at
right.)
Skillfully link the blocks together to turn a tight situation into [ Diagram ]
a chance for extra points.
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How to play more difficult games:
For those of you who think that TETRIS is too easy after mastering LEVEL 9 and
HEIGHT 5, hold down A button and press START button during the LEVEL setting
screen. You can enjoy a much faster and more challenging game.
* The falling speed of the blocks will be the preset LEVEL + 10.
About Scoring
- The higher the position that the block is dropped from, the higher the
score. If blocks appearing at the top of the game field are dropped by
pressing the \/ of the + Control Pad, the score obtained will change
according to the height from which it was dropped.
- Get a high score by completing 2, 3, or 4 lines at once.
The deeper the pile of lines that is completed, the higher the score,
especially when you complete a four-line TETRIS.
(Scores also differ according to the game level.)
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B-TYPE games
Once you have dropped 25 lines, you get a bonus score added to your real
score. Clear score = real score + LEVEL No. x 1000 + HEIGHT x 1000
* However, the bonus score when you have started play in the high-speed
mode is calculated at the original LEVEL No. (LEVEL No. in high-speed
mode - 10).
