Description

"Tetris (Unlicensed)" for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an interesting chapter in the storied history of the popular puzzle game. Unlike the official Nintendo version of Tetris, this unlicensed edition was not authorized by Nintendo and was produced by Tengen, a subsidiary of Atari Games. The game itself maintains the core mechanics that made Tetris universally beloved. Players are tasked with manipulating a random sequence of Tetriminos, which are geometric shapes composed of four square blocks. The objective is to create complete lines by positioning the Tetriminos within the Matrix (playing field), which then disappear to grant points to the player, with the goal of preventing the Tetriminos from stacking to the top of the screen.

The Tengen version of Tetris offered features that set it apart from its licensed counterparts at the time. Notably, it included a two-player cooperative mode, a feature that was absent in the official NES release by Nintendo. It also featured different music and a more distinct visual style that some players found more appealing. The availability and distribution of this unlicensed version were quite limited due to legal actions taken by Nintendo shortly after its release, leading to its quick withdrawal from the market. This background story contributes to the rarity and specific intrigue surrounding this classic game variant, making it a highly sought-after collectors' item among classic NES aficionados today.