A Love Letter to Tetris

I've been recovering from an illness, so this is a chill video about whether or not Tetris is perfect, some of my favourite versions of Tetris, and the Tetris Company. The bulk of the video is about the Grand Master series, but I go into a few different topics.
ko-fi.com/jimmcgee
VIDEOS USED:
• Tetris Video Sources
One video is not featured here because the owner has unlisted it to prevent getting DMCA'd by Arika.
LINKS:
Some of PetitPrince's writing about TGM:
tildes.net/~games.game_design...
tetris.wiki/TGM_Guide
The best Tetris wiki: tetris.wiki
Tetris Concept forums: tetrisconcept.net
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Tetris doesn't need an introduction
01:08 God hates Tetris (Tetris DS)
06:56 Tetris is not a concept (TGM)
28:03 Tetris is for everyone (Fan Games)

[@amazonen66]

I keep rewatching this video over and over. This is what I aspire to be. Thank you for making this video, it was an amazing time watching it.

[@JimmyMcG33]

Thanks everybody!

[@drakep.5857]

Love your channel!

[@abruhnamedbravo286]

Hey Jimmy, great vid. Can you put a link to the version of Tetris at 36:00?

[@poweradereal]

you are one of my favourite youtubers of all time... love your stuff (rip thoth 93 rhobot ghod)

[@kabershshkabersh4272]

your voice is so relaxing, and coupled with the music I had trouble staying awake- in a good way

[@tobyk5091]

Honestly I guess I have to say you are the most underrated KZbinr I’ve watched. Your videos are legitimately deliberate and somehow atmospheric in theming that both fits your style and the game you are covering so.... good job Also I don’t want to spread you know bad advice, but I think the theming of the thumbnails are actually pretty good especially with the guided rain world tour video. It’s just that the KZbin algorithm is trash in my opinion that you haven’t blown up for these video essays

[@justo4343]

This is really moving. I watched your cruelty squad review earlier and it inspired me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. I find it really strange to be so emotionally affected by video game reviews. But I thought I should say so. Thanks for these

[@andycopeland7051]

Looks like im not the only one returning to watch this video more than once. A few spots are worded so profoundly that it borders on spiritual existentialism. Great job, you got me back into tetris by the way

[@kingkhan2894]

21:50 or so onwards is probably the most beautiful, moving thing I've ever seen in a game review. Almost spiritual

[@pegrat]

You have an amazing voice to listen to! Its very relaxing to watch your videos, im super grateful to have watched your rainworld one :D

[@websiteuser7926]

going back to this because its a favorite of mine (absolutely adore tetris) but also because a friend of mine mentioned just how hegel-coded some of your language is here and im realizing how correct they were, good video

[@FelixColonThree]

I cried watching this video I hope you know

[@firefayt]

same

[@bigben01985]

This feels like a video that should have at lest a couple tens of thousands of views...

[@gretchencarlos3813]

This, along with Every Frame A Painting, are the only video essay channels I find myself endlessly returning to not only for the sake of refreshing myself on the arguments and analyses they contain, but for the purpose of enjoying the sheer artistic beauty and craftsmanship of the videos themselves. This channel has especially led me to reconsider: the value of difficulty within videogames (as well as the creativity developers can display with how they choose to make a game difficult), the ways video essays can convey atmosphere, and, of course, the beauty which can be achieved by harmony of gameplay with thematic ideas. Arguably the best active channel on KZbin.

[@smugay]

I've watched all your videos at least 3 times over but I refuse to watch the rainworld ones until I can play it through myself.

[@sorry987654321]

this is really well crafted, insightful content. keep up the good work! very rare and way underrated!

[@efronlicht1043]

This is cool. I've seen speedruns, etc, of Tetris - The Grand Master but I felt like I was missing some context, which this filled in well. Keep it up!

[@Kirby703]

This is a fantastic high level summary of the genre. I think TGM3 and Effect are also my favorite titles - they feel nice to play, even if their previews and hold don't force the player to stack as perfectly as something like TGM1 or NES.

[@yesyes4660]

If i hadn't intentionally gone out of the way to disable the algorithm and get reccomended new content, i'd have never found your channel.

[@JohnDoe-yf4io]

How do you do that?

[@s_e_r.]

Your narration is calm and feels so... Reassuring. Like I had no idea what a 30+ minute video about Tetris could be like, but you were like "chill out and enjoy this weirdly in-depth look at this classic". You earned a sub. Hope to see more from you.

[@Vapor_Roads]

KEEP GOING, the video quality is wonderful. I hope this channel grows in success tenfold.

[@dork487]

your videos are so well polished and insightful, there is no way you aren't going to blow up.

[@creepercraftytT99]

2:31 correction: in EVERY tetris game since Tetris Worlds (the first guideline game), moving or rotating the piece resets the delay, however, in the more modern versions, there is a limit of 15 moves/rotations, after that, the piece is forcefully locked to prevent you from escaping a top out 20:39 correction: At Least 2 seconds slower than your last, go slower than that and no cool, go faster, and your next cool will be harder to achieve 31:54 not so universally understood, in my family, i'm the only one who knows how to play and how to play well😂😂😂

[@WireMosasaur]

I've never really enjoyed playing or watching tetris (no idea why), but I've always loved the game _conceptually_ and this was a lot of insight into that side of things :)

[@danielkyto1363]

I don't know if your goal is to make the world a better place. But I think you are making it better. thoughtful analysis of our reality and ability to articulate that understanding is essential to others be able to knowingly choose the life they want to live which is the only path to a life fully embodied and human. Thank you.

[@ThaTrueRealmWalker]

Perfection at its core, congrats my man, hope it gets noticed alot more.

[@ilkerkesal1145]

I feel like this video only slipped under the radar because of how saturated Tetris video essays on KZbin have become -- still one of my favs from you

[@elenaschmidt9476]

saw someone linking your video about the internet archive on mastodon and now I'm going through your videos. these are absolutely fantastic!

[@andycopeland7051]

What a fantastic video. Thanks for sharing

[@gavmcdangle1893]

Amazing video as always!

[@TotemSP2]

I've been waiting for someone to give TGM the reverence it deserves in a video. I hope you take off soon, you're great at this.

[@TotemSP2]

Seriously, I've seen that KevinDDR clip a few times before and it always makes me feel emotional. It's so triumphant.

[@logan.horning]

Love your videos jimmy thank you

[@100hundert]

I keep coming back to this video, usually listening while playing TGM2 Death Mode or Super Tetris 3. Easily one of my favorite video essays about Tetris 👌

[@andrew_cunningham]

This is the only video essay I've ever recognized as special simply after looking at the chapter titles.

[@Kaneish]

commenting because not only does this rule, the fact less than half your subs have seen this is criminal! TGM3 is one of my favorite games ever and I've never put it into words any better than "game hard me likey". playing the series soon after playing the hell out of tetris effect (also another all-time favorite) is one of my fondest memories. I have a highlight of some stream I did years ago and thank god I highlighted my PB in TGM3, going back and re-watching knowing that I got (I think?) S3 is such a good feeling EDIT: I JUST REMEMBERED THAT I ALSO BOUGHT A FIGHT STICK FOR TGM3, NO WONDER I LOVE THIS VIDEO LMAO

[@Kaneish]

oh my god, I was a whole different person back when I wrote this, this video might've made me more sure of what I wanna do with my life. inspirational shit man, I think about your stuff all the time. I hope you're aware of how meaningful your work is to a lot of people, including me.

[@SimplyColin]

man great video, severely underrated, criminally underrated even. You deserve way more subs and views, please keep making videos

[@BigMoodGiraffe]

This was a great video, thank you for making it! :D

[@patternwhisperer4048]

Time for this to become recommended again

[@curlybrace314]

This was a really lovely video!

[@Kyfow]

Great video. I LOVE that ending scene, so smart

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

So thoughtful. great work.

[@leftovernoise]

I just want you to know that your videos slapp

[@RemnantCult]

I got very, very good at Tetris DS. I could stay in a machine state for a long time and just play endless mode without breaking a sweat. However, when I tried out the Grand Master series, the Tetris Freak's game of choice for solo competition, it kicked my ass. Just had a different feel that felt more stiff initially. Even so, I think Tetris is an example of a very pure video game that will probably outlast us and be played by the next species that inherits this blue marble. Great video.

[@Fantasticanations]

Love the usage of David Kanaga's music-- he has such a vibe that hit me as soon as the first track started.

[@fy8798]

I thought I had seen a perfect tetris video before, but this one certainly shows I was wrong, improvements are always possible. Including to Tetris.

[@snufkinfanclub5346]

this video introduced me to my favourite video game (tgm 2)

[@100hundert]

Your section on TGM was so captivating! I agree, these games take the basic concepts of Tetris and elevate them into unbelievably unique games. I initially didn't like TGM - it felt restrictive and punishing (coming from Tetris DS), and I probably didn't even consciously notice the differences in rotation rules and piece colors, let alone the deeper concepts. But after the recent ports of TGM and TAP got released and playing these games consistently, going back to other titles made me realize just how perfect the TGM games are. Even seemingly little details like the next piece actually being displayed right where it drops, rather than on an arbitrary spot somewhere on the side, makes such a massive difference. And it took me quite some time to even fully grasp the idea of not playing for score. TGM really feels like Tetris: The Fighting Game. The more I play it, the more the mechanical depth reveals itself. And yeah, I also adore the little sounds the pieces do when they drop down and lock in place. It makes them feel very haptic and just interacting with them is satisfying!

[@Joshua-dr1ev]

Another excellent video

[@docmarion8902]

Damn what a great video

[@michaelweaver9360]

I love how the perfection of Tetris is just assumed at the start of the video and is used for the basis of so much more discussion

[@hekirb3382]

Big lizard :)

[@floppavevo5920]

I have watched this video more times than I can count

[@jouska107]

your videos are amazing! keep on going

[@dihydrogen]

those takes on the tetris company go damn hard

[@mikedrop4421]

How am I the 960th view? This is crazy, get your shit together KZbin. This channel needs some exposure Edit: the story you told about your Tetris DS road trip. When I was that age we had an original Gameboy and the only game we had for years was Tetris.

[@IrisGalaxis]

You're a good guy.

[@Dowlphin]

0:16 "It was discovered" - Kinda. It was an evolution of a simpler children's game concept and put into the computer world. - And *The Story of Tetris* is a very interesting tale about the nature of capitalism. And you call certain variants of the game flawed, but that is very conditional. There is no inherent flawedness in the way you design gameplay. It is just different aims, experiences and challenges. For example, a game that you can play potentially infinitely presents meta gaming challenges about endurance, concentration, willpower and even dealing with contemplations of throwing your lifetime away. 37:18 Oldschool storytelling style. 😁

[@Swarming-Languendo]

god damn you deserve more views

[@rawvegankid]

Underrated!

[@chastitywhiterose]

I finally found someone who loves Tetris as much as me.

[@Bleenderhead]

I would like to give a shoutout to NotTetris by StabYourself, and Futilitris by Twin Beards.

[@ShaunMacdonaldTQ]

Good shit

[@RichoRosai]

I don't play puzzle games because I'm afraid of discovering that I'm actually stupid.

[@JewTubeUsername]

Near perfect game, actually, it is perfect.

[@cocoakusubuu7100]

TETRIS. BATTLE. GAIDEN.

[@Doritomurderer]

BUT NO NINJA KID

[@cocoakusubuu7100]

HALLOWEEN IS KING @@DoritomurdererLEMME JUST BLAST ALL THESE HOLES IN THE FIELD FOR YOU AND STEAL YOUR ORBS LOL

[@MrGaxiolaX]

sharing everywhere

[@nellkellino-miller7673]

I'm surprised you didn't mention The Witness in this video. Anyone who's played it for long enough will know exactly what I mean. They both have a tendency of inducing a form of pareidolia in long term players, and many of the puzzles in The Witness are just evolved and abstracted Tertris puzzles. I like to think that The Witness is following the legacy left by games like Myst and Tetris, as opposed to most modern games which ultimately followed the legacy of games like Doom and Pac man and Zelda etc... Not that one is necessarily better than the other, but it has led me to broadly categorise most games into either "Doom legacy" or "Myst legacy" depending on the priorities of their design and the intended player experience.

[@deezy511]

never been this early to a youtuber that's gonna blow up

[@Ottrond]

hell yeah

[@Alanis1337]

Reminds me of matthewmatosis' review of tetris

[@mii9010]

Didn't mention Arika's best Tetris game Cardcaptor Sakura Eternal Heart

[@danieln7574]

Have you ever played super puzzle fighter 2. It's a really fun version of tetris to play with a friend. It's normal tetris mechanics but you can pick street fighter characters and the towers you knock out are combos to your opponent.

[@arstotzkanplaguedoctor]

🟦 🟦🟦🟦

[@kingkhan2894]

Where can i see what music was used in this video?

[@smugli3012]

whats the music at 15:00

[@LordOfTheFatties]

The official Tetris mobile game is absolutely, unbelievably horrible, to the extent of being nearly unplayable. It's been on a steady, downhill decline for multiple years, and is now a genuine piece of trash that can't be enjoyed.

[@machelul]

I hated tetris effect. It's too distracting, I want to either play tetris or see distracting visuals, not both at the same time.

[@fritzophrenia3146]

Big lizard :)