Tetris

Tetris - the 1988 falling block puzzle for Commodore 64 from Mirrorsoft.

Stack seven tetromino shapes to clear lines and keep the well from
filling, all while a 25‑minute SID epic loops in the background.

Core loop
- move and rotate a falling piece to fit gaps
- press down for an instant hard drop and bonus points
- clear completed rows to survive until you top out

Systems and items
- single‑button rotate - left only - no wall kicks
- scoring - no multi‑line bonus in this port; every clear scores the same
- options - choose start level 0 - 9; music or sfx
- controls - joystick in port 2
- music - Wally Beben’s continuous ~26‑minute in‑game track

Level design and feel
Tall, clean playfield with a fantasy backdrop and minimal UI. Solid‑fill
pieces read clearly but lock the instant you drop, so precision matters.
The feel is slower at first, then ramps hard by the higher levels.

Why it is notable
- first commercial wave of Tetris in the West via Mirrorsoft in early 1988
- famous C64 soundtrack length and craft on the three‑voice SID

Tips
- rotate before contact; you cannot twist against walls or slide after lock
- use instant drop only when sure of placement to avoid mislocks
- keep the stack flat and leave a one‑wide chute for the long bar

At a glance
Year - 1988
Developer - Andromeda Software
Design and programming - Phillip Brabbin
Graphics - Stephen Ian Thomson (SIT)
Music - Wally Beben
Publisher - Mirrorsoft (Mastertronic re‑release)
Genre - Falling block puzzle
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2