Honestly I guess I have to say you are the most underrated TH-camr 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 TH-cam algorithm is trash in my opinion that you haven’t blown up for these video essays
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
I finally achieved GM on TGM1 a few days ago, after discovering the TGM series 15 years ago, on some irc channel that might've been #tetrisconcept Thanks for your work Jimmy, a true ludo enjoyer like there isnt many on this website. Thank you.
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 TH-cam.
2:31 correction: in EVERY tetris game since Tetris Worlds (the first "modern" 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😂😂😂
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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 :)
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 👌
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.
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!
I feel like this video only slipped under the radar because of how saturated Tetris video essays on TH-cam have become -- still one of my favs from you
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.
How am I the 960th view? This is crazy, get your shit together TH-cam. 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.
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.
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. 😁
Thanks everybody!
Love your channel!
Hey Jimmy, great vid. Can you put a link to the version of Tetris at 36:00?
you are one of my favourite youtubers of all time...
love your stuff
(rip thoth 93 rhobot ghod)
@JimmyMcG33 say! Whats the song that you used at the very beginning of this video?
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.
Honestly I guess I have to say you are the most underrated TH-camr 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 TH-cam algorithm is trash in my opinion that you haven’t blown up for these video essays
your voice is so relaxing, and coupled with the music I had trouble staying awake- in a good way
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.
How do you do that?
21:50 or so onwards is probably the most beautiful, moving thing I've ever seen in a game review. Almost spiritual
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
I finally achieved GM on TGM1 a few days ago, after discovering the TGM series 15 years ago, on some irc channel that might've been #tetrisconcept
Thanks for your work Jimmy, a true ludo enjoyer like there isnt many on this website. Thank you.
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
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 TH-cam.
2:31 correction: in EVERY tetris game since Tetris Worlds (the first "modern" 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😂😂😂
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
This feels like a video that should have at lest a couple tens of thousands of views...
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.
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.
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.
Seriously, I've seen that KevinDDR clip a few times before and it always makes me feel emotional. It's so triumphant.
This is the only video essay I've ever recognized as special simply after looking at the chapter titles.
saw someone linking your video about the internet archive on mastodon and now I'm going through your videos. these are absolutely fantastic!
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!
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.
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
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.
I cried watching this video I hope you know
same
KEEP GOING, the video quality is wonderful. I hope this channel grows in success tenfold.
your videos are so well polished and insightful, there is no way you aren't going to blow up.
Perfection at its core, congrats my man, hope it gets noticed alot more.
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.
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 :)
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 👌
What a fantastic video. Thanks for sharing
this is really well crafted, insightful content. keep up the good work! very rare and way underrated!
Amazing video as always!
Love your videos jimmy thank you
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.
incredible video
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.
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!
How did I never see this video until now? This is must watch for every Tetris fan!
I feel like this video only slipped under the radar because of how saturated Tetris video essays on TH-cam have become -- still one of my favs from you
man great video, severely underrated, criminally underrated even. You deserve way more subs and views, please keep making videos
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.
I just want you to know that your videos slapp
Time for this to become recommended again
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
been stalling watching this for a while, but I'm happy I did
So thoughtful. great work.
your videos are amazing! keep on going
This was a great video, thank you for making it! :D
Wonderful video, I like that you appreciate freedom too, with fangames.
Love the usage of David Kanaga's music-- he has such a vibe that hit me as soon as the first track started.
This was a really lovely video!
Great video. I LOVE that ending scene, so smart
Damn what a great video
How am I the 960th view? This is crazy, get your shit together TH-cam. 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.
this video introduced me to my favourite video game (tgm 2)
You're a good guy.
Another excellent video
“PIECES OF DIFFERENT COLORS WILL FALL APART!”
I haven’t heard those words since I was in high school😂
TGM4 is coming out on Steam by the end of March 2025, just thought I'd let everyone here know
those takes on the tetris company go damn hard
I have watched this video more times than I can count
Big lizard :)
Underrated!
god damn you deserve more views
TETRIS. BATTLE. GAIDEN.
BUT NO NINJA KID
HALLOWEEN IS KING @@DoritomurdererLEMME JUST BLAST ALL THESE HOLES IN THE FIELD FOR YOU AND STEAL YOUR ORBS LOL
I finally found someone who loves Tetris as much as me.
Good shit
Been playing a lot of tetris recently
sharing everywhere
Didn't mention Arika's best Tetris game
Cardcaptor Sakura Eternal Heart
I would like to give a shoutout to NotTetris by StabYourself, and Futilitris by Twin Beards.
12:25 song
Reminds me of matthewmatosis' review of tetris
i wish i could finally get why people like tetris so much
whats the music at 15:00
never been this early to a youtuber that's gonna blow up
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.
Near perfect game, actually, it is perfect.
I don't play puzzle games because I'm afraid of discovering that I'm actually stupid.
hell yeah
Where can i see what music was used in this video?
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. 😁
🟦
🟦🟦🟦
based J enjoyer
I hated tetris effect. It's too distracting, I want to either play tetris or see distracting visuals, not both at the same time.
Big lizard :)