The background songs are remixes of classic songs from the featured game. Push mode is available for two players in multiplayer matches whereas Standard mode is available for two players (without items) or four players (with items). The player who pushes the pile all the way out of the screen towards their opponent wins. As they fall from the top screen to the bottom, players must ram the mass into the blocks to catch them. The mode's visuals imply a mass moving up a large corridor from the original Music is a feature located in the Options menu where the player can listen to "records" of songs heard throughout Several other cameos that are not part of the main game play are also included in the game. In addition, Mission mode is only capable of DS-to-DS wireless play, but Standard mode is available for up to ten players, using only one In order to be able to play this game you need an emulator installed. Players can attach them to on the top, bottom or the sides. When this happens, the mass will detonate shortly after, taking all blocks and enemies directly above, below, or to its sides with it. Once exceeded these displays continue to show these maximum values. The Records menu displays a sprite of a character from an NES on the top screen, which changes every time the player gains 1000 points (this does not apply after the player earns more that 10000 points).
Players attempt to establish a four by four mass of blocks that includes the flashing one. Mission mode can be played competitively, or as a marathon to beat your own score. $12.99.
Whenever two or more lines are cleared simultaneously, the player's side of the pile moves down, "pushing" the opponent's side upwards (The player's side is seen on the top screen, while the bottom screen shows the opponent's side upside-down, since the bottoms of both players' piles push against each other). Howeve… The player can then use the explosion to destroy Metroids, the enemies, or Tetriminoes. However, the meters and play field are never altered. The Tetriminos are like missiles in this mode. If energy runs out, or Tetriminoes are stacked so far that the central block is longer than the entire screen, the game is over. The highest visible score in Endless mode is 99,999,999, the highest visible level is 999, and the highest visible number of lines completed is also 999.
Other examples include clearing five lines while only receiving square Tetriminoes, or clearing three lines simultaneously with anything except a bar-shaped Tetrimino (in this case, using a bar Tetrimino will not clear the objective). Unlike Puzzle mode, where the challenge's goal remains the same throughout the game, in Mission mode it changes every time the challenge is met. A small glitch in the game means that once the score has surpassed the maximum of 99,999,999 it is not saved in the records screen. Each time ten lines are cleared, the theme of the level changes and difficulty increases. Puzzle mode features a Standard mode and Push mode are capable of online and DS-to-DS wireless play. The playing field spans both DS screens; but only Tetriminoes appearing in lower touch screen could be moved. Bonus points are awarded for clearing more than one row at once. However, there is no time limit, so players may think for as long as they need. Pressing X will immediately detonate the blocks. A Touch Puzzle mode is also available, where for each level, a given objective must be achieved, but the Tetriminoes cannot be rotated.
Each of the modes is themed after a particular famous Nintendo title and utilizes its own goals and rules. Tetris DS is one of the many versions of the ever popular Tetris puzzle game series. There is no time limit. When enough Tetriminoes have cleared, a cage of balloons is released. While the 4x4 square flashes, more blocks can be attached to it to gain more points when it detonates (the flashing portion only expands if another four blocks are added to one of its sides). The creators behind Tetris, Wizardry, and Planetfall rise to this year's Game Design Challenge with designs for games that can be played by humans--and at least one other species.
Touch mode has no timer, nor do Tetriminoes fall from the top. Both players start with a 1x1 block floating in their field, and must place Tetriminoes on that to form a base (if a Tetrimino is dropped where it won't land on anything, it will simply fall out of the screen).