Tigris
The temptation to change the shape of the Tetris blocks must be huge. Of the very first Tetris clones from 1988, exactly 50% (as far as I know them) did it: Pentix on the PC, Speed-Puzzle and Tigris on the Atari. While Pentix generally replaced the tetraminoes with pentominoes and a few small filler blocks, Tigris keeps the classic blocks and adds a few larger (up to six squares) and smaller ones.
The graphics are more elaborate than can be seen on the static screenshots. On the title screen, a demo plays in the background. When you start playing, the screen slides down from the top. The dotted wallpaper of the well is animated, not such a hot idea in the long run since it tends to distract. Using Atari800Win, the playability wasn't perfect, especially the horizontal manoeuvering. The pieces tended to move too far and often landed where I did not want them. Of course, this might be different on a real Atari.
Tigris is one of the few Tetris clones—on the Atari or elsewhere—that was actually sold in a box. The back of the box contains the following operating instructions (translated rather freely from the original German):
- 1st Phase: Leaving Reality
- Load R & E Software's tactic, skill, brain, strategy game Tigris on your Atari XL/XE.
- 2nd Phase: Goodbye to Humanity
- Small, colorful, geometrically shaped pieces fall from the top of the playing field. Rotate them so that they form a solid line at the bottom. The world stands still.
- 3rd Phase: Drifting into Madness
- If you don't want to lose your wife/husband/significant other, play the game in two-player mode. The lone retreat from your familiar environment into Tigris willchange your life. Nightmares become an everyday experience.
- 4th Phase: To Be or not to Be
- For the 29 Mark you paid for Tigris, your life isn't worth a thin dime now. This was the biggest mistake of your life.
Matthias Drees was active with ABBUC (Atari Bit Byter User Club),
the largest Atari 8-bit user club in Germany. He has been mentioned
in connection with a MultiTasking OS
about which I could find
out nothing. Tigris is his only game.
