Tetris Attack/Gameplay

Menus
Once you press a button to exit the introduction screen, you will see the main menus. Navigating is simple: move the flashing pink arrow with and select what you want with. To go back a step, press
 * 1player game - Lets you choose from any of the five 1-player modes.
 * 2player game - Lets you choose from either of the two 2-player modes.
 * How to play - Includes a display of the controls and videos explaining everything you need to know to get started.
 * How to improve - Demonstrations of Combos, Chains, and Skill Chains.
 * Option - Gives you various options to change (see below).

Basics of gameplay
Tetris Attack is a puzzle game where you clear panels by getting 3 or more of the same kind in a row, horizontally or vertically. You can only switch (using or ) two horizontally adjacent panels, or a panel and an empty space horizontally next to it. Gravity applies (with some considerable delay - see Timing), and so you can move a panel down into a gap. Throughout most modes, the panels will rise up at varying speeds, with new rows of panels added to the bottom. The goal varies by mode, but the method of clearing panels is always the same.

Clearing more than 3 panels at a time (Combos) or panels that subsequently cause other panels to clear (Chains), depending on the mode, may increase the number of points you make, the time the panels stop rising, or the number/size of Garbage blocks that are placed on your opponent's stack.

There are 5 basic kinds of panels. Each has a specific color and shape on it, but other than that there is no difference between them.

The 6th kind of panel is only found sometimes, generally in the more difficult parts of the game. It is found in normal and hard difficulties on Endless, in all difficulties on Time trial (1 player), at level 3 and above on Time trial (2 players), starting with the special stage in between rounds 3 and 4 in Stage clear, various Puzzles, never in Vs. (1 player), and at level 9 and above in Vs. (2 players). At first this block’s inclusion may not seem like a big deal, but in actuality this significantly increases the difficulty, as the number of matches that can be made is very likely to be higher with only 5 colors to choose from.

The special panel is found only in Vs. modes (1 or 2 players), and will create a garbage block even if only 3 are cleared.

Options
On the main screen, simply move the cursor with to option and select it. Use and  to go to an option, and then use  and  to change the value of that option. Press or  to confirm the value.
 * Text type - Changes text between English and Japanese (menus remain english).
 * Match pts. - In 2-player modes, this determines how many games you must win to win the match (2 points or 1 point).
 * Sound test - Allows you to hear the various sound effects in the game.
 * Music test - Allows you to hear the music in the game.
 * Character - Gives a new screen with the character’s name and some brief text as spoken by them, often having to do with their interaction with Yoshi.
 * CPU switch - Allows you to make the first and/or second player in any mode (except puzzle) a computer-controlled character (“on” means the computer will control the character). It also gives you an option of what level the computer should play at (0 being a weak player, 7 being an expert player).
 * Mark on/off - Turning this option on will make the notifications of what combo or chain you made (such as “5”, or “x3”) translucent. The default off means they are solid.

Characters
The characters in Tetris Attack are taken directly from Yoshi's Island. Depending on the mode, as few as 6 and as many as 13 character choices may be playable. Most have their own unique background, combo/chain sound, and two loops of music, one for regular playing time, and another for pressure moments (when a player is 2 blocks or fewer from the top of the screen (except puzzle mode), or in time trial when there are 15 seconds left).

Pals
Yoshi is the main character of the game. In the story of the 1 player Vs. mode, Yoshi is unaffected by a spell which controls his friends, and he is on a mission to first save his friends, and then take back the island from Bowser and his goons. You must (well, almost - see Codes) play the first 8 rounds as him, and then can continue to use him if desired for the final rounds. He is the only character in this mode which does not disappear if you lose while playing him. He is also playable in Endless, Time trial (1 player), and both 2 player modes (Time trial and Vs.), and will be the first round of Stage clear and Puzzle.

Lakitu and Goonie are the first pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Breeze Stage. They are also playable in Endless, Time Trial (1 player), and both 2 player modes, and will be the second round of Stage Clear and Puzzle.

Bumpty and Dr. Freezegood are the second pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Glacial Stage. They are also playable in both 2 player modes.

Poochy and Grinder are the third pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Forest Stage. They are also playable in Endless, Time Trial (1 player), and both 2 player modes, and will be the third round of Stage Clear and Puzzle.

Flying Wiggler and Eggo-Dil are the fourth pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Flower Stage. They are also playable in both 2 player modes.

Froggy and Clawdaddy are the fifth pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Water Stage. They are also playable in Endless, Time Trial (1 player), and both 2 player modes, and will be the fourth round of Stage Clear and Puzzle.

Gargantua Blargg and Flamer Guy are the sixth pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Blaze Stage. They are also playable in Endless, Time Trial (1 player), and both 2 player modes, and will be the fifth round of Stage Clear and Puzzle.

Lunge Fish and Flopsy Fish are the seventh pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Sea Stage. They are also playable in both 2 player modes.

Raphael The Raven and Shy-Guy are the eighth pair of friends to save in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Lunar Stage. They are also playable in Endless, Time Trial (1 player), and both 2 player modes, and will be the sixth round of Stage Clear and Puzzle.

Rivals
Hookbill the Koopa is the first boss fought in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Cave of Wickedness. He shares music and background with Naval and Kamek. He is only playable using a code given in the game for 2 player modes.

Naval Piranha is the second boss fought in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Cave of Wickedness. He shares music and background with Hookbill and Kamek. He is only playable using a code given in the game for 2 player modes.

Kamek and Kamek’s Toadies are the third boss fought in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Cave of Wickedness. He is the one responsible for the spell that bewitched Yoshi’s friends. He shares music and background with Hookbill and Naval. He is only playable using a code given in the game for 2 player modes.

Bowser is the final boss fought in 1 player Vs. mode, in the Cave of Wickedness. He is only playable using a code given in the game for 2 player modes. During Stage Clear, he appears in between rounds 3 and 4 to give you a preview of the final stage, and then at the very end for that final stage.

Other
Little Yoshi is not a playable character, but takes part in the ending story of the 1 player Vs. mode. He is enthusiastic about helping to beat Bowser, but is too late. All of the friends are happy he has come though.