The Basics
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 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.