Review: Tetris Effect

Tetris Effect (2019)

Developer: Monstars Inc. and Resonair

Platform: Personal Computer

Induction Date: 05/27/2020

I've inducted plenty of titles from the Epic Games Store recently, thanks to their Epic Mega Sale 2020 event. One of those games is Tetris Effect by Monstars Inc. and Resonair. I feel horrible now for waiting this long to get this game - though I don't have that irrational hate for EGS where the game is still being sold exclusively for the Personal Computer, I used to have an irrational attachment to Steam, but Epic's generous discount scheme has convinced me otherwise. Tetris Effect is the most exciting new game I have played in recent memory and I have played too many over these past 5 years that couldn't hold my interest. Tetris Effect changes all that. It's an unexpected masterpiece and it's definitely one of the best games ever made.

Seagulls, dolphins, and perhaps humans. Don't we all deserve the ability to live freely?

X-Box One Controller... Update?

Though I don't use it as often anymore ever since Valve allowed every compatible controller full customization access on Steam, I remember the Steam Controller receiving plenty of firmware updates. I don't remember any other controllers that receive such a treatment except for the Vive Controllers. I remember thinking, wow, this controller is really, really awkward to use - the XYAB input placement was horrific - but it's so special that it can receive firmware updates! So I was playing Borderlands 3 on Epic Games earlier using my comfort device, the X-Box One Controller, and I noticed that my character couldn't just stand still where he would keep drifting to the right continuously until I snap the left stick a bit. I have had bad experiences with X-Box 360 controllers before where this problem occurred and went through 3 controllers on that system. At first I was like, oh crap, time to switch to the PlayStation 4 controller but then I went online for a solution. I was surprised to learn that the X-Box One Controllers do get firmware updates. I suppose since I don't have an X-Box One, which would have updated the controller when you connect to the console, it would be easy for me to miss this. Apparently, one can download the X-Box Accessories app from the Windows 10 Store to get this accomplished. I learned something new today. Did it fix my problem? No, Microsoft controllers are just built bad apparently. I'm glad I didn't buy the overpriced elite version.

My controller did need a firmware update. The thing is, Microsoft just wants me to buy another one.