Coloris

Coloris is a puzzle game developed for the Amiga by Signum Victoriae and released in 1990. The game is a polished and addictive Tetris variant that simplifies the classic falling-block formula while maintaining intense, fast-paced gameplay that demands quick thinking and sharp reflexes.

Unlike traditional Tetris, Coloris features only one block shape: vertical stacks of three colored segments. These segments come in five different colors, and instead of rotating the entire block, you cycle through the color order with a button press—transforming, for example, a white-blue-red combination into red-white-blue. The goal is to create horizontal lines containing three or more segments of the same color, which then vanish, allowing blocks above to fall and potentially triggering satisfying chain reactions.

This streamlined approach makes Coloris deceptively simple at first glance. You might think removing rotation and multiple block shapes would make the game easier than Tetris, but you'd be wrong. Within minutes, the speed ramps up, and the challenge becomes fierce. The color-cycling mechanic requires different strategic thinking than traditional block rotation—you're constantly planning not just where blocks land, but which color configuration will best set up future combinations and chains.

The game offers two modes that cater to different play styles. Standard mode offers the classic endless puzzle experience, focused solely on achieving high scores through skillful play and chain reactions. Time mode adds pressure by periodically adding new lines from the bottom of the playfield, forcing faster decisions and creating a more frantic, short-session experience. Both modes are well-designed and thoughtfully balanced, appealing to marathon players seeking long sessions and to those seeking quick, intense bursts of puzzle action.

Visually, Coloris showcases excellent graphics for the Amiga, with crisp, colorful presentation that makes distinguishing the five colors effortless, even during hectic moments. The clean interface never obscures the playfield, and the falling blocks are rendered with clarity and smooth animation. Sound effects are functional and satisfying, providing audio feedback for placements, line clears, and chain reactions without becoming annoying during extended play.

The comparison to C64 games like Castor and Su-Sweet is apt—Coloris shares their focus on color-matching mechanics rather than shape-fitting. However, the Amiga's superior graphics make Coloris more visually appealing and easier to read during fast gameplay. While it doesn't reach the iconic status of Tetris itself, Coloris carves out its own identity through its unique color-cycling twist.

If you are looking for the original experience, you might prefer more traditional clones like Tetris Pro or Super Tetris. But if you would like to try something new, Coloris is a good choice. It might not revolutionize the puzzle genre, but it doesn't need to. It's a terrific, fast-paced variant that takes a simple premise and executes it with polish and precision.