Twenty-two years ago, the original version of Alexey Pajitnov’s “Tetris” was released in the Soviet Union. In 1989, the game came as a pack-in with Nintendo’s handheld gaming system, Game Boy. It was on that system that the game reached megapopularity in the United States and helped sell millions of Game Boys to U.S. consumers. Since its inception, more than 100 officially licensed variations of “Tetris” have appeared on various platforms. The falling block puzzle is simply one of gaming’s greatest phenomena.

I’ll skip the mechanics of “Tetris,” as I’m sure anyone reading this has experienced some incarnation of the game. The latest version finds its home on Xbox 360 as “Tetris Evolution,” and despite the game’s bold title, it offers little in the way of new features over other “Tetris” variations from the last decade. However, it does include online play over Xbox Live for up to four players.

From the game’s start, players’ ears are greeted by the familiar Russian folk song “Korobeiniki,” also known as “Music A” on the Game Boy version of Tetris, which many associate as being the Tetris theme. It’s a nice touch that adds a good bit of nostalgia to the experience.

“Tetris Evolution” features the classic “Marathon Mode” where tetrominoes – Tetris blocks, for the uninformed – fall continuously at an increasing speed and players must keep up for as long as possible. Seven other modes, all minor variations of the game, provide a nice distraction.

The biggest flaw in the “Tetris Evolution” experience lies in the fact it exists on the Xbox 360, and most players will be using the standard 360 controller. The 360 directional pad is notorious for its inaccuracy and the problem certainly applies here in “Tetris Evolution.” While you might slip up a couple times, it shouldn’t impact your game significantly and there’s always the option of purchasing a third-party controller with a decent directional pad to remedy the problem.

At $30, “Tetris Evolution” is half the price of most regular new 360 games, yet it still feels a bit overpriced for a game you can purchase on virtually any other platform for cheaper, or even play online for free.

In the end, how much you enjoy this game will come down to how much you enjoy “Tetris.” If you’re looking to battle against puzzle fanatics at any given second, “Tetris Evolution” and its online mode is for you. If not, dig out your classic Game Boy copy and reminisce about days past.