Clearly I loved Anode. There's a great level of strategy to it, and while its feet are rooted firmly in classic falling blocks puzzlers, its got a great new idea to keep you on your toes. It is a shame the overall package doesn't include some more modes, but it's only $3.99 and there's still plenty to like, especially for those that like to challenge themselves to getting new high scores.
The limited but excellent soundtrack and local competitive modes make the overall package well worth playing if you're a fan of this type of game. Just don't expect anything groundbreaking -- pun intended, again.
That said, Anode‘s incredibly low price alone makes this a recommended purchase for all Xbox One owners. When you also add in the crisp visuals and variety of great game modes it’s enough to raise it above many similar efforts out there.
While Anode is striving to take on the giant that is Tetris, I think it fails to be a game of that caliber. There is magic in the simplicity that is Tetris, and Anode just comes off too brash and in-your-face. While the game is not bad, it just doesn’t do anything special. I find it to have only a small amount of enjoyment that putters out quickly.