Wetrix does something that very few puzzle games do: something completely different!
Wetrix plays part puzzle game, part RTS. You are given a flat square of land, and soon, blocks of various rectangular shapes start descending. Once on the screen, you have to manipulate them in order to create an entire wall. After a few blocks have dropped down, water will start descending, and you'll need to ensure that you wall is complete so that the water won't leak out, which is paramount, as too much water leaked out will result in "Game Over".
As more and more water and blocks descend, you'll have to change your strategy in order to deal with them, but those are not the only factors you're going to have to take into consideration. Ice cubes, which freeze the body of water they touch, aren't such great threats on their own, but get a rocket stuck in one of them, and once they eventually thaw, a gaping hole will suck out a lot of water, and you'll lose. Rockets fall, and they bring with them a lot of destructive power, which can either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on where they land. As previously mentioned, if they land on water you will soon lose the game, but if they land on a piece of land that has too many blocks on it, the rocket will prevent an Earthquake from occurring, which prevents similar results to those seen with the whole rocket in an ice sheet. The final item to fall from the sky is a fireball, which dries up water, and this will give out points depending on the depth and size of the body of water it comes into contact with.
As you can see, Wetrix is very different to most puzzle games, and at first it can be quite confusing on how to play, but the game offers a great deal of tutorials, which guide you on how to do the best with Wetrix via video demonstrations. There are also a bevy of other modes to play through. The standard multiplayer mode is present, offering addictive play for two people. All the other modes provide difficulty variants on the "Classic" play. The difficulties range from a shallow slope to extremely hardcore challenges, where lasting a minute is almost impossible for all but the best players. All these modes offer a great amount to get through for a game that is extremely addictive once you get the hang of it.
Due to its very simple nature, Wetrix's graphics are very proficient. Devoted almost entirely to terra-forming and water effects, the game looks brilliant. Never is there a hitch in the frame rate, which is extremely important when everything starts to get hectic later on.
The game has a soothing soundtrack to go along with the aqueous nature of the game, and this is juxtaposed with the hilarious announcer who says everything in the manliest voice ever heard.
Closing comments: The N64 is a system with far too many Tetris clones, and apart from Blast Corps, Wetrix is the only puzzle game that tries to do anything different, and just like Blast Corps, it pulls it off incredibly well.