Hatris Overview
Hatris is a puzzle game set in a hat factory where the player stacks falling headwear on mannequin heads. Instead of geometric blocks, the pieces consist of various hat types, including top hats, cowboy hats, baseball caps, derbys, party hats, and crowns.
The core task involves managing hats that descend two at a time, placing them on one of six stacks. When five identical hats are stacked vertically, that set is cleared, shipped out, and converted into a monetary score. Progress is measured by advancing through shop levels, which introduces more hat varieties and increases the challenge. The game ends if any stack reaches the top of the screen.
Notable differences exist between regional releases. The NES version includes a special aid system where players can earn assistance from figures representing the game's creators. This aid, which can be stored, allows for column switching or removal of hats from stack bottoms. Unused aid can be sold at a level's end. Conversely, the Famicom version lacks both this system and the point bonus for simultaneous set clearance, though it retains a screen where players can select a hat type to remove from play.
