Tetris by Aramis

Puzzle explanation

This puzzle marked the 30th anniversary of the computer game Tetris. The perimeter contains SANCHO PANZA, DON QUIXOTE and El Caballero de la Triste Figura, (in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations), which was a title that Panza bestowed on Quixote. Triste figura is interpreted here as suggesting an anagram of “Tetris”, with figura hinting at the shapes. Highlighting in the grid consisted of the phrase “tilting at windmills”, in a crossed form approximating a windmill’s sails.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprint(s) Answer Explanation
Across
1   IODOUS ODIOUS with I moved to the front
  NOES homophone of NOSE
2   WALLA W + ALL + A
  TERSE PER SE with T for P
3   OSIER COSIER − C
  SUITS SUI + T + S
4   SCLATE SC + LATE
  RANK 2 meanings
5   DIOL LOID <
  SIGNAL GINS * + AL(e)
6   PONE OPEN *
  IN-TRAY INT + RAY
7   PROSIMIANS PROS + I’ + MI + ANS
8   OUST OU + ST
  INDIGO IND + I + GO
9   MOLYBDENUM MOLY + BUM around (D + EN)
10   SIGNARY NARY after SIG
  AIM I in AM
11   TRUTHS (H + TRUST) *
  FLEW homophone of FLU
12   DJEBEL D(isplays) J(ack) E(xhibiting) + BEL
  IRID ID after IR
Shapes
  ro(O)k SAAR SA + A + R
  sp(I)ce ZEST Z + EST
  L(I)vely; f(O)r IRON-PANS ((O)RPINGTONS with A for GT) *
  (L)ove CHOU (publi)C HOU(se)
  Coa(T)ed; ide(S) ANODISED AND around (O + IDES *)
  ja(R) OLLA O(pening) L(eft) L(eft) A(gain)
  vi(O)ls GUES GUES(s)
  sh(I)ver GRUE GRUE(l)
  cra(Z)ed TARE (c)RATE(s) *
  over(S); (S)A WOORALIS WALIS around (O + OR)
  Di(R)k EFIK (KNIFE − N) <
  (Z)any; (S)lay ANALYSTS (ANTS SLAY) *
  (T)Vs; m(I)ssed TRANNIES (ARE SENT IN) * − E
  (S)illy; pre(T)ence SCIOLIST SOLICITS *
  d(I)al; sou(L) CABALLED BA in CALLED
  pa(L) OPPO OP + OP <
  Outsi(Z)e; (Z)ero ENORMOUS (NORM + O) in SUE <
  (L)etter AIDE IDEA with A moved to the front
  pas(T)a; cro(T)ch INGUINAL LINGUINA with L moved to the end
  (R)ain MIST homophone of MISSED
  (T)ense; l(I)ving IMMORTAL IMMORAL around T
  b(O)re BIND BIND(i)
  (L)eathery UGLY U(sin)G L(eather)Y
  Tea(R) RANT RAN + T(able)
  p(O)sture; b(O)lter STRIDDLE ST + RIDDLE
  Ma(Z)y WEIR WRITES * − T − S
  (R)id; p(I)n DETOXIFY ((YO + TED) around FIX) <
  sh(R)ub HEBE EPHEBE − EP
  (L)oved; (L)ily JONQUILS (N + QUAILS − A) after JO
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