MASTERING THE TETRIMINOS AGAIN
It opened the doors to licensed titles, and keeps building the way for those still to come. Tetris: The Grand Master returns to Arcade Archives with Tetris The Absolute: The Grand Master 2.
You've got an item, but that doesn't mean things will be easier in this game.
Tetris: The Grand Master was a hit despite being an expert-focused game. This resulted in a sequel which is this game called Tetris The Absolute: The Grand Master 2. If you've thought you've learned everything from the first Grand Master, then think again before playing this game.
The first mode of the game is the Normal mode. This can be considered a mix between the traditional Tetris with Training Mode elements because the game is shorter and ends after reaching level 300. While items were originally an exclusive of the VS mode, you'll be getting some of them in Normal mode such as clearing lines with even numbers of blocks. Also, it lacks of the grade system, making it look like a practice mode, but you'll be getting a glimpse of the challenge to come in Master Mode as the game will increase its speed to almost-superhuman levels during the game credits.
Reached level 300? There 699 more levels to conquer, chump.
The second mode is the Master Mode. This is the real game as it requires you to complete 999 levels. While the number sounds stratospherically high for an arcade game, it is actually short since each block that falls and locks in place is a level. Like in the previous game, reaching level 200 will drop the speed of the falling blocks as if the game will grant you a small time to catch a breath before all hell breaks loose again. Performing certain actions will grant you medals. For instance AC (All Clear) is when you perform a Tetris and there's no blocks on screen, being commonly known as "Bravo". If you are quasidivine enough to reach level 999, you'll be facing one more challenge, playing "Invisible Tetris" during the credits, as the blocks will become invisible as they lock in place, combine that with super speed, and you'll be in one hell of a challenge. Also, the Grade Recognition System was rebalanced and will demand even more from the player in order to reach the S levels. Both M and GM ranks are exclusive for those who survive the game 'til the end. If you fail on the Credit Roll, you'll be awarded with the M rank which is the 3rd Place of the game, clear it with less than 32 lines and you'll get a Green GM, but if you survive the "Credit Roll" with 32 lines done or more, consider yourself a Tetris God 'cos you'll be awarded with an Orange GM grade, which is the highest grade of the game.
If you reach the top, you're dead.
This mode is an exclusive of the Plus version: The TGM+ (The Grand Master Plus) mode. The objective here is to clear the screen while clearing the blocks from below, this will shift your strategy of "Piling up and make Tetris" to survival and stay as low as possible, considering the speed increase on each level. Another mode is the T.A. Death (The Absolute Death), which sets the block gravity to 20G like the cheat from the previous game, but this comes by default on this mode and is gonna make things a lot harder. Like the Normal mode, both TGM+ and T.A. Death lack of ranking systems or medals. There's also an improvement for 2 Player Mode in the Plus version, along with the VS mode, there's a new option called "Doubles" where both players play in a single large screen instead of being divided, giving the game a teamwork-based gameplay.
There's cheat codes for the game, but in a lesser number than before, limiting only to display the "Ghost piece", double the block's size and start with 20G in Master mode. Keep in mind, using any of these cheats will disable the ranking functions.
Just like the first Grand Master and its sequel Tetris The Grand Master 3: Terror Instinct, The Grand Master 2 didn't had a console port since its debut in 2000. 23 Years had to pass until Hamster and Arika ported the game home as part of Arcade Archives. One of the things that baffles me is that unlike Rally X and Sky Kid which later got their New Rally X and Sky Kid DX releases, Hamster skipped the original version and released the "Plus" edition directly. Hope this was only for this game, 'cos what if Hamster decides to do that with other games? Raiden II for example, can you imagine Hamster skipping Raiden II and give us Raiden DX as the substitute? Sounds like a terrible idea already, but actually, this version skip was for the best on The Grand Master 2, since the original version only featured Normal and Master, while the Plus adds TGM+ T.A. Death and Doubles, making it the updated version of the game.
Before talking of the graphics, let's talk about the sound. The game makes a more "Industrial" approach with deep bass and electronic sounds with a slow, yet funky rhythm with the same "Hoo! Go for that!" repeating again and again and again. The sound effects are the same of the first Tetris: The Grand Master except they're slightly pitched down. I don't know if this was due to the use of Psikyo's hardware or what happened there. The graphic department got a major improvement with the Psikyo hardware by replacing the still imagery with animated digitized CGI, something that Psikyo learned from their work in Strikers 1999/Strikers 1945 III. While the first game utilized the human body as a theme, this game goes industrial like the music and adds technological elements that move like pulsing steel cubes, lighting effects, broken concrete and steel beams, glowing circuitry and even electrical coils that move, spark and move in constant notion like the gears evoking the interior of a clock. The Tetris logo on the title screen was also changed, utilizing the design by Roger Dean (Asia and Yes covers, B.P.S.'s The Black Onyx with Michael Kaluta, Psygnosis Amnios, Obliterator and Shadow of the Beast, etc.) which was introduced in the Disney-themed Magical Tetris Challenge, the font breaks with the originality of the other titles and also the "BPS Stencil" Futura Black font used by other Tetris games like the NES/GB (Title screen logos) and Tetris Plus, replacing it with a exotic-futuristic styled lettering that retains some retro "80's" sci-fi influences that somehow managed to work with the Tetris license.
TETRIS THE ABSOLUTE (CURIOSITIES): THE GRAND (TRIVIA) MASTER 2
- First 2000's game in the Arcade Archives series.
- Second Arika game in the collection.
- Third Arcade Archives title based on a license.
- First Grand Master game using the Roger Dean Tetris logo.
- Second licensed title with the regular price tag.
- Second 32-Bit or higher title in the Arcade Archives.
- This game is (by now) the Arcade Archives game with the longest name possible.
- This is the lone entry in the series published by Psikyo. Taito would carry the Grand Master torch on Tetris The Grand Master 3: Terror Instinct.
- Like the first Grand Master which omitted Capcom's references, this game also removed all references to Psikyo, except for the credits which is VERY contradictorious since they have a game in Hamster's series (ACA Neogeo Strikers 1945 Plus).
- The Arcade Archives release is the first console port of the game.
- While Hamster's manual and website uses the term Tetriminos for the blocks, the game's original flyer called the pieces as "Blocks" until The Grand Master 3.
- Ironically, the obligatory disclaimer on the screenshot lacks of the "#tgmseries" hashtag, probably to include Roger Dean's involvement on the copyright.
- The last time we would see Roger Dean's logo in The Grand Master series would be in the limbo-stucked Tetris The Grand Master 4: Masters of Round.
- Roger Dean's Tetris logo was utilized in the Tetris franchise until 2019's Tetris 99 and Tetris Effect prior to its update as Tetris Effect: Connected which used the 35th Anniversary logo.
Didn't got an S rank this time, but got the Trophies, and that's what it counts.
Tetris The Absolute: The Grand Master 2 Plus is more than just a sequel, is the beginning of a line that separates the average Tetris players from the pro's. If you can't get a rank higher from Rank 4, then you know you've reached your limits unless you're one of those superplayers capable of reach the end. But is still a fun game since it's Tetris.
With Tetris' second debut on the Arcade Archives, hope we can see more of the franchise like Tetris Plus, Hamster already worked with Jaleco/City Connection so its not out of the question and it'd be great for Tetris Plus 2 since it didn't had a console port. I wouldn't be surprised if we will end up seeing Tetris The Grand Master 3: Terror Instinct in the Arcade Archives lineup sooner or later.
Tetris and Mazinger Z, the architects of the path of licensed titles within the Arcade Archives catalogue. Can't wait to see other licensed games like The Simpsons, Captain America and The Avengers or Rambo III on the Arcade Archives. Not just see them on the series, but also respecting the $7.99 price tag rather than going twice the price like Mazinger Z did, it will be excellent and affordable.
If you're up to the challenge, you'll be giving this one a try.