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Tetris the Absolute: The Grand Master 2 Plus

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Tetris The Absolute The Grand Master 2 (also known as T.A., and TGM2) is Arika's second title in the TGM series. It is an arcade game published by Psikyo in October 2000. The Grand Master 2 introduced the less-intimidating Normal mode to attract more casual gamers, as well as an all-new grading s...

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Developer
Arika

Released on
2000

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Puzzle

Publisher
Psikyo

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Tetris the Absolute: The Grand Master 2 Plus 1

Tetris the Absolute: The Grand Master 2 Plus 2

Description

Tetris The Absolute The Grand Master 2 (also known as T.A., and TGM2) is Arika’s second title in the TGM series. It is an arcade game published by Psikyo in October 2000. The Grand Master 2 introduced the less-intimidating Normal mode to attract more casual gamers, as well as an all-new grading system in Master mode, the continuation of TGM’s original gameplay.

Two months later in the same year, a free upgrade of the game, titled Tetris The Absolute The Grand Master 2 PLUS (also known as TAP, and TGM2) was released, which added TGM+, T.A. Death, and increased the GM requirements for Master mode. It is very rare to find a The Grand Master 2 arcade PCB that has not been updated to the PLUS version.

Tetris the Absolute: The Grand Master 2 Plus

Overview & History

Developed by Arika and released in Japanese arcades in 2000, Tetris the Absolute: The Grand Master 2 Plus (TAP) stands as the undisputed pinnacle of hardcore, masocore puzzle gaming. Serving as the terrifyingly difficult sequel to 1998's original Grand Master, the "Plus" version introduced the manic "T.A. Death" mode, pushing arcade puzzle-goers to their absolute limits. Unlike casual living room iterations, TAP was engineered specifically for competitive, high-adrenaline arcade environments, demanding near-superhuman reflexes, meticulous mental mapping, and precise, lightning-fast execution. While it features no traditional narrative storyline—relying instead on the eternal quest for mastery, survival, and the coveted Grand Master rank—its lore is forged in the sweat and quarters of arcade history, where earning the grandmaster ribbon required conquering invisible blocks, sudden gravity spikes, and the crushing psychological weight of the Death mode's relentless, unyielding pace.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

TAP redefines standard block-stacking through its hyper-refined engine, featuring infinite rotation windows (IRS), wall-kicks, and an exceptionally generous Entry Delay (ARE) that forces players to mentally queue their moves before pieces even spawn. The game boasts distinct play modes: Normal, Master, and the infamous T.A. Death. In Master mode, players climb through graded levels, encountering escalating gravity that culminates in the terrifying "Master" rank trials. T.A. Death mode drops all pretenses of progression, instantly hitting maximum gravity from level one and forcing a 100-line sprint where a single misplaced piece spells instant game over. Adding to the tension is the grading system (from 9 to 1, followed by S-ranks and Grand Master), which judges not just survival, but speed, efficiency, and the execution of specific clears like Tetrises and T-Spins. Players can choose between original rotation rules and modified systems, utilizing hold queues and preview panes to manipulate tetrominoes through microscopic gaps.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move piece left/right, soft drop, and hard drop
Action Keys: Rotate piece clockwise (A), counter-clockwise (B), and hold piece (C)
Enter: Start / Pause