Touchmaster 2

by Midway

Product Features

• Touchmaster 2 for the Nintendo DS returns with a collection of 20 addictive and fun games from five different genres
• Genres include: Cards, Action, Strategy, Picture, and Puzzle
• Includes all new games, including a few exciting twists on some familiar classics such as Mahki, Poker, and Solitaire
• With Download Play mode you can "beam" your favorite game to friends for instant battles on your Nintendo DS
• Build up your Wizard Points and collect all 60 platinum trophies to become the Ultimate Touchmaster

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0018RWMSW
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 5 x 0.8 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: October 21, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,103 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #10 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Arcade

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Midway's Touchmaster 2 returns with a collection of 20 addictive and fun games from five different genres: Cards, Action, Strategy, Picture, and Puzzle. With this many options to choose from, there is certain to be a game for every player. The Nintendo DS delivers all the Touchmaster 2 games to palm of your hand -- you can play a quick round to beat your high-score, or roll up your sleeves and finds some real competition against other players. No matter how you choose to play, Touchmaster 2 delivers hours of gaming fun that is perfect for gamers of any level.

You can play wirelessly against your friends. View larger.

Midway made a name for the Touchmaster franchise in bars, restaurants, and arcades across the country, and they're excited to bring their highly interactive mini-games to the Nintendo DS. Touchmaster 2 includes all-new games, including a few exciting twists on some familiar classics such as Mahki, Poker, and Solitaire. Here's the whole list ...

TouchMaster 2: Five Genres, 20 Games

Poker Slide View Finder Spellwinder Scavenger What Is It?

Rampage Empire Bowling Speed Demon Super Mahki Picture Slide

Beaned! Catacombs Prismatix Combo 11 Dice King

Speed Solitaire Carpet Catwalk Caper Triples Billiards

Instant Battles, Multiplayer, and the Ultimate Touchmaster
Nintendo DS and Touchmaster 2 opens fun, new possibilities in cooperative game play. With the Touchmaster 2 Download Play mode you can actually "beam" your favorite Touchmaster 2 game to friends for instant battles on your Nintendo DS. And if multiplayer action is your game of choice, Nintendo DS has you covered -- you can play with friends using local wireless Ad-Hoc play or simply pass your DS from player to player and battle it out for the best scores.

Are you ready to put your nose to the grindstone and really master Touchmaster 2? If so, you'll be eager to build up your Wizard Points and collect all 60 platinum trophies so you can become the Ultimate Touchmaster.

With 20 minigames in all, you won't run out of games anytime soon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Big Disappointment, November 1, 2008

By 

Julie Totsch "Julie Totsch" (Racine, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Touchmaster 2 (Video Game)

Since I own the original Touchmaster, I couldn't wait for my copy of Touchmaster 2 to arrive. I pre-ordered two copies so the two DS players in my house wouldn't have to fight over the game. I'm really sorry I did that.

First, I thought this game would include more solitare card games along with challenging action games. Games that I could play when I'm sitting in the doctor's office. In reality, none of the games -- save two -- are all that challenging.

Let me break it down. I'm not going to go over all the games, but enough to give you an idea.

Combo 11 is not only very easy to master, it is way too easy to play. It doesn't leave much skill, such as the Pairs game in the original Touchmaster required. You can pretty much keep playing until you get bored and quit on your own. Simply put, you just match pairs that total 11.

Carpet is a cool game. There's some thought processes you need in order to continue playing. I find it challenging. You build from Aces in each suit, but your playing field is limited at each level, so it becomes challenging as you go along.

Speed solitare is a joke. I played twenty continous times without losing one game.

Speed Demon is a car driving game that you can't lose. No skill there. Trust me when I say a three year old can master it -- I've seen it done.

Bowling fairs a little better, but still so easy that my three year old grandson has almost mastered it.

Super Mahki is less challenging than in the original and you can't change (or I just haven't figured out how) the blocks.

Dice King is a cross between Mahki and Yahtzee. This game is challenging, frustrating and more fun for me.

I'm not too keen on having this little mascot. I don't see the purpose. I miss the favorites startup and the list of games is three less than the original Touchmaster.

Overall, I'm really disappointed, because I paid full price and I rarely pay full price for a game. I'm going to keep the games only because of my aforementioned grandson. He loves to play "bowling" and "cars" when he comes to visit. I'm keeping the game because of him.

I hope the Touchmaster team puts out another game, but I'd like to see them get back to the kinds of games that they had the first time.

My advice -- wait until the price drops and then buy this, especially if you have a little guy that likes bowling and car games.

If you don't own the original, buy that one instead.

Touchmaster

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What A Bummer...., November 2, 2008

By 

DS Enthusiast "DS Enthusiast" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Touchmaster 2 (Video Game)

Simply stated, Touchmaster 2 is quite a letdown. I currently own 19 assorted Nintendo DS games. I bought every game (except for Touchmaster 2) after carefully looking into people's reviews about it on various websites. So, far that conservative approach has been successful because I've enjoyed every game purchase after screening for good games. I broke my rule by buying Touchmaster 2 without any prior review checking. I own the first Touchmaster and I think it is a great DS game to own. I mistakenly assumed that Touchmaster 2 would be great as well. Wow was I wrong! Touchmaster 2 is boring. There is no pretty way to sugar coat it.
The Super Mahki on Touchmaster 2 is not as fun as the original Mahki on Touchmaster. The need to ??have a character?? is totally pointless. The card games are weak. If you want to play solitaire just buy Solitaire Overload with its 101 solitaire games. If you want to play Texas Hold'em just buy Midnight Play Pack. If you want to play pool, 8 ball or 9 ball, buy Midnight Play Pack. There really is no reason to buy Touchmaster 2 because other DS games have much better versions than Touchmaster 2, both in graphic quality and game play enjoyment. I can rationally picture someone enjoying Touchmaster 2 if it were a first or second game purchase for the DS. However, if you already own Solitaire Overload, Club House Games, Midnight Play Pack, and the original Touchmaster, there is no reason to purchase Touchmaster 2. You'll be quite disappointed, like me. After this big letdown, I'm am making sure to stick to my policy of carefully reading reviews before making DS game purchases. Touchmaster 2 is just money down the drain. Don't buy it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars As a Sequel, It Both Delivers and Disappoints!, November 4, 2008

By 

a reader - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Touchmaster 2 (Video Game)

I was super excited about this game because I loved the first Touchmaster - the quirky DS hit from last year that was made up of those addictive touch screen games you see at your local bar. So I pre-ordered this game. Unfortunately, this sequel seems to get some things right while getting other things wrong. While there are new games and features I do enjoy, I however can't help but think that this collection could've been developed better.

I will separate my review in to two parts as I dissect the positives and negatives of Touchmaster 2.


The good news:


+ The new mascot feature (you get to pick a wacky character to represent yourself) will be a hit with younger players.

+ Two DS players can play most of the games together with just one copy of the game via the wireless connection.

+ For the most part, the graphics seem better and larger, especially in the card games. I'm sure some older gamers will appreciate that.

+ There are fun new picture games (similar to "Photo Hunt") and some even have photorealistic graphics. I was so happy to see they included them.

+ The two word games are delightful and unique.

+ "Dice King" is a brilliant new addiction that reminds me of part Tetris Attack and part Yahtzee.

+ "Catwalk Caper," "Beaned," and "Speed Demon" are all refreshingly different action games.

+ "Catacombs" is an instant classic!!! It's a fun maze game, kind of like the old "Adventure" and "Gauntlet" games, and is an amazingly simple quest game, but it still breaks the mold on what a touch screen game can be. This game was a big surprise.


The bad news:


- The mascot feature may put off adult fans of the first game. It kind of seems like a cheap knock off of the Mii feature on the Wii.

-They removed the top ten saved scores for each game! Why?! That was the feature that made the original Touchmaster so addictive. The new game only saves your top score per game.

- Also, there is no longer internet play or a website dedicated to its high scores.

-The trophy feature doesn't add anything to the game play in my book.

- The new music is random, horrible, and overpowering and it doesn't even fit with the atmosphere of some of the games. Luckily you can turn the music off and just hear the sound effects! It's sad because the first Touchmaster had great music that actually enhanced the game play like in "Pond Kings."

-The cute, quirky sound effects from the first game (crowd cheers) are missing now. Also, there is no audio ticking clock which would have added addictive tension in a few games. The time limit in Touchmaster 2 is more loosey goosey. That works for some games, but not others.

- Like the arcade version, there should've been a "hint" feature included with the picture finding games. Plus, some of the pictures they selected seem grossly unfair (distant and shadowy) on such a small screen.

- This time around, there are no games where two players share the same screen. It would've been nice to have had "Quick Chess" on this collection.

- The card games don't seem as outstanding as the ones on the first collection.

- "Bowling" is way too easy and the game goes on until you are bored silly. "Hot Hoops" on the first collection was great because it didn't overstay its welcome.

- Again, where is "Monster Madness" or at least a decent clone of it? It's the most popular touch screen game in the world (I have spent a small fortune playing it over the years), so Midway go fork over some cash to Merit to license it. This collection had some pretty pathetic puzzle games this time around with the inferior "Super Mahki" and a real snoozer called "Prismatix" ... believe me the name makes it sound more interesting than it actually is.

In conclusion, Midway should go back to the drawing board for Touchmaster 3 -- or better yet, play the near flawless, original Touchmaster again and try to duplicate its magic. Lastly, they should give touch screen fans what they really, Really, REALLY want -"Monster Madness!"