Customer Reviews

Touchmaster 2

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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

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.

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!"

I LOVED the original touchmaster and looked forward to this sequel. it is horrible. the games are not fun and difficult to manage. the word games and picture games, which I usually love were major disappointments. I enjoy the occasional mindless, easy to play, quick game and i did not find any in touchamster. There were plenty in the original. If you don't have the original, buy that one. It is a lot of fun and worth the price.

When deciding on purchasing this game, consider that this is a bundle of many types of games, then decide if it wouldn't be better to find a game that is completely themed towards a strategy you like...

For example; In Touchmaster2 there is a game where you find things. If this appeals to you then I suggest MillionHeir. If you like racing games, then I suggest buying a total racing game. If you like card games, then buy Clubhouse Games.

Because there are so many different games, it seems like not a lot of programming effort went into any one game, thus some of the screens and game styles are mediocre, compared to their competitive solo themed game counterparts that are on the market...

It is fun, but you may find you wasted money when you only really play one or two of the games.....

I love this game for my DS! I play it all the time. I love the Dice King and the Super Maki. The games where you have to look and find the difference in the pictures and the I SPY game are very hard to see what you are looking for as the screens on the DS are so small. I cannot see the differences and have to guess.

TouchMaster 2 has a lot of games, but I was expecting a continuation of the first edition. It takes a little while to get used to the new format. I also liked the scorecard in the original TouchMaster. It's not here with the 2. Overall, though, there are a lot of games that are fun to play, and I believe the collection is well worth the cost. Enjoying my games.

Like the other reviewers, I was excited to get Touchmaster 2. There aren't many DS cartridges geared to adults the way Touchmaster 1 was and even a year after buying TM1, it is still one of my most played games so I bought TM 2 without a second thought. Big Mistake.

It has 19 games and a more sophisticated navigation menu but TM2 seems like it is trying to appeal to kids AND adults and it does neither. The avatar selection at the beginning is pointless, the games that incorporate animation are rudimentary and simplistic and the word-related puzzles seem aimed at 3rd graders. The only games I regularly play are Dice King and Prismatics but even they are frustrating.

In Dice King, it is almost impossible (and not in a "fun" impossible way) to get 5 of a kind (since you are forced to complete all the other groupings first) and while I like Prismatics, it (and Dice King) take too long to play to be any fun. Plus the high score, bonus round and (some other version) of play are unintuitive. Why can't you shoot for the top score AND the most bonus rounds?

I still haven't figured out what the stupid trophy score is all about. I got 19 out of 27 pretty much every time whether I won big or played a single round. WHATever. I'll probably keep the game just because the two games I mentioned are kind of cool but I wish I could transfer them to TM1 and keep all my favorites in one place. Over all, a bummer!

The first Touchmaster is such a good variety of games I was really hoping for more choices with Touchmaster 2. I am disappointed. There are more games but poorly explained. I am not sure how to play some of the games and there is no real help function to explain how to play the games.I even had my friend try the games because she is a whiz at videos...she was not impressed either. So I would say save your money.

I was so looking forward to Touchmaster 2 because of the enjoyment I got from playing the original. There are very few games that I am interested in playing again after having tried them all. In fact, I found myself quickly pulling out the original again. And to think I paid more for # 2.