Tetris: The Grand Master

Tetris: The Grand Master
Xbox 360 cover for Tetris: The Grand Master Ace
Developer(s)	Arika
Publisher(s)	Capcom (1) Psikyo (2) Taito Corporation (3) AQ Interactive (Ace)
Composer(s)	Shinji Hosoe Ayako Saso
Platform(s)	Arcade (Tetris: The Grand Master 1-3) , Xbox 360 (Tetris: The Grand Master Ace)
Release	1998 (1) 2000 (2) 2005 (3, Ace)
Genre(s)	Puzzle
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Arcade system	Sony ZN-2 (1) Psikyo SH2 (2) Taito Type X (3)

Tetris: The Grand Master (テトリス ザ・グランドマスター, Tetorisu: Za Gurando Masutā^?) is a series of puzzle games created by Arika based on the popular Tetris license. The Grand Master series introduced several play mechanics to Tetris gameplay which can be seen today in its sequels and many other Tetris implementations.

The original game was followed by two sequels also developed by Arika: Tetris the Absolute: The Grand Master 2 in 2000 (with a Plus version released soon after) and Tetris: The Grand Master 3 - Terror-Instinct in 2005. A related console game, Tetris: The Grand Master Ace was published by AQ Interactive on December 10, 2005 and was a launch title for the Xbox 360's Japan release.

The basic gameplay of TGM is similar to that of other Tetris games. The player must move and rotate Tetromino-shaped pieces falling into a well to form horizontal lines, which will then be cleared. During gameplay, the game automatically gives ranks to the player according to his/her score, starting from 9 all the way up to GM (Grand Master).

In most Tetris games, the game level (signifying its difficulty) will increase by one every time the player clears 10 lines. A different system is used in TGM however. Levels in TGM increase by one for every piece placed and locked down and for every line cleared. The exception to the rule is when the lower two digits of the level is at 99 (99, 199, 299, etc.) and on level 998. When in this state, the level can only be increased by clearing lines, and not by placing pieces.

The ultimate goal of the game is to reach level 999 (1300 in TGM3 Shirase mode), the highest level, and attain the GM rank.

The fall speed is measured in units called G, or grid cells per frame. For the first 300 levels, the game speed is less than 1G. After reaching level 500, the falling pieces cease to have an airborne phase and instead will instantly appear at the bottom. This state is referred to by developers of the game as 20G. Previously, players would align the horizontal position while the piece is still airborne and then drop the pieces, but this becomes impossible since the pieces are already at their lowest possible vertical positions when they appear. Instead players are required to quickly trundle the pieces along the terrain to get them to their intended locations before they lock down. Similar conditions can be observed in some modern iterations of Tetris such as level 20 of Tetris DS.