Tap Master: Mondrian is a simple Windows Phone 8 game that will test your ability to react to commands and objects flying down your screen. The game's design is inspired by Piet Mondrian's minimalistic style and has you tapping colored shapes as they run down (or in some cases up) the screen.
The challenge to the game is that you can only tap the pieces as directed by the game. It sounds easy but as you progress through game play, the pace increases and you might be surprised how challenging it can be to keep up.
Tap Master: Mondrian has a simple layout, challenging game play and is a nice addition to the Windows Phone gaming library.
Game Layout
The main pages for Tap Master: Mondrian has options to jump into game play, access your gaming options and view your gaming stats. Your best score will also be displayed on the main page.
Gaming options include muting the game sound, removing the ads by in-app purchase ($.99), follow the developer on Twitter, check your achievements/challenges and view the gaming credits. Gaming Stats covers your best score, average score, number of games played and a breakdown of how many of each game pieces you've destroyed.
Challenges with Tap Master are basically achievements that you earn during game play. When you jump into game play, your current challenge will be displayed as the game loads. Challenges include goals such as scoring a set number of points, destroying a number of gaming pieces of a certain color or shape or collecting a bonus star.
Game Play
Just as with the rest of the game, Tap Master: Mondrian's gaming screen is simply laid out with your level displayed in the upper left corner, your direction or rule displayed in the top center of the screen and a pause button resting in the right corner. At the bottom of the screen is your score.
As the game starts, assorted colored gaming pieces will begin to fall from the top of the screen. You will see a direction appear at the top center (red, blue, squares, circles, etc.) and you will need to tap every game piece that matches that direction before it reaches the bottom of the screen.
Each game piece destroyed will earn you points and you play until a piece reaches the bottom of the screen. The pace of the game starts out at a nice gingerly pace but increases the longer you survive.
Along with the colored shapes, you will have flashing stars randomly fall from the top of the screen that serve as bonus items. Bonus items range from earning extra life, double points, slowing down the pace of the game and more. While most of the stars are beneficial, I did run across one situation where the star reversed the playing field. That is instead of the game pieces falling down the screen, they rose up from the bottom of the screen.
Overall Impression
It's hard to find anything wrong with Tap Master: Mondrian. The game is well presented and game play challenging enough to keep you interested. I do not know if Tap Master: Mondrian is a game you would pick up and play every day though. However, for those times you are in the mood for something different or are with friends and want to challenge their reflexes, it is a fun game to pick up.
The ad banner can be a little cumbersome at times, blocking your score display on the gaming screen from time to time. It isn't anything mission critical but noticeable.
Overall, Tap Master: Mondrian is a fun, challenging game for Windows Phone 8. The game is free with ad-support and you can remove the ad banners through a $.99 in-app purchase. You can find Tap Master: Mondrian here in the Windows Phone Store.
