Post by theconfuzed1 on Sept 11, 2008 2:50:08 GMT -5
Many people have been complaining that the new AF is too difficult. I disagree.
However, the old method of making matches as quickly as you can, and hoping things fall together is no longer a viable option.
I have posted in several different places comments along the lines of how I believe the challenges to be very much accomplishable. People have responded with obvious skepticism, and questions as to how I could possibly get a 12x multiplier with the latest version of the game.
The answer is quite simple--I have found a strategy that works. I'm sure that there are other strategies that work, and I am not so naive to say that my method is the best way. However, this works for me, and as promised, I am delivering screen shots to illustrate my method.
First and foremost, you must not give in to the urge to immediately match the tiles when you see that a match is possible. Instead, consider the next several moves in advance. This is what I do:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This part of the strategy was developed before the game featured dueling. Use this in the Mine--
1. Turn the device sideways, in order to get a larger playing field. You will obviously, need to turn the phone in order to move pieces into place, but keep your primary position horizontal.
2. Try to create the following pattern (the actual tiles don't matter, so much as the positioning).
3. Don't allow any tools into the initial mix. They will only complicate things. I move them aside.
I watch to see what the next block is going to be on the lower left, and I try to move the others into place to match it. I wait until the very last moment before the pieces are about to hit the other side, and then I slide the bottom right piece over to the right. This causes the blocks to begin breaking and forming multipliers.
As this happens, I use the two-finger pull to move everything as far as I can to the right, and I look for three matching blocks that are near each other. I then move those blocks to the right, so that they are not together yet, but they will be as soon as everything below them explodes.
Now, if you see tool blocks, start to implement them into the matches for big payoffs! Continue this until you are forced to start over again. I repeat what I've said before--I regularly get big multipliers using this strategy.
You can clearly see from these next shots though, that possibilities definitely can allow for some big multipliers:
***Update*** I've got some nice screenshots here of some very big chains. Once you get to a certain point, the game gives you enough time to make some huge chains. Once you get to this point, you will be able to turn the device in many directions, to take advantage of the possibilities. Just look for pieces so that you can plan ahead.
Have fun with it, and don't be afraid to experiment with this idea. I do my best to keep using the two-finger pull, but sometimes a stray block or two will be to the far right of the screen, which will prevent this from working. What I do at that point, is set up some blocks that match on the left side, and turn the phone the other direction so that the strays will fall into place. Once I've done this, I put the phone into the horizontal position again to see if I can continue the pattern. Once you are four to five moves ahead of the explosions you are able to buy yourself a few seconds to plan things out.
***** Second update, WITH VIDEO! *****
A few people have requested a video of this strategy in action. I was able to put one together, but as a fair warning--It's a little clumsy! I did all of it myself, including the filming, and it wasn't easy to balance a camera in a suitable position, and play this game, while leaning over in front of it, and trying to stay within the viewfinder range!
Also, I encountered a bug, which prevented my multiplier from increasing.
*** Edit *** It's not a bug. In the beginning, all matches would increase your multiplier. When I made this video, I didn't realize that they switched it up to feature both "Chaining," and "Juggling." Chaining is when you arrange pieces so that they fall into place. This increases your multiplier. Juggling is when you simply slide them into place. Juggling does not increase your multiplier.
I decided to use this footage, including the clumsiness, and multiplier glitch, to further illustrate my point that anyone can play Aurora Feint, if they use a strategy that works.
I used the most difficult part of this game (so far) for this video--A Level 8 Blueprint, using no tools. I only did this using a blueprint, as an illustration of how it can be done. You should use tools while making blueprints.
*** Edit ***
I've just been informed that there was no glitch. The trick is to make the pieces fall into place, rather than simply sliding them. I didn't realize that before.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This part of the strategy was developed later, after tools were introduced. Use this for blueprinting, summoning, and dueling--
Without making any extra matches, set your four-way Alchemy up, using four different colors, with the fifth color being in the middle. With a quick eyeball, determine which color is the least amount on the board, and use that as your center piece. In a perfect world, you will have one color with only four bricks on the board:
Using Instapop, align the remaining pieces, so that they will fall together. Change one of the bricks into an Illusionist tool:
Pull the board up as high as it will go, and set up another four way Alchemy. Make sure that there is a match somewhere on the board, in order to maintain your multiplier. I will sometimes use this time as an opportunity to set up an orb attack as well:
Now, here's the hard part--Maintain your multiplier, for as long as you can! When you do lose it, concentrate on orb attacks. I consistently score between 10-20k this way, and every now and then, beyond 20k, and in a few instances, beyond 30k.
Have fun with it, and keep practicing!
However, the old method of making matches as quickly as you can, and hoping things fall together is no longer a viable option.
I have posted in several different places comments along the lines of how I believe the challenges to be very much accomplishable. People have responded with obvious skepticism, and questions as to how I could possibly get a 12x multiplier with the latest version of the game.
The answer is quite simple--I have found a strategy that works. I'm sure that there are other strategies that work, and I am not so naive to say that my method is the best way. However, this works for me, and as promised, I am delivering screen shots to illustrate my method.
First and foremost, you must not give in to the urge to immediately match the tiles when you see that a match is possible. Instead, consider the next several moves in advance. This is what I do:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This part of the strategy was developed before the game featured dueling. Use this in the Mine--
1. Turn the device sideways, in order to get a larger playing field. You will obviously, need to turn the phone in order to move pieces into place, but keep your primary position horizontal.
2. Try to create the following pattern (the actual tiles don't matter, so much as the positioning).
3. Don't allow any tools into the initial mix. They will only complicate things. I move them aside.
I watch to see what the next block is going to be on the lower left, and I try to move the others into place to match it. I wait until the very last moment before the pieces are about to hit the other side, and then I slide the bottom right piece over to the right. This causes the blocks to begin breaking and forming multipliers.
As this happens, I use the two-finger pull to move everything as far as I can to the right, and I look for three matching blocks that are near each other. I then move those blocks to the right, so that they are not together yet, but they will be as soon as everything below them explodes.
Now, if you see tool blocks, start to implement them into the matches for big payoffs! Continue this until you are forced to start over again. I repeat what I've said before--I regularly get big multipliers using this strategy.
You can clearly see from these next shots though, that possibilities definitely can allow for some big multipliers:
***Update*** I've got some nice screenshots here of some very big chains. Once you get to a certain point, the game gives you enough time to make some huge chains. Once you get to this point, you will be able to turn the device in many directions, to take advantage of the possibilities. Just look for pieces so that you can plan ahead.
Have fun with it, and don't be afraid to experiment with this idea. I do my best to keep using the two-finger pull, but sometimes a stray block or two will be to the far right of the screen, which will prevent this from working. What I do at that point, is set up some blocks that match on the left side, and turn the phone the other direction so that the strays will fall into place. Once I've done this, I put the phone into the horizontal position again to see if I can continue the pattern. Once you are four to five moves ahead of the explosions you are able to buy yourself a few seconds to plan things out.
***** Second update, WITH VIDEO! *****
A few people have requested a video of this strategy in action. I was able to put one together, but as a fair warning--It's a little clumsy! I did all of it myself, including the filming, and it wasn't easy to balance a camera in a suitable position, and play this game, while leaning over in front of it, and trying to stay within the viewfinder range!
Also, I encountered a bug, which prevented my multiplier from increasing.
*** Edit *** It's not a bug. In the beginning, all matches would increase your multiplier. When I made this video, I didn't realize that they switched it up to feature both "Chaining," and "Juggling." Chaining is when you arrange pieces so that they fall into place. This increases your multiplier. Juggling is when you simply slide them into place. Juggling does not increase your multiplier.
I decided to use this footage, including the clumsiness, and multiplier glitch, to further illustrate my point that anyone can play Aurora Feint, if they use a strategy that works.
I used the most difficult part of this game (so far) for this video--A Level 8 Blueprint, using no tools. I only did this using a blueprint, as an illustration of how it can be done. You should use tools while making blueprints.
*** Edit ***
I've just been informed that there was no glitch. The trick is to make the pieces fall into place, rather than simply sliding them. I didn't realize that before.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This part of the strategy was developed later, after tools were introduced. Use this for blueprinting, summoning, and dueling--
Without making any extra matches, set your four-way Alchemy up, using four different colors, with the fifth color being in the middle. With a quick eyeball, determine which color is the least amount on the board, and use that as your center piece. In a perfect world, you will have one color with only four bricks on the board:
Using Instapop, align the remaining pieces, so that they will fall together. Change one of the bricks into an Illusionist tool:
Pull the board up as high as it will go, and set up another four way Alchemy. Make sure that there is a match somewhere on the board, in order to maintain your multiplier. I will sometimes use this time as an opportunity to set up an orb attack as well:
Now, here's the hard part--Maintain your multiplier, for as long as you can! When you do lose it, concentrate on orb attacks. I consistently score between 10-20k this way, and every now and then, beyond 20k, and in a few instances, beyond 30k.
Have fun with it, and keep practicing!