New Friend Request
SHOLLY'S TIP SHEETS, CHAPTER XI: Match Blocks 11/26/07 8:28 PM
This game looks oddly familiar, but I can't place where I've seen it before. The closest one I remember seeing is Alexey's Dwice, by Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris. However, that game is considerably different, as the shapes slowly come down the screen, and you don't necessarily have to match the color.
Match Blocks is extremely simple on the surface--just find a pair of blocks of the same shape and color and click them off. Getting through the game isn't too hard, but scoring well takes quite a bit more thinking. To get a high score, you have to know how to isolate blocks, how to get the most of your Bonus Blocks, and how to get rid of bombs. This game isn't quite as fast-paced as many of King.com's games, but you still have to be sharp.
In each round, you are given a board full of colored blocks of different shapes. Your job is to remove enough blocks to isolate the gold block before time runs out. You remove blocks by pairing them up or by isolating them, which is to leave a single block all by itself, not touching any other, even on a corner. Isolating blocks gives more points than pairing them off, and if you manage to isolate at least four blocks with one match, you'll get an achievement point. You can get multiple achievement points in classic Match Blocks (but not in Speedtrap; stay tuned for that Tip Sheet soon). Some of the blocks are Bonus Blocks, which are covered with X's and worth double points. Note that you can match a Bonus Block with a plain block, as long as the shape and color match. You also have bombs to deal with; they start counting down from 9, and you have to isolate them before the timer reaches 0, or else your game is over.
The game goes on for three rounds, or until you run out of moves, time, or let a bomb count down to 0. You start with 2½ minutes in Level 1, 3 minutes in Level 2, and 4 minutes in Level 3. You also have a bonus that counts down every time you make a match, which I'll talk about more in a bit.
Let's talk about how this simple little game is scored:
Matching two plain blocks is worth 20 points. A Bonus Block doubles the score, so matching a Bonus Block with a plain block is worth 40, and matching two Bonus Blocks is worth 80.
Isolating a block is worth a base score of 30. If you isolate more than one block with one match, you get additional points--10 bonus points for isolating two blocks, with each additional block carrying 10 more bonus points than the last one. For instance, if you isolate four plain blocks, you'll score 180: 30 for the first block, 40 for the second, 50 for the third, and 60 for the fourth. Each Bonus Block isolated adds 30 points to the total.
Isolating a bomb is worth 50 points.
If you successfully isolate the gold block, you'll get whatever bonus is remaining on the move meter, as well as a small time bonus, which is roughly two-thirds of the number of seconds you have left. The move meter starts at 2000 points on Level 1, 3000 on Level 2, and 4000 on Level 3, and counts down 50 points for each match you make.
Now, let's talk about how to score big points:
You'll almost always have a bomb on the screen at the start of a level. Get rid of it before anything else; messing around when it comes to clearing bombs can end a game prematurely. It doesn't happen often in the classic version, but every once in a while, one of the blocks touching a bomb won't have a match on the screen, so you'll have to isolate it to get rid of it. If you fooled around elsewhere before taking on the bomb, you might not take it out in time.
A note on taking out bombs: If you pair off the last block(s) touching the bomb, it will disappear right away, but if you isolate the last block(s), it will count down once more before disappearing. This means that if the timer gets down to 1 and you isolate the last block, you're dead! Keep this in mind when you're in bomb disposal mode.
The key to scoring the really big points is mass isolation. I make at least one or two 6-block isolations in every game. 7 and even 8 are possible, though quite rare. The points add up quickly with these moves; a 6-block isolation involving all plain blocks is worth 350 points--20 for the match, then 30+40+50+60+70+80 for the isolated blocks. Again, this is with all plain blocks--the score goes even higher if Bonus Blocks are involved.
So how do you pull off these mass isolations? It's a three-step process:
1. Identify a "target" pair. This is a matching pair of blocks that has several other blocks touching them that can be separated from each other. In other words, pick out block A1 and A2, which you will remove for the mass isolation. Both A1 and A2 should have at least three blocks touching them that aren't touching each other.
2. Remove all the blocks touching your target pair, except the ones that will be isolated. In other words, identify blocks B, C, and D (and E, if you're really good) that touch each A block but not each other, then remove all other blocks touching A, B, C, and D.
3. If you've done this right, you'll have a matching pair of blocks with several blocks "radiating" out from each of them. Now, click off your target pair for big points!
You should make at least one mass isolation in each level, and you can often make two or three. Don't ignore the chance to make smaller isolations either--every time your move involves an isolation, you're scoring at least as many points as you lose on the move meter, and you're gaining ground if any Bonus Blocks are involved, or if the move isolates more than one block. Just keep an eye on your timer, and leave enough time to isolate the gold block before it expires. Don't rush, but be aware of the timer.
I usually score around 2200-2300 in Level 1, and I usually have around 5300-5500 after Level 2. If you're hitting these scores, you're doing very well. I usually score in the mid to high 9K range, though I've broken 10K several times. The more mass isolations you can make, the better you'll do.
As always, feel free to leave any questions or feedback. Stay tuned for the Match Blocks Speedtrap Tip Sheet, coming soon. Take care and good luck!
Match Blocks is extremely simple on the surface--just find a pair of blocks of the same shape and color and click them off. Getting through the game isn't too hard, but scoring well takes quite a bit more thinking. To get a high score, you have to know how to isolate blocks, how to get the most of your Bonus Blocks, and how to get rid of bombs. This game isn't quite as fast-paced as many of King.com's games, but you still have to be sharp.
In each round, you are given a board full of colored blocks of different shapes. Your job is to remove enough blocks to isolate the gold block before time runs out. You remove blocks by pairing them up or by isolating them, which is to leave a single block all by itself, not touching any other, even on a corner. Isolating blocks gives more points than pairing them off, and if you manage to isolate at least four blocks with one match, you'll get an achievement point. You can get multiple achievement points in classic Match Blocks (but not in Speedtrap; stay tuned for that Tip Sheet soon). Some of the blocks are Bonus Blocks, which are covered with X's and worth double points. Note that you can match a Bonus Block with a plain block, as long as the shape and color match. You also have bombs to deal with; they start counting down from 9, and you have to isolate them before the timer reaches 0, or else your game is over.
The game goes on for three rounds, or until you run out of moves, time, or let a bomb count down to 0. You start with 2½ minutes in Level 1, 3 minutes in Level 2, and 4 minutes in Level 3. You also have a bonus that counts down every time you make a match, which I'll talk about more in a bit.
Let's talk about how this simple little game is scored:
Matching two plain blocks is worth 20 points. A Bonus Block doubles the score, so matching a Bonus Block with a plain block is worth 40, and matching two Bonus Blocks is worth 80.
Isolating a block is worth a base score of 30. If you isolate more than one block with one match, you get additional points--10 bonus points for isolating two blocks, with each additional block carrying 10 more bonus points than the last one. For instance, if you isolate four plain blocks, you'll score 180: 30 for the first block, 40 for the second, 50 for the third, and 60 for the fourth. Each Bonus Block isolated adds 30 points to the total.
Isolating a bomb is worth 50 points.
If you successfully isolate the gold block, you'll get whatever bonus is remaining on the move meter, as well as a small time bonus, which is roughly two-thirds of the number of seconds you have left. The move meter starts at 2000 points on Level 1, 3000 on Level 2, and 4000 on Level 3, and counts down 50 points for each match you make.
Now, let's talk about how to score big points:
You'll almost always have a bomb on the screen at the start of a level. Get rid of it before anything else; messing around when it comes to clearing bombs can end a game prematurely. It doesn't happen often in the classic version, but every once in a while, one of the blocks touching a bomb won't have a match on the screen, so you'll have to isolate it to get rid of it. If you fooled around elsewhere before taking on the bomb, you might not take it out in time.
A note on taking out bombs: If you pair off the last block(s) touching the bomb, it will disappear right away, but if you isolate the last block(s), it will count down once more before disappearing. This means that if the timer gets down to 1 and you isolate the last block, you're dead! Keep this in mind when you're in bomb disposal mode.
The key to scoring the really big points is mass isolation. I make at least one or two 6-block isolations in every game. 7 and even 8 are possible, though quite rare. The points add up quickly with these moves; a 6-block isolation involving all plain blocks is worth 350 points--20 for the match, then 30+40+50+60+70+80 for the isolated blocks. Again, this is with all plain blocks--the score goes even higher if Bonus Blocks are involved.
So how do you pull off these mass isolations? It's a three-step process:
1. Identify a "target" pair. This is a matching pair of blocks that has several other blocks touching them that can be separated from each other. In other words, pick out block A1 and A2, which you will remove for the mass isolation. Both A1 and A2 should have at least three blocks touching them that aren't touching each other.
2. Remove all the blocks touching your target pair, except the ones that will be isolated. In other words, identify blocks B, C, and D (and E, if you're really good) that touch each A block but not each other, then remove all other blocks touching A, B, C, and D.
3. If you've done this right, you'll have a matching pair of blocks with several blocks "radiating" out from each of them. Now, click off your target pair for big points!
You should make at least one mass isolation in each level, and you can often make two or three. Don't ignore the chance to make smaller isolations either--every time your move involves an isolation, you're scoring at least as many points as you lose on the move meter, and you're gaining ground if any Bonus Blocks are involved, or if the move isolates more than one block. Just keep an eye on your timer, and leave enough time to isolate the gold block before it expires. Don't rush, but be aware of the timer.
I usually score around 2200-2300 in Level 1, and I usually have around 5300-5500 after Level 2. If you're hitting these scores, you're doing very well. I usually score in the mid to high 9K range, though I've broken 10K several times. The more mass isolations you can make, the better you'll do.
As always, feel free to leave any questions or feedback. Stay tuned for the Match Blocks Speedtrap Tip Sheet, coming soon. Take care and good luck!
i've never been able to figure out how to get an achievement in this game; now I know!; just tried it and managed a mass isolation on each of levels 1 and 2; thank you so much for your help in this game
a reminder, before you isolate the gold block, check around and see if you can make any bonus matches, even a bonus block with a standard block if it isolates at least one block, is worth it. your time bonus is basically nill. watch for pairing up rare blocks like the w's ect. try to keep even #'s
More great advice. Apparently I was a bit hasty in posting this Tip Sheet, as I've clearly missed several good points. Thanks for the input. Take care and good luck!
don't try for 4 block isolations in round one, there aren't enough pieces, and you can often get stranded. also, whenever a bomb is in sight, remove as many pieces as you can, even if they aren't activated yet. whenever there are 2 bombs, try to remove blocks they have in common first. good luck.
..in the game area. Often you want to remove a block but there can none be seen in the playing area. Checking the few upper lines (where you can't see the full blocks) is than always a good idea. Greets, Hein
Those are some great tips as well. Thanks for the input! :)
...watch arround the game area to look for combinations of blocks that give more than 50 points (the decrease in bonuspoints after every move), for example a pair of two bonus blocks. Remove these before isolating the golden block. The last additional tip I have is about few upper lines ...
Great tips for those who aren't familiar with the game. As a warrior king in MB I have a few additional tips: 1 as 'target' pair it works the best to pick a large block, since it ussually has more possibilities to make a big isolation. 2 When you are close to isolating the golden block, ...