Achievement Guide + Roadmap

[Arsenic 17]

Connect 4

 

ROADMAP

 

Overview

 

-Estimated achievement difficulty: 3/10

-Estimated time for 200http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png: 6-8 hours

-Minimum playthroughs: N/A

-Offline: 15/15 (200http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png)

-Online: 0/15 (0http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png)

-Missable Achievements: 0

-Unobtainable Achievements: 0

-Does difficulty affect achievements: Yes (see guide)

-Cheats disable achievements: No cheats

-Glitchy achievements: 1 (Economist...see description)

-Extra equipment needed: Windows Phone 7 or 8

 

Introduction

Connect 4 is a classic two-player game in which players take turns dropping different colored discs into a 7x6 vertical grid. The pieces fall straight down, occupying space within each column. The object of the game is to connect four of your discs, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, before your opponent. This version has several other games modes which are all similar to the classic one, but with a twist, and a challenge mode. Currently the game is listed at $0.99 in the Windows Phone Store.

 

Step 1: Complete the miscellaneous achievements

Complete the achievements that relate to winning on certain difficulty levels, challenge mode, and finishing with certain requirements. For the achievements that do not mention require a specific difficulty, play on EASY.

 

Step 2: Grind 1000 games

You need to play a total of 1000 games. There is a shortcut that can be used to grind. See the guide for the method.

 

Conclusion

Connect 4 is just that, Connect 4. It really just is not that fun to play this game against a computer that always makes the perfect moves. The extra game modes do offer more fun, but barely enough to warrant the price tag. While playing 1000 games is a chore, there exists a method to make this grind not that bad at all. Following the guide, you should be well on your way to completing the game in under 8 hours.

 

 

GUIDE

MISCELLANEOUS ACHIEVEMENTS (9 for 125 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png)

 

NOTE: For the achievements that do not require a specific difficulty, play on Easy. You can change the difficulty by selecting "Options" from the Main Menu.

The following 9 achievements are obtained by completing miscellaneous tasks within the game.

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPgZ-eI=.jpg Everything in Moderation - 15 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Defeat 10 NORMAL difficulty AI opponents.

 

See "Learn from the Best."

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UP+hbRA=.jpg On a Roll - 25 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Win five matches in a row against NORMAL or EXPERT AI.

 

See "Learn from the Best."

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UP27Fhs=.jpg Learn from the Best - 20 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Defeat 10 EXPERT difficulty AI opponents.

 

You need to win 10 games on both expert and normal difficulties, including 5 in a row. Winning can be quite a challenge for the normal player. Luckily, someone has solved the game (for their PhD thesis), making these achievements easy using an online solver, which can be found HERE. Click PLAY and it will bring up a applet with the solver. Each vertical line in the program represents a column in the game. You can manually click columns of the solver to mark the move the AI has made. Use the "move" button to generate the move you need to make next. You will win every time using this solver. The "<" button can be used to go back if you make an error and the "<<" button will reset the solver for the next game.

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPxb7og=.jpg Economist - 5 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Beat the AI within 10 moves in a quick game.

 

*GLITCHY* Quick games are any games not in challenge mode. You need to win the game before playing a total of 10 of your chips. This achievement seems to be glitchy and actually would ONLY unlock for me in challenge mode. This is quite easy to complete within a few tries in the challenge located in the first column on the left at the very top called "Pop Roulette." Every four turns, a bottom chip will pop out and all chips in that column go down one. Try to line up three of your chips on the bottom row, then place chips on top of the opponents chips (so yours are in the second row) in the adjacent columns (see picture below). Basically you will then have a 2/7 chance of getting the achievements when a chip randomly pops out. Keep attempting this until it unlocks. This may also be possible in the challenge "Third Time Lucky" which is just a normal Pop Out game. I cannot confirm it working on this challenge, however, but in theory it should.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8135509614_310d593446_b.jpg

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UP565z0=.jpg Genius - 5 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Win a quick game in under 45 seconds.

 

Quick games are any games not in challenge mode. You just need to finish off the AI in less than 45 seconds. This is most easily done in the "Pop Out" mode using a similar strategy to that found above in the "Economist" achievement. Quickly set up a build similar to the one pictured below, then "pop-out" the bottom row chip so your top chip falls to complete the Connect 4. For the best chance, play your chips as fast as possible.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8134086866_3a30d05ca7_b.jpg

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UP2AZKU=.jpg Crossroads - 15 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Form two 'Connect 4' winning lines in a single drop.

 

For this achievement, you need to complete two scoring lines simultaneously with a single drop. This is actually required to complete one of the challenges called "Double Trouble." Use the following strategy mentioned by IEvil IMonkey. Put pieces in the bottom left and bottom right corners first. Then try to have them both meet, in an upward, diagonal line, in the middle column. Place the top of that triangle last. Try not to ever place a chip that would allow the AI to place one in either of those diagonals you are trying to fill (right below the diagonal).

 

This achievement is also obtainable in 2-player local multiplayer mode. Use the same method as above.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Arsenic 17

[Arsenic 17]

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPxgnDY=.jpg Spice of Life - 10 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Win each game mode at least once.

 

For this achievement, you must simply win one game of each quick game mode. The modes required are Classic Game, Power Chips, Max Score, and Pop Out. This is not difficult at all once you become familiar with the nuances of the game modes. Remember you can use a solver to play Classic, Max Score, and Pop Out (as long as you do not pop any, the AI never does) if you are having trouble with those.

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UP5BlYM=.jpg Shake, Rattle and Roll - 10 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Shake the device to cause an earthquake in the game.

 

This can be done in any game mode. All you have to do is violently shake your phone while playing a game. The screen/game board will shake, and the achievement will unlock.

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPoDhuk=.jpg Meta-Player - 30 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Complete the Challenge Mode.

 

There are a total of 16 challenges that need to be completed that unlock progressively as you complete them. Most of them are easy, but a few can be tricky. Here are some tips:

 

• Always milk the clock by taking the maximum amount of time to place your chip (see the ever-shrinking red timer bar).
  
• Make sure you are playing on EASY difficulty.
  
• For score-related challenges (reach X score) that dont mention anything about your opponent, remember that how many points the AI scores does not matter. Just let the computer get connect 4's to open up opportunities for you.
  
• For "Connect 4++", it is easiest to try and set-up two groups of two chips on the bottom row separated by an opponent's chip and use the heavy weight chip to plow all the way to the bottom to score you the points. For this one, you also need to win so milk the clock once you score once.
  
• Use the solver where applicable.
  
• For "Double Trouble", use the strategy found in the "Crossroads" achievement.
  

 

WIN/COMPLETE GAMES ACHIEVEMENTS (6 for 75 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png)

The following 6 achievements are obtained by winning or completing a certain number of games and can be done in any game mode.

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPvQR2Y=.jpg The Journey Begins - 5 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Win your first match.

 

See "Advanced Connector."

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPowv-U=.jpg Amateur Connector - 5 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Win 10 matches.

 

See "Advanced Connector."

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPkXq-s=.jpg Journeyman Connector - 10 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Win 25 matches.

 

See "Advanced Connector."

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPj3U2g=.jpg Advanced Connector - 20 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Win 50 matches.

These achievements are related to winning games and can be done in any quick game mode or in challenge game mode. See "Legendary Connector" for the fastest way to win/complete games. When using that method, remember you must win a match in a non-challenge mode game for after surpassing the required win total for the achievement to unlock. You can check your progress towards these achievements from the Play Menu by clicking on "Your Stats."

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPvYDMQ=.jpg Epic Connector - 10 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Play 500 matches.

 

See "Legendary Connector."

 

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/achievements/2511/UPvYDMQ=.jpg Legendary Connector - 15 http://www.xbox360achievements.org/images/site/gp-g.png

Play 1000 matches.

 

There is no hiding it. Playing a total of 1000 games on Connect 4 is a horrible, mind-numbing achievement. Fortunately, a way has been discovered (by IEvil IMonkey) that allows 1000 games to be completed in a slightly bearable time frame.

 

The fastest way to earn wins or complete games is to play the challenge that is located in the second column from the left and one down from the top called "Puzzle." This challenge only requires that you place a single chip to win. You MUST WIN the challenge for this method to work. Placing the chip in the incorrect spot will not work. Just keep loading up the challenge over and over, repeatedly placing the chip in the winning spot (there are only 3 variations of the puzzle, so this is easy). This method should in theory go very quickly, but unfortunately the game's menus are very laggy and doing this method the game tends to bog down and often crash. Still, with the lag and crashing, you can complete between 200-250 games per hour. Meaning to grind 1000 games it will take you around 4 hours after you have completed the miscellaneous achievements. It is also important to mention that the achievements will NOT pop while winning challenge games. After surpassing the requirements for the achievements, you MUST play (and possibly win) a quick game mode match for the achievements to unlock.

 

You can check your progress towards these achievements from the Play Menu by clicking on "Your Stats."

Edited October 29, 2012 by Arsenic 17

[Arsenic 17]

GUIDE UPDATES:

 

10/28/12 - Guide created and complete.

10/29/12 - Fixed the description for the "Genius" achievement. Added info about obtaining the "Crossroads" achievement in a 2-player game thanks to a tip from IEvil IMonkey.

12/18/12 - Updated the price to $0.99 in the Roadmap, down from $2.99.

1/30/13 - Updated some of the photos in the guide.

4/19/13 - Updated Roadmap. No longer Nokia Exclusive. Also fixed a glitch with imbedded images.

Edited April 20, 2013 by Arsenic 17

[IEvil IMonkey]

You can also get crossroads in a 2 player game (No AI) and place the chips as you desire to win the game

 

PS thanks for mentioning the solver/methods I found =)

[Arsenic 17]

You can also get crossroads in a 2 player game (No AI) and place the chips as you desire to win the game

 

PS thanks for mentioning the solver/methods I found =)

 

Thanks. Added to the guide as well, though you have to do it anyway for that challenge. Thanks for finding your methods for this really garbage game. Otherwise I would have not even tried it. 20 hours of grinding no way for me! I did some tests and discovered I can get 200 per hour on my phone with your method. So dang laggy. Without lag you could prob get 500 or more per hour.

[LCZ]

Great Guide, I hope more people get the game now that it is confirmed easy 200 points.

[Kairi]

Congratulations!

 

This Achievement Guide and Roadmap has been reviewed by Guide Team Staff member Yunder and has been published as the Official x360a.org Achievement Guide and Roadmap! The link to the Official Guide is here:

 

Official x360a.org Connect 4 Achievement Guide and Roadmap

 

Please post any updates within the Update: Guides & Roadmaps thread.

Also, please check the Award Tracking: Guides & Roadmaps forum to make sure we are up to date.

You may request for those to be edited/updated within that forum as well.

 

We look forward to your future submissions!

[Agent Aero]

Any tips for the efficiency challenge? Score 20 points with 30 chips?

[Arsenic 17]

Any tips for the efficiency challenge? Score 20 points with 30 chips?

 

Is that the one wher eu can remove the bottom chips?