For many gamers, Tetris is one of those timeless classics that will simply never get old. The classic Tetris games continue to shine as fun, rewarding puzzlers to this day. At the same time, titles like Tetris Effect: Connected help keep it alive with cool and exciting new twists on the formula.
Along with its vibrant, hypnotic visuals and appealing soundtrack, this modern take on Tetris is most known for a new concept known as the “Zone” mechanic. This feature allows players to stop gravity in its tracks for a bit while piling on countless line clears at once.
The ability is offered in many of the game’s diverse gameplay modes; most notably the intense, competitive Zone Battle. While this mode is accessible enough, the unique twist and added nuances can be tough for those used to the more classic, straightforward version of Tetris. Luckily, there are some handy tips and techniques that can help you get a leg up on the opposition.
10 Be Aware Of The Opponent’s Moves
Given the frequency of “garbage pieces” generated from clearing multiple lines at once, it’s a good idea to have a general awareness of what’s happening on the other screen.
Do a quick glance from time to time to see that your opponent isn’t getting ready to wipe out five or ten tetriminos in one fell swoop, as this will yield a mound of garbage pieces on your screen seconds later. If the opponent is getting ready for a major assault like this, quickly eliminate some lines to counter it. At the very least, ensure that the upper region of your board is clear.
A few massive clears by the opposition may be all it takes to quickly fill up your board, or make it very cluttered in the blink of an eye.
9 Master The Hard Drop
Working swiftly and precisely is usually a given when it comes to Tetris, and this is very much the case in Zone Battle. Not only are there garbage pieces to watch out for, but players are especially rewarded for clearing out several lines more quickly.
One way to help towards playing a quicker, sharper game is to make a habit out of using the fast or “hard” drop often. Simply line up the tile to where you’d like it placed and tap the up arrow. This will cause each piece to drop much more rapidly and save quite a bit of time in the long run.
Be sure to pay attention to the silhouette shape of the tile below to avoid slip-ups, as this indicates exactly where it will fall.
8 Clear Large Chunks Of Lines At Once
Clearing lines in large quantities at once is especially rewarding in Zone Battle, so it should be exploited as often as possible. This creates additional garbage pieces flung at the opponent, while simultaneously keeping you out of harm’s way. Not only this, but it also boosts your point total and feeds the ever-important Zone meter.
These stylish moves shouldn’t just be reserved when the Zone is running either — as you can still get a leg up when using it during the normal gameplay.
7 Opt For The Zone Mechanic When Struggling To Keep Up
One nifty feature is that the game allows you to initiate the game-changing Zone mechanic at any time. This is the case as long as at least the first quarter is filled.
This should be taken advantage of when you find yourself in dire straits or are in need of a shift in momentum. And this is especially true when the opponent doesn’t have a particularly high Zone meter to counterattack.
The Zone not only allows a player to pile on the points and damage to an opponent but also freezes gravity. This means that tiles will cease dropping for a period, allowing players on the brink some time to regroup and bounce back.
6 Build Up The Zone Meter To Max
Though the Zone can be triggered at any point, it’s usually a good idea to save up this juice until the meter is completely filled, especially if this is achieved quickly.
Doing so will maximize the time that the Zone mechanic lasts. This allows you to spend more time slowing things down and getting more done, often dealing a potential deathblow with double-digit line clears.
5 Leave Enough Space For Falling Tiles
The Zone mechanic can be a life-saver, though it’s also sort of a double-edged sword. That’s because lines that are cleared won’t initially be wiped away, but will be piled underneath the board until this ability has run out.
As such, it’s usually wise to leave a decent-sized clearing at the top portion of the board, so that things don’t get too cluttered too quickly. This leaves more room to do work when the Zone meter is triggered, though it also alleviates trouble from garbage pieces stacking up. There should always be some sort of gap to fill in.
4 Zoom The Viewscreen In And Wipe Away Visual Distractions
Tetris Effect: Connected is quite the visual spectacle, though it can also prove a tad distracting for those looking to stay focused on the action. And make no mistake, there’s plenty of action here.
As such, it’s a good idea to do some tinkering in the options menus regarding the visuals. In gameplay options, the camera can be zoomed to maximum so you can get a bolder, clearer picture of what’s happening. Additionally, certain visual effects in the graphics options can be dialed back or shut off, such as line clear effects and particle volume.
This may wipe away some of that next-gen pizzaz, though it also brings an experience that’s a bit less overwhelming, and thus more winnable.
3 Pay Attention To The Next Upcoming Tile
Another handy tool in the options menu is the ability to crank up the number of upcoming tiles displayed while playing. This can be turned up to a maximum of four, allowing those more strategic players to plot their next moves more efficiently.
Be sure that “hold queue” is flipped on as well, as this grants an alternative tile that can be easily swapped to if the one presented isn’t ideal.
2 Tetrises And T-Spins To Speed Up The Zone Meter Progress
One of the key goals in Zone Battle is to make sure your Zone meter builds up quickly and plentifully. Lines should be swiftly cleared by any means necessary, as a quarter of the zone will be filled with every six lines cleared.
However, more stylish line clears will actually speed up the process of this build-up. As is typical in Tetris games, this rendition rewards players who go the extra mile to get Tetrises (four-line clears). Though a little-known fact is that pulling off the somewhat tricky “T-spin” will also jumpstart this.
T-spins are achieved by flipping a T-tetrimino into a slot that fits that piece; one that’s obstructed by tiles above it. It can be a tough maneuver as there’s a limited window to fasten the piece into that slot before it lands, so it should be done swiftly.
1 Create A Gap In The Center While Building - And Build Slightly Above The Board
Many have discovered the added benefit of assembling a larger gap to work with when playing Zone Battle. A hole that’s three or four tiles wide is usually ideal. This allows you to build up line clears quickly and efficiently when Zone is used. At the same time, it provides some leeway for garbage pieces and miscues.
This can be enhanced by building up your stacks slightly above the cutoff point of the board. One would think this would bring a self-inflicted loss, but as long as part of the tile lands below this cutoff point, the game permits the stacking.
These two strategies combined allow for a whopping twenty lines to be cleared at once when the Zone is used. In fact, a pro player by the alias of Kirby703 first managed to exploit this, getting north of 20 and reaching a whopping 23 line clears at once!
NEXT: 5 Reasons Tetris 99 Is The Better Game (& 5 It’s Tetris Effect: Connected)
