Overview:
-Estimated achievement difficulty: 4/10
-Offline: 20/20
-Online: 0/20
-Approximate amount of time to 200: 40+ hours
-Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 2 full playthroughs and 48 bonus levels
-Number of missable achievements: 3 (Eagle Eye, Carte Blanche and Strategist)
-Do cheat codes disable achievements? No. The untimed Relaxed mode allows achievements
-Does difficulty affect achievements? N/A
-Glitchy achievements: Strive for More (See achievement list)
-Unobtainable achievements: None
-Extra equipment needed?: Windows 8 Operating System

Introduction:
Welcome to the 4 Elements II: Special Edition Road Map / Achievement Guide. This game is a 3 tile matching puzzle game from Playrix Entertainment that was part of the first wave of Windows 8 games with achievements. The player is needed to free the four elemental fairies and restore the elemental book of spells though a series of puzzles to clear the way for the flow of magic. People familiar with the gameplay of the Bejeweled puzzle game style should expect a pleasant twist to the same. This roadmap will identify they types of achievements in this game and how to best attack them to complete the achievement list.

Abbreviated Walkthrough:
Game play completion is broken down to two story mode playthroughs with an additional 48 bonus levels to play after the story is completed. Carte Blanche and Strategist require the player to play a particular way and should be taken into consideration on the first playthrough.
No achievements can be unlocked on the first puzzle stage.

Also, due to the nature of some of the achievements, it is recommended to use the second and third levels of the game to unlock them before advancing. Attempt to unlock the chain style achievements BEFORE the completion of level 2 to unlock them immediately, and then restart the level. Then use complete level 2 using only chains 5 links or longer. If not possible, restart until successful to unlock “Strategist.” Then complete level 3 using only chains 3 links long to unlock, “The Less, The Better.” With miscellaneous out of the way, the player can now focus on “Eagle Eye” and “Carte Blanche.” Once story mode is complete the first time, repeat one more time and then tackle all bonus levels to complete the achievement list.

Using and abusing the gameplay elements:
Relaxed Mode - When a player loses several times, the game mentions that they can turn off the timer to play, “Relaxed Mode.” However in Windows 8, the options screen is literally hidden away and can only be accessed by either swiping in from the right side of tablets, or by moving the mouse cursor to the lower right corner of the screen on desktops. Turning on “Relaxed Mode” from the options turns off the timer in the story mode, making the game much easier to complete. However, the mode DOES NOT APPLY to the bonus levels, and will have to be completed as normal.

No More Moves Shuffle – During gameplay, when there are no available movements to connect three colored chips, the game will instantly shuffle all chips on screen to rectify the issue. This is the gameplay element that the player must utilize to ensure that the requirements for the Carte Blanche achievement can be met. Even if the game is recommending that a particular power be used, a player can still force the game to shuffle the chips if there are no moves remaining on screen. Reference the achievement list for further instructions.

Chain-Style Achievements:
Five achievements require either chain lengths or chain creation speeds. “Strive for More” and “Glorious Journey” achievements stack when a 20 link chain is created, but the game may not properly identify that both achievements have been unlocked. To fix this issue, quit the game and then restart the computer. When the game is restarted, both achievements should show as properly unlocked. “Speed of Light” and “Each Second Matters” can be done while meeting the requirements for, “The less, the better” achievement on the second or third stage. “Strategist” should be attempted on the second puzzle stage. Any of these achievements can be earned during the second story playthrough as well.

Cumulative achievements:
All cumulative achievements do not require special grinding in order to achieve. Provided that the player is aware that there is an achievement for using the Spade 150 times, Magic Fire 140 times and are using both powers whenever possible will ensure that the four achievements associated to those powers will pop before the end of the first story playthrough. The requirements for breaking stones and ice will definitely be met through by the end of the second story playthrough. If you absolutely must grind them right away, levels 42 and 45 would be the most ideal since all that is required is repeatedly restarting the level.

Completion achievements:
“Eternal Glory” and “Once Again” are awarded for the first and second complete playthroughs of the story mode. The requirements for “Eagle Eye” and “Carte Blanche” must be done within the two story playthroughs otherwise an additional third run will be required. After all story mode achievements are done; only the 48 Bonus Levels remain to be finished to unlock the “Not Done Yet” achievement.

Conclusion:
This game is not fast in terms of achievements, and is best played with the intentions of enjoyment. Taken in bits and pieces, this game is very fun, especially with relaxed mode on, but is not a game to be taken lightly when a completion is desired.

 

[x360a would like to thank Ryot Control for this road map]

4 Elements II: Special Edition Achievement Guide

Printable Guide
Show completed achievements
Show secret achievements

There are 20 achievements with a total of 200 points

  • Make a chain of 15 or more chips

    See achievement, “Glorious Journey” for more information.

  • Make a chain of 20 or more chips

    Stackable with the “Strive for More” achievement. This achievement is best done on the second or third level. Set up by removing the chips of the different color you are attempting to chain. Once enough chips are linkable to connect at least 20 chips, simply chain and release. Achievement will unlock immediately. This can also be done on the second playthrough, when all powers are made available, but not necessary.

    If “Strive for More” was unlocked at the same time, the prompt will not show when “Glorious Journey” unlocks. Quit and restart the game fresh and the achievement will properly unlock when the game loads.
    In the case where a mistake is made while attempting this achievement, just restart the level.

  • Collect 15 chains in 30 seconds

    See achievement “Speed of Light” for more information.

  • Collect 20 chains in 30 seconds

    “Each Second Matters” and this achievement are easily done on the second or third level. Since the size of the chain is not specified, simply limit the size of every chin created to ONLY 3 to maximize available chains. Both achievements unlock right away once requirements are met.

  • Complete all the levels and restore the Book of the Elements

    Story related, and will unlock once the story mode is successfully completed.

  • Complete a level only using chains of 5 or more chips

    In order to unlock this achievement, the player must only use chains 5 links or longer to complete the level. Because of the complexity of later levels, it would be wise to attempt this in the second or third level.

  • Use the Spade 50 times

    See achievement, “Digging Master” for more information.

  • Use the Spade 150 times

    The spade is unlocked early in the game and is charged through the destruction of green chips. Once the power is properly charged, use the spade 150 times and the achievement will unlock.

  • Use Magic Fire 40 times

    See achievement, “Child of Flame” for more information.

  • Use Magic Fire 140 times

    Magic Fire is unlocked after releasing the fire fairy and is charged through the destruction of red chips. Once the power is properly charged, simply use the Magic Fire 140 times and the achievement will unlock.

  • Break 300 stones

    See achievement, “Lord of Mountain Gnomes” for more information.

  • Break 2000 stones

    Stones look like dark blocks like the achievement tile and break possible chains on the field. Use either the playfield environment, magic fire, or explosions from chains of 5 or longer to destroy them. If this cumulative achievement has not unlocked by the end of two playthroughs and bonus levels, play and repeatedly restart level 42. Achievement will unlock immediately when the 2000 stones prerequisite is met.

  • Break 1500 blocks of ice

    See achievement, “Global Warming” for more information.

  • Break 5000 blocks of ice

    Ice block encase colored tiles and prevent them for cascading properly when chains are combined. Use either the playfield environment, magic fire, or explosions from chains of 5 or longer to melt them. If this cumulative achievement has not unlocked by the end of two playthroughs and bonus levels, play and repeatedly restart level 45. Achievement will unlock immediately when the 5000 ice blocks prerequisite is met.

  • Solve 20 puzzles

    Story related, and will unlock after 20 cumulative levels have been completed.

  • Complete all the bonus levels

    This achievement is most likely the final one to be unlocked. After the story mode is completed, all elemental bonus puzzles will be made available. Unfortunately, “Relaxed Mode” does not apply to bonus levels and the player will have to play against the timer for these 48 levels.

  • Play the game from the very beginning once again

    After the story mode has been completed once, the option to start the story mode again will be made available. Finish the story one more time and this achievement will unlock.

  • Complete a level using chains of only 3 chips

    This achievement can be easily done on either the second or third level since no achievements can be earned on the tutorial level. Chain only sets of three and only three chips, even if it is possible to do longer throughout the level and the achievement will pop shortly after the level is completed. Best paired with the “Each Second Matters” and “Speed of Light” achievements. In any case where a mistake is made, restart the level for another attempt.

  • Restore at least one card of the Book of the Elements without using any power-ups

    A missable achievement.

    This can be done on the first four puzzles if the spade is not used during the first run or can be done during the second story playthrough. During gameplay, when there are no available movements to connect three colored chips, the game will instantly shuffle all chips on screen to fix the issue. This is the gameplay element that the player must utilize to ensure that the requirements for the Carte Blanche achievement can be met. Even if the game is recommending that a particular power be used, a player can still force the game to shuffle the chips if there are no moves remaining on screen. This may make the completion of a level considerably longer, but necessary to meet the needs for this achievement.
    One card consists of four puzzles and the final page activity. If no specials are use during puzzle sequences, and no hints are used during the final page activity, the achievement will unlock.

  • Restore all the cards without using a single hint

    A missable achievement.

    When either restoring a page or saving an elemental fairy, the player gets an option to utilize hints to assist in the mini-game. As long as no hints are used throughout the entire story playthrough, this achievement will unlock. The puzzles are not difficult and should not require assistance anyway.

You might also like