Tetris Effect: Connected Guide - Journey Mode

AntMag.NET

Journey Mode: The Heart of Tetris Effect

Alright, let's dive into the main event: Journey Mode. This is where you'll experience the core of Tetris Effect, and it introduces a really cool mechanic called Zone. Think of it as your special ability to slow down time and rack up some serious points.

The Zone Mechanic

You'll see a Zone meter that fills up as you clear lines. Once it's full, you can activate Zone! When you do, gravity basically pauses for a bit. Any lines you clear while in Zone get stacked at the bottom and then explode, clearing out a huge chunk of the screen. It's super satisfying!

The catch? Zone doesn't last forever. It ends when the timer runs out or if you top out. In Journey Mode, the maximum Zone duration you can get is 20 seconds.

Zone Clears: Beyond the Basics

At first, you might think the maximum lines you can clear in Zone is 20, since that's how high the pieces spawn. But Tetris players are always pushing the limits! With some clever tricks, like using IRS/IHS (don't worry if you don't know what those are yet, we'll get there!), players have managed to achieve even higher clears.

The first player to hit a 21-line Zone clear was Kirby703, and they even renamed it a 'Kirbtris' (it used to show up as an Ultimatris!).
Kirby703 later achieved a 22-line clear, which was displayed as an Impossibilitris.
Even crazier, on February 15, 2021, Kirby703 managed a 23-line 'Infinitris' clear using 10 I-pieces stacked vertically.

Connected Mode and Higher Clears

In the multiplayer modes added in the Connected update, things get even wilder. The addition of garbage mechanics and boss blitz attacks opens up new strategies. Players like Electra have used these to achieve 24 and 25-line clears (called 'Electris'!).

Keep an eye out for more advanced techniques as you get comfortable. The Zone mechanic is your best friend for high scores and clearing tough situations!