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This section is dedicated to teaching you everything there is to know about cascades (the chain reactions that occur as blocks fall on each other). To become a MadStone expert, you should be able to quickly predict the result that breaking any particular block will have on the structure of the play field. You should also be able to extend an existing cascade as long as possible.
These skills will help you break the largest number of blocks with the fewest number of strikes. The puzzle levels (the bonus rounds in Arcade Mode) are also built around this concept, so this page will give you a lot of helpful pointers for clearing them. After you understand the rules, it will just take a little bit of practice before you can see right through those puzzles and complex cascades.
Block Breaking 101
Standard Cascades
The simplest way to cause a nice cascade is to crack all of the blocks under a MadStone, then break the block directly under the MadStone. The MadStone will break each cracked block as it falls, eventually reaching the pool. There was an example of this kind of cascade in the tutorial:
You Can't Damage a Falling Block
Falling blocks can't be damaged by strikes, bombs, or other falling objects. The only way to damage a falling block is with a Quake.
Wide Blocks Are Wide Targets
The two wide blocks (2x1 and 2x2 blocks) can be broken just a bit easier than the narrow blocks (the 1x1 and 1x2 blocks). This is because they are two squares wide, and thus can be hit in two places by falling blocks. In this picture, if you broke the cracked block in the middle, the 2x1 block would fall on the 2x2 block. Because the 2x2 block would be hit twice (once on the top left and once on the top right), the 2x2 block would break from the impact.
It's a little hard to see in this picture, but above the top 2x1 block are two cracked 1x1 blocks. Now let's say you broke the upper 2x1 block (the solid one). The two 1x1 blocks would fall, breaking the cracked 2x1 block, then they would both fall again, breaking the 2x2 block too. This is because each 1x1 block hits the 2x2 block once, causing damage twice (enough to break any block).
Wide Blocks Save Strikes
If you remember from the section on combos, you want to minimize the number of strikes you use during a combo. Although the wide blocks take damage just the same way as any other block, destroying them is often a better use of your strikes than the 1x1 or 1x2 blocks. This is because they're usually supporting two blocks (or another wide block). When these blocks fall, they will cause a total of 2 damage to whatever they land on, instead of just 1.
Start Cascades High Up
The longer a chain reaction continues, the more strikes you'll save. For example, if you try to start a cascade near the bottom of the screen, the most it might destroy is two or three blocks. But if you start cascades near the top of the screen, the damage potential is much greater.
If player 1 strikes where the cursor is, the big MadStone will fall all the way to the bottom. For just that one strike, you destroy 9 blocks and crack one more (the solid 1x1 block on the bottom row). Not bad for just 1 strike. A single strike made any lower would not earn the MadStone.
Check "The Combo System" section (up next) for more cascade examples.
Use the Impact Delay
You may have noticed that cracked blocks don't break instantly when something falls on them. Instead, there is a short delay (it's about 1/4 second long) before the block breaks. In this picture, you can see that the block in the bottom right corner has been hit by the block above it, and is just starting to fade from the impact.
See how the cursor is green? That means that in the 0.25 seconds before the bottom right block breaks, you have time that you can operate on the blocks above it just like normal. A quarter second my not seem like a lot, but it's just enough time to strike a block twice if you move and press the 2 Button quickly. You can also strike a "falling" bomb during the impact delay, breaking any stationary blocks in the same row.
Puzzle Mode Hints
Several of the puzzles require you to use the special properties of wide blocks mentioned earlier. It might be that you destroy the block from two simultaneous impacts, or that destroying a wide block allows more items to fall.
During a long cascade, there are several chances to act during the impact delay. You may have to break a block or set off a bomb during one of these short timing windows.
Although you never want to strike your own MadStones during a normal game, keep in mind that you can!.
When a block is falling, it is safe from impacts, bombs, and strikes. Normally, this hampers your ability to destroy it. But what if you wanted the block to survive an impact or bomb blast? Then it would be an advantage...
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