Addictive variant on Columns, but you really should immerse me more than that. No, medals even if they were working wouldn't count for that for me.
Instructions:
*Game Screen
1. The lower brown rectangle (the big one) in the center is the play area (8 by 6).
2. The upper brown rectangle (the horizontal one) in the center is the placement area.
3. The gray square on the right is your typical Tetris prediction area.
4. The tree with the elements on the left shows the elements you've unlocked for this game only.
*Controls
1. Mouse or arrow keys. WASD doesn't work.
2. Left/Right (Click Drag Left/Right + Release) moves the placement area elements.
3. Up (Click Drag Up + Release) rotates the elements clockwise. The elements will cycle from horizontal to vertical and back.
4. Down (Click Drag Down + Release) sends the elements to the play area. You cannot move the elements after you send them like the ominoes in Tetris. Also, the elements do not stick to each other.
*Gameplay
1. Match 3 or more elements in the play area to upgrade them to the next element (you start with 2). Every new element you unlock for this game will appear on the tree on the left. If and when you lose, you will have to start all over. According to the badges you're supposed to get to the 12th element to become the master.
2. Your (local) high score is based mostly on which elements you match. For instance, a tier 9 can give you 2000 points where a tier 1 can actually give you negative points.
*Tips
1. Use the element tree list to help you with potential upgrades in the play area. Some 5 and 6 step chains can be fairly easy to set up especially in the beginning of a game.
2. There is no time limit - this is not twitch like Tetris.
3. If you have no room, the game allows 2 new rows above the play area for your next move as long as it combines, upgrades, and finishes 8 or less - yes including the combos that may happen (so technically there are 10 rows?)
4. Each element match will always result in 1 upgrade element, so if 2 sets of elements combine during the same turn you will get 2 upgrade elements from it. The upgrade element appears in the lowest row from left to right. If elements are falling, they will settle before anything gets combined.
5. Upon replay, previously unlocked elements will appear when you have 2 of your current highest element in play rather than forcing you to unlock them. This makes the game harder but could be used to get to new levels faster.