Achievement Highlights

Xbox Live® means different things to different people. For some, it is a perpetually raging battlefield where the world's toughest cyber soldiers can test their reflexes in tournaments, matches, and events ranging from real-world sports games to war simulations to fantasy escapes. For others, Xbox Live Marketplace is where it's at for music, video, and game demo downloads.

Prepare to get Stroggified.

Regardless of your leanings, there is one facet of the premiere online gaming service that can be used and enjoyed by all. That feature is the achievements system.

Every title published for Xbox 360™ has its own unique set of achievements laid out by the game's creators. Depending on the type of game, you can unlock and earn up to 1000 points through various feats of mastery. These accomplishments can vary greatly between genres.

Some of the more common ways to unlock an achievement are:

• Finish the single-player story mode
• Complete the game on the hardest difficulty level
• Play X amount of games, online or off
• Perform feats of mastery (three-pointers in basketball, headshots in first-person shooters, etc.)
• Find every collectible or secret
• Finish every optional side mission or quest

Ultimately, it's up to the developer to break down the total number of gamerscore points and assign them to different achievements for that game. As you pass each in-game milestone and accrue more points, you may unlock secret achievements that are only revealed to you when a required action is performed.

This element of mystery rewards players of a persistent and adventurous nature and encourages them to explore every nook and cranny laid out before them.

Join us as we take a look at some spoiler-free in-game achievements and explore the many gameplay possibilities ahead of you.

QUAKE 4
Texas-based developer id Software has become synonymous with the first-person shooter genre since the shareware version of DOOM infected millions of Windows® PC hard drives the world over. Since that day, the studio has grown in size and been responsible for some of the most successful shooter franchises in the business. QUAKE™ 4 is the latest installment in the long-running series, though this time design duties were handed off to partner studio Raven Software.

Just a sampling of what's in store …

Throughout the game's meaty (and ultra-violent) single-player campaign, you fight against hordes of Strogg—demented cybernetic creatures bent on the destruction of humanity. Here are a few notable achievements to strive for. Some are obvious and others are more ambitious. Good luck, marine.

Achievements

• Defeat the Strogg: You can tackle QUAKE 4 on a variety of skill levels ranging from beginner (Private) to the insanely challenging (General), with two options in between. You are rewarded for completing it on any skill level, but if you want to earn maximum gamerscore, you need to finish the game four times. It's not possible to tackle the hardest difficulty until you finish the game on Lieutenant setting first. QUAKE 4 is broken down into two acts (pre-Strogg and post-Strogg)—finishing each act nets you additional points.
• Weapon proficiency: Though you get your hands on a wide variety of high-powered weapons, you are rewarded for completing levels using one particular sidearm instead of shuffling through your entire arsenal. You need to be precise with your aim to avoid wasting precious ammunition if you want to earn achievements in the weapons category. Keep in mind that certain weapons are only effective at either close or distant range; therefore, you have to adjust your tactics accordingly. In other words, don't fire a shotgun at your target from the adjacent room, and don't lob grenades at a Strogg three feet from your face. Got it?
• 1337 5k1llz: When you're ready to take your act online, you earn points for stellar performances. Finishing a ranked match without dying or earning the top spot in every game type nets you a higher gamerscore.
• Secrets: You're not getting off that easy, bucko! Remember, this is a spoiler-free breakdown. If you're really curious to discover the elusive and valuable secret achievements, brush up your skills and find out for yourself. Or, you can take the easy route and ask someone in the forums. Remember that you can always check your progress by viewing your gamercard on your Xbox 360 console, or by visiting the My Xbox section of the site (registration and sign in required).

Good luck, soldier.

Article by Franklin Beans