Zen Pinball

One of the keys to getting the harder trophies in the game is to devise a strategy using as few shots as possible. While none of the individual tasks for this trophy are overly difficult, in order to minimize the number of shots you will have to work on several things at once. Unfortunately this can also mean that, while you have already achieved quite a bit during a ball (completed missions and assignments, locked some balls, saved the red lady a few times), most of that progress will be lost upon draining the ball... and this is what makes this trophy difficult to achieve.

Below are the 10 medals as shown on the table.

1. City destroyer...................................6. Survivor

..2. Threat Level..................................7. Data Bowl

....3. Military AI..................................8. Artillery

......4. Airstrike.................................9. Salvation

........5. Panic MB...........................10. Rage Combo


Mission based medals:
You can start missions by shooting down the 3 "bot-guard" drop targets directly below the giant robot and hitting the sinkhole that is freed thereafter. Select the one you want to start using the flippers. If you're having trouble hitting the sinkhole, use the cannon. It fires the ball right into it.

• City Destroyer
  The objective is to keep the ball in close proximity to the robot for a combined duration of 10 seconds. You have 5 seconds to send the ball back towards the robot when you get too far. The best way to do this is to juggle the ball around with the two top flippers.
  
  There also appears to be a general timeslot in which this mission has to be completed, and hitting the right assignment ramp twice will increase the time you are allowed to stay away from the robot. As an additional reward for completing this mission, your threat level will decrease by 1.

• Data Bowl
  Upon starting this mission, the drop targets beneath the giant robot will randomly appear and disappear. The mission will end after hitting 5 of the targets. There is no timer during this mission, however sending the ball through one of the sinkholes behind the targets will take away a life. You have 5.
  
  I recommend having the right kickback enabled before starting this mission. If the ball drops down from the platform with the top left flipper, it could end up falling down the right outlane. After a while I got used to the situation and whenever I felt the ball was rolling down that platform at the speed to possibly send it to the outlane, I'd bring the top left flipper in play. Your military AI level will also be increased upon completion.

• Salvation
  You will have to rescue 10 people by shooting the rescue hole to save them, then the center overpass ramp to get them to the transport, all before the timer runs out. It is vital to have the subway hole fully upgraded before starting this one and using that hole to substitute the rescue hole. You can save up to 5 people before you have to get them to the transport. The best way to tackle this one would be hitting the subway hole 5 times followed by a shot to the center overpass and repeating this. If you find yourself running out of time, hit the assignment ramps.
  
  For those merely playing for points, I'd like to point out that Salvation is probably the best way to get yourself a good place on the leaderboards. Every time this mission is completed, you will be awarded with 6 million points!

• Artillery
  This mission is as easy as they come. Upon starting it you will find yourself back at the launcher. Select a ramp on the dot matrix with your flippers and shoot the ball. You have 20 seconds to hit the ramp you chose to complete the mission. I recommend the "left highway", as that ramp is by far the easiest one to hit.

Assignments
To complete an assignment, simply hit both the left and right highways. After hitting the first, a voice will say "we have a direct order from the president". Some of them (like the very first) will prompt you to shoot a random ramp before the timer runs out. During these, beware of the robot shooting at you, as he can easily alter the course of your ball! Most will just give you your reward straight after hitting the second ramp.

• Airstrike
  After completing your second assignment, the rescue hole will light up. Lock three balls in there either by hitting it directly or by using the fully upgraded subway hole and selecting "Lenox Hospital". Upon locking your third ball the game will go into 3-ball multiball and the medal will unlock.

• Threat level
  This medal is awarded upon decreasing your threat level 3 times with a single ball. Decreasing your threat level is a reward from some of the later assignments, as well as an additional reward for completing the "City Destroyer" mission.

• Military AI
  Again, you will have to increase your military AI 3 times with a single ball, by doing assignments and/or completing the "data bowl" mission. Military AI +1 can also be awarded by performing a skillshot.

Other

• Survivor
  This medal should come naturally when going for the silver trophy. You will have to send the ball through the outlanes so that both the cannon and the kickback are used at least once during a single ball.

• Rage Combo
  This one can be annoying. To perform a rage combo, hit the left orbit twice in rapid succession. Wait a few seconds for the robot to shake the ground and the spiral flyover to light up (actually it will flicker violently). You have the duration of the entire game to hit the spiral flyover and finish the rage combo.
  
  Unfortunately, both the left orbit and the spiral flyover are blind shots with the top right flipper. The best ways to get to that flipper are either by shooting a clean right orbit shot and keeping your top right flipper elevated or by shooting the fully upgraded subway hole and selecting "Central Park".
  
  A golden tip I can give you to make this one slightly easier is that - apart from the initial launches - all other launch shots (such as after locking a ball for MB, etc.) count as a free left orbit shot. With some practice you can get the second shot fairly consistent. Timing is key!

• Panic Multiball
  To lock a ball for this mission, you have to first hit the spiral flyover ramp. After that, catch the ball on the right flipper, wait for the robot to position his hand above the center overpass and hit that ramp to lock the ball. Repeat this once more and the game will start a 2-ball multiball. Immediately lift your right flipper for an easy catch of both balls.
  
  The objective is to send one of the 2 balls to any sinkhole and then hit the randomly lit sinkhole with the other.
  
  Assuming you have both balls captured on the right flipper, start off by shooting nearly straight up towards the center sinkholes. This has a fairly high success rate and allows for an easy catch (if it's even necessary) of the other ball. Try to hit whatever hole is lit with the second ball before the timer runs out. If it does run out, the other ball will be brought back into play. Using the subway hole to get to the rescue hole will not work during panic MB. Be careful, though, there is no ball save and losing your ball after locking the other will result in a ball-loss.
  
  Before locking your second ball, make sure you have enough time left on your Invasion countdown. The timer will continue to go down during panic MB and if it reaches 0, it will end the gamemode!

As a general strategy when going for this trophy, I recommend starting things off with both the Rage Combo and the Panic MB. While the shots with the top right flipper are relatively safe, they are difficult to hit and it can prove hard to stay in control all the time. The Panic MB can also be a real balldrainer. Focus all your efforts on getting those 2 out of the way first.

After those, focus on getting Threat Level and Military AI by doing assignments and completing both City Destroyer and Data Bowl. Consider those 4 medals as one, as losing your ball also drops both those levels back to 0, making all your efforts go to waste.

By now your subway hole should be fully upgraded and the rescue hole should be lit to lock balls for the Airstrike multiball. So clean up doing Salvation and Airstrike.

I did Artillery whenever I felt like taking a break from the harder ones or was in need of a confidence boost . Complete that one at your own discretion.

You will most likely earn Survivor way before the other 9 medals. Always keep in mind that losing the Invasion multiball will take away a random medal and will increase your Threat Level. I recommend avoiding Invasions at all costs (I even went as far as to sacrifice a ball on several occasions).

StOrMtRoOpErMx19 does his thing, kicking ass and taking names!