Long Live Lemmings! (30 levels) [Difficulty: Easy-Hard]

[NieSch]

Hurray! My second level pack is here.



Long Live Lemmings!

- For NeoLemmix v12.12 (or higher)
- 30 levels equally divided into Fun, Tricky, Taxing, Mayhem and Bonus
- Classic skills + (new) NeoLemmix skills including the jumper and slider
- Original Lemmings, ONML and Xmas Lemmings styles and music + music from the "original original soundtrack" that was found on a Lemmings demo disk
- Difficulty: for everyone!


Tricky 1: Spoilt for Choice


Taxing 1: You Better Watch Out


Taxing 6: All in Good Timing


Mayhem 1: Symmetry for the Devil

Thanks to all who played and gave feedback on the (contest) levels that I released earlier.
Lots of thanks to Armani for playtesting all levels and finding backroutes. You've been a great help!

Latest update: June 18th, 2022:

[kaywhyn]

Wow, looks great! Congrats on the release of your second level pack. By Armani's suggestion/recommendation, I will be LPing this pack, just like I did with your Yippee! More Lemmings from last year. I will let you know when I get around to it. It's not going to be for a while, since I have some other level packs that I'm currently prioritizing.

In regards to the title, I'm going to assume that it's in honor of the 30th anniversary of Lemmings this year?

[NieSch]

Thanks kaywhyn!

In regards to the title, I'm going to assume that it's in honor of the 30th anniversary of Lemmings this year?

It is! And I "stole" the title from this great ad for ONML, drawing by Adrian Powell:

->

[Armani]

Congratulation for releasing the second pack!
It was really fun and honor to be the pre-tester for this pack.


Like NieSch's first pack "Yippee! More Lemmings", it only uses styles from original game but features brand new Neolemmix skills.(including slider which was implemented just today )
The difficulty is beginner friendly at the first rank, increases at a nice rate and there're some tough nuts for even expert solvers toward the end.
So, I definetely recommend giving this pack a go for everyone. You can enjoy great level desinging skills and puzzles by NieSch as usual.

[Swerdis]

So much to play right now. I will 100% try this one for I really liked your first pack.

[NieSch]

Update: V1.2, see first post for download (attachment).

Changes:

Spoiler

Landscape change in Taxing 4 that prevents bashing straight to the lower exit.

[NieSch]

Update: V1.3, see first post for download (attachment).

Changes:

Spoiler

Landscape change in Tricky 2 that makes it easier to pass the steel blocks part.

[NieSch]

Has anyone played this yet? I'm looking forward to getting some feedback and I'm very curious what new backroutes are found.

[kaywhyn]

Hi Niesch,

I'm very close to getting to your pack. This is next on my to-play list, once I finish up Integral Lemmings, so it all depends on how long that pack takes me I can't imagine it taking too long, particularly since it's only 20 levels, and I've already managed to solve the first 5 levels. Currently stuck on the 6th level, but I think I can get myself unstuck, just need more time to think about it.

I'm looking forward to playing the levels with the new skill(s) when I get to your pack! Should be a fun LP for both you and Armani to watch

[NieSch]

Take your time kaywhyn and ignore my impatience!

[kaywhyn]

Hi Niesch,

I'm just posting to let you know that I've started LPing this pack just today, so as promised here's the link to my LP: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbp2m4KlFpJvOc1YVa8xSUjK293Q9HYSA. Enjoy!

I've also completed the first two ranks, so here are my replays and feedback.

General Feedback

Great pack that I'm enjoying with what I've seen so far. None have been extremely hard so far, so I definitely can see what you mean when you told me that you "feel" it's easier than Yippee! More Lemmings, although both the Fun and the Tricky ranks weren't exactly lightning fast solves. Then again, I was stuck on that final level of Tricky for a time in your first pack, so maybe overall I am having a somewhat easier time with LLL! I'm sure that will all change with Taxing and Mayhem, especially since I remember the huge jump in difficulty going from even Fun to Tricky and even more once entering the Taxing rank in Yippee! More Lemmings.

So far, I think there have only been 5 levels featuring the slider, with the hardest one so far I felt was Fun 4. Certainly the one I like the best so far featuring the slider is Fun 2. There was one level that I didn't use it, so that might be a backroute.

Fun Rank Feedback

Nice puzzles here, although I wouldn't exactly say any were super easy. However, the Fun rank of this pack felt somewhat easier or about the same difficulty as the fun rank of Yippee! More Lemmings.

Spoiler

Fun 1 - We Can Fix This Great level to start off the pack! The only hard parts were simply placing the stackers and digger very precisely, but otherwise it's easy to figure out. I think I would allow more leeway with the platformer assignment though, as the only way to seal off the gap completely is to assign it at the very edge, but since it's very easy to determine where it goes it's not too big of a deal.

Fun 2 - Don't Get Cold Feet One of my absolute favorites of the rank! Very nice introduction to the slider skill and showcasing its interactions with other skills, particularly comboing it with a jumper/shimmier. I think I totally forgot that a jumper can be assigned to a sliding lemming, so that's why I had some trouble here. Once I saw that it's possible, the rest fell into place. I especially love the shimmier section underneath and using the builder staircase to get to the exit. Well done here!

Fun 3 - Xmas in Lemmingland Easier than it looks. The only hard part was cancelling a digger with another digger, but it can be done. It might seem like a huge waste comboing a basher and interrupting him midstroke with a walker, but it's still enough skills to solve the level

Fun 4 - Just a Slide Problem Somewhat hard level despite there being only 3 skill types. One of my mistakes in early attempts was using a platform to make a safe drop for one of the entrances, but once I realize that it could be used to seal off the gap at the bottom near the exit instead, the rest fell into place more easily. It was still somewhat hard getting the builder placements correctly so that the sliders don't go past the exit, as well as the regular lemmings being able to survive the drop. Still a nice puzzle.

Fun 5 - Worra Lorra Jumpin' Goin' On Nice reference to Fun 29 and Crazy 15, as well as the level itself with the many platforms. The jumpers might seem like you have a lot, but don't be fooled. At least in my solution, they all end up being used! The end part is obvious, the hard part was figuring out the route to jump for the platforms.

Fun 6 - The Lemmings Family Nice X-of-everything level to finish off the rank. I have a lot of skills leftover, but it's probably supposed to be very open-ended. I was taken by surprise that the electric orb trap gets both lemmings even at a 99 RR, but it's easy to bypass that with one of them being a floater.

Tricky Rank Feedback

The levels here were pretty much about the same level of difficulty as the Fun levels, maybe only a bit higher.

Spoiler

Tricky 1 - Spoilt Choice The size of the level makes it look intimidating and difficult, but it's not very hard at all. The very limited skillset kind of adds to it too. However, I say the difficulty comes from so many possibilities being available here. I like how there's only movement/parkour skills available here. No constructive or destructive skills of any kind at all! Good level to start off the rank.

Tricky 2 - Take a Hike Already played this level before, as it's one of your contest levels. I tried to see if I could save more than how I solved it before, but later on I decided to imitate as best as possible the solution I used before. Obviously it's not completely the same, but the general ideas were pretty much the same.

Tricky 3 - The L-Team Nice 1-of-everything level with a full 10 skill panel! I don't think this solution is completely intended, particularly since I have a climber and miner leftover.

Tricky 4 - If I Were a Rich Lem Somewhat hard, but it was pretty much all about finding the most efficient route to take. Not sure if the builder past a thin wall is intended. The basher assignment needed to be placed very precisely so that it doesn't destroy the staircase too. I also struggled to remember the song here, but I ultimately recognized it as Gwen Stefani's "If I Were a Rich Girl," hence the level title.

Tricky 5 - Thin Blue Lines Somewhat hard as well, but it's just all about getting some lemmings up ahead to forge the path before the others arrive as well as delaying/stalling with jumpers/shimmiers. I'm not sure if being able to do a vertical jump past the thin bar where I was platforming is intended, though. It really seems like he shouldn't be able to, as I think I expected him to hit his head and therefore get cancelled and not shimmy or be able to jump past it. Then again, this isn't the first time I used this in a solution to a custom Lemmings level It was probably even decided to keep this behavior too, but I might be remembering wrong.

Tricky 6 - Easy When You Know the Trick The level title is indeed appropriate when you do know the trick. Took me a while to come up with having to turn a miner a few times with blockers, though. Definitely reminds me of "Mastermined" from Mazulems, which uses the exact same trick. The only really hard part was placing the first builder and miner such that he breaks through it to prevent the climber from being able to go out later and dying to the fire coal box trap. Very nice level to finish off the rank!

Looking forward to starting again soon and seeing how I get on with the remainder of the pack. Great one and awesome that Armani suggested/recommended me to LP this pack of yours, Niesch!

[NieSch]

Hi Niesch,

I'm just posting to let you know that I've started LPing this pack just today, so as promised here's the link to my LP: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbp2m4KlFpJvOc1YVa8xSUjK293Q9HYSA. Enjoy!

Great watch and well done! Thanks a lot for your detailed feedback too. I really appreciate it.

Spoiler

Fun 3 - Xmas in Lemmingland Easier than it looks. The only hard part was cancelling a digger with another digger, but it can be done. It might seem like a huge waste comboing a basher and interrupting him midstroke with a walker, but it's still enough skills to solve the level

Your solution was not my intended one. Cancelling out skills is almost never something that needs to be done in my intended solutions, especially not in the easy levels.

Fun 4 - Just a Slide Problem Somewhat hard level despite there being only 3 skill types. One of my mistakes in early attempts was using a platform to make a safe drop for one of the entrances, but once I realize that it could be used to seal off the gap at the bottom near the exit instead, the rest fell into place more easily. It was still somewhat hard getting the builder placements correctly so that the sliders don't go past the exit, as well as the regular lemmings being able to survive the drop. Still a nice puzzle.

This part was not intended, it can be done without precise placement.

Tricky 3 - The L-Team Nice 1-of-everything level with a full 10 skill panel! I don't think this solution is completely intended, particularly since I have a climber and miner leftover.

You are right, that was a backroute. I'll try to fix it.

Tricky 4 - If I Were a Rich Lem Somewhat hard, but it was pretty much all about finding the most efficient route to take. Not sure if the builder past a thin wall is intended. The basher assignment needed to be placed very precisely so that it doesn't destroy the staircase too. I also struggled to remember the song here, but I ultimately recognized it as Gwen Stefani's "If I Were a Rich Girl," hence the level title.

This was also a backroute of yours that I would want to fix. The song is "If I Were A Rich Man" from "Fiddler on the Roof". It probably inspired Gwen Stefani though!

Tricky 5 - Thin Blue Lines Somewhat hard as well, but it's just all about getting some lemmings up ahead to forge the path before the others arrive as well as delaying/stalling with jumpers/shimmiers. I'm not sure if being able to do a vertical jump past the thin bar where I was platforming is intended, though. It really seems like he shouldn't be able to, as I think I expected him to hit his head and therefore get cancelled and not shimmy or be able to jump past it. Then again, this isn't the first time I used this in a solution to a custom Lemmings level It was probably even decided to keep this behavior too, but I might be remembering wrong.

This was not the intended solution but it's perfectly fine. The level is a bit open ended the same way Tricky 1 is. (About Tricky 1, "Spoilt for Choice": It is possible to reach the exit at the right, see my intended solution.)

Tricky 6 - Easy When You Know the Trick The level title is indeed appropriate when you do know the trick. Took me a while to come up with having to turn a miner a few times with blockers, though. Definitely reminds me of "Mastermined" from Mazulems, which uses the exact same trick. The only really hard part was placing the first builder and miner such that he breaks through it to prevent the climber from being able to go out later and dying to the fire coal box trap. Very nice level to finish off the rank!

Very close to intended. Placement is easier in the intended solution. (You can find my intended solutions attached to the first post of this thread if you're interested.)

Well done again and enjoy the rest of the pack. I'll definitely watch the video's!

[kaywhyn]

I solved the rest of the pack, i.e, the Taxing, Mayhem, and Bonus ranks. I'm back with more replays and feedback

Taxing Rank Feedback

Levels are a bit harder here, and this was the first rank that I didn't get completely solved in just one video.

Spoiler

Taxing 1 - You Better Watch Out Nice level to start off the rank, although I think you said this is a backroute? The timing is a bit tight on platforming before the basher from the right side arrives.

Taxing 2 - Tarzan and Jane (Part II) Very hard one. Lots of things kept failing because the other arrived too soon before the gap could be sealed off completely. The solution I finally found is very heavy on the precision, as the first Lemming out of the hatch needs to be assigned a glider the instant he pops out of the entrance. This apparently made a huge difference and allowed him to platform and stack to seal the gap completely before the other fell into the vine swamp. I don't know if this is intended or if there is an easier solution. I was kind of expecting another shimmier while a builder is in progress level, as that's what the original level from Yippee! More Lemmings did.

Taxing 3 - Mission Unreachable I think you said my solution is also a backroute? Not to mention that I have some skills leftover as well. You likely intended something far harder than being able to seal off the gap by building to the steel blocks on the right and still be able to solve the level

Taxing 4 - Welcome to the Twilight Zone Already played this level of yours before, as it is a contest level. The exit limits are missing, but you likely changed it after the contest was over. It's your level, so you get to do as you please with it. Doesn't make it any harder or easier, but I would say the level's slightly easier without the exit limits. As a result, I wonder if there's any other changes, as the level "felt" different to me for some reason while I was solving it.

Taxing 5 - Boogie Woogie Lemmings Get Groovy Somewhat difficult but a very nice 1-of-everything level! I even learned something new with the slider mechanics and how to stop him from going the wrong way after dehoisting from the end of the platformer bridge. Seems the key is that you must place the stacker in such a way so that the slider doesn't get the chance to complete the dehoisting animation. If he doesn't, then he will go in the right direction instead of in the opposite direction that he does when he finishes the dehoisting.

Taxing 6 - All in Good Timing Hard one, and definitely reminded me of your "Step Up Your Game" contest level, which I wasn't able to solve for a long time. The timing and placements of the skills have to be on the dot, otherwise you cannot get a lemming to drop down safely to make the lower splatform, as well as rescue the first non-floater out of the splat hatch in time. It was quite difficult to see to build over the first pole and dig down the second one so as to allow the next climber to be able to get to the first climber's position in time in order to survive the fall. It was also hard to work out how to stop the climbers from going out the right and drowning in the acid at the top. The rest was somewhat easy after figuring all this out.

Mayhem Rank Feedback

Even harder levels here, although I interestingly didn't struggle as much here as I did in the Taxing rank. Probably because there are no slider levels in this rank!

Spoiler

Mayhem 1 - Symmetry for the Devil Hard but another really good one! It might make you wonder how in the world do you solve this, but the solution can be deduced with logic. Well done here

Mayhem 2 - Heroes to the Rescue Nice nod to "It's Hero Time!" from the OL, with the 99 RR, save all, 1-of-everything, and 1 minute time limit. This one was somewhat difficult, although here the timing with building to the exit and using the climber to mine the blocker free is really tight. That was a really nice trick to isolate a worker lemming by digging in such a way so that only one lemming drops to the lower floor while everyone is contained on the second floor, if that's intended.

Mayhem 3 - Lemmings Looking for Adventure Reminds me of Taxing 4 due to the identical skillset. This one seems much easier, especially since I have a lot of skills leftover. My solution's probably fine, since it seems open-ended anyway.

Mayhem 4 - Stick Together This one took a while, but that's because I was a dummy with the shimmiers. I kept using a lot of bombers to clear the pipe where the first sucker trap is in order to keep going over the top to forge all the path with the lucky survivor. However, once I realized that I could just glide and then platform at the top to reach shimmier friendly terrain, the rest was somewhat easy. The only hard part after that was to time the release of the crowd to sync up with the worker lemming so that only one dies to the zapper trap. I kept thinking one needs to build to reach the exit without getting zapped, but as CPM reveals, it's already correctly placed so one doesn't need to build at all. You don't even have any spare builders to anyway.

Mayhem 5 - Step Up Your Game Another contest level, and the one I couldn't solve until about 5 months after the voting closed. This is due to a solution that is very well hidden at the beginning. The bashing needs to be done at that exact spot, otherwise you cannot seal off the gap with a builder in time before some slip into the acid and drown. It's a very nice level, and I think I remember it making it past the first round of voting?  Of course, that was at a time when this was still unsolved by me. I wasn't too proud of being stuck on this level for that long, but it was a good feeling to finally have figured it out.

Mayhem 6 - Jolly Jumpers I'm sure this is one huge backroute, as I don't think it's supposed to be this easy for the final level of the main pack. This one practically took no time at all

Bonus Rank Feedback

For levels in a rank called "Bonus," these were quite difficult!

Spoiler

Bonus 1 - Perpetuum Mobilem Even with just 3 skill types and 3 skills only, this one was still a hard one. Many of my early attempts I thought I had the level solved, only to find out I would have at least 3 stuck in an infinite loop. All 3 skills have to be placed in the exact locations shown, otherwise there's no chance of passing here. Still, this was a really nice level with two preassigned climber/glider entrances, as well as a locked RR

Bonus 2 - Winterlude I would say this is the hardest level in the entire rank. Might even be the hardest of the pack, along with Taxing 6. This one took a while. I kept thinking to cut off the bridge on the right side before too many of the top right entrance spills out and goes towards the upper exit with the limit. I never thought to release them to the bottom of the level on the left side Otherwise, in earlier attempts I would try to save them with a platformer, but the platformer himself would go into the steam blower trap. It's quite obvious to bomb the OWWs in order for a slider to get in there to bash them. It should also be clear that if you're not given any floaters/gliders and you need to drop down a fatal height, the slider is the way to go!

Bonus 3 - Working Lem Blues I don't know if my solution is intended here. I also used overflow to prevent the slider from being stuck in an infinite loop due to using the builder staircase that would prevent anyone from using the teleporter and going the wrong way. Still, nice 1-of-everything. Also, one of the masher traps doesn't work, which is pretty surprising.

Bonus 4 - My, Myself and I Not a very hard level, only made very hard due to the extremely tight time limit. My jaw certainly dropped upon seeing the time limit and the scattered buttons on opposite sides and top and bottom. Some of my earlier attempts was a few seconds too slow, but apparently swapping out the first stacker for a platformer/basher and using the stacker to instantly make the clone turn around at the bottom where the button is on the left side made all the difference to finish on time. Very nice level to finish off the pack! Also, I'm one of few who doesn't mind time limits, as I love numbers/math

With the completion of this pack, I must say job well-done for your second pack, Niesch! Thank you for this, and also thanks to Armani for suggesting/recommending this pack for me to LP due to his pretesting of the pack. Just like Yippee! More Lemmings, LLL! may be a short pack, but don't expect it to be a quick solve. Niesch's levels are characterized by being challenging, so that even people like me still take a while to solve them. However, I definitely enjoyed the challenges within, and I don't mind hard levels, as these are the types of levels I prefer to play/solve. I especially enjoyed playing with the slider skill in this pack. It's almost been a year since I've played levels with either of the new skills, although it's been even longer since I haven't played any laserer levels. That will all change once I start playing Armani's pack.

Glad you're doing well and that you're enjoying my LP very much! As usual, I look forward to reading your feedback/remarks on my solution, either here, on my LP videos, or both!

[NieSch]

Well done completing the pack kaywhyn!

About your solutions:

Spoiler

Taxing 1, 2, 3 are all backroutes. Especially 2 and 3 are major ones. I'll soon fix them.

Taxing 4: Yes, there's other changes as well. I put steel between the two entrance hatches and I made sort of a gap in the landscape at the left to the lower entrance, so you can't bash straight towards it. The reason for removing the exit limits is that I wanted to save an exit limit level for the Bonus rank that features all kinds of "bonussy" stuff like pre assigned hatches, teleporters and buttons. (Maybe I will make it exit limits again and swap the level for the Mayhem 3 level that you solved very easily.)

Taxing 5: Intended!

Taxing 6: Intended! I'll try to find a way to make it less precise.

Mayhem 1: Intended and well done finding the solution so fast!

Mayhem 2: It sure is a nice trick you pulled off, but not one I had in mind! So it's a backroute that I soon will fix.

Mayhem 3: Very good solution to this open ended level. I might swap this level for Taxing 4.

Mayhem 4: Again you spotted the intended solution really fast, well done!

Mayhem 5: It was fun to see that you remembered the solution!

Mayhem 6: Yep, huge backroute. Armani already found a lot backroutes that I fixed, but this was not one of them. So it's back to the drawing board for me, haha!

Bonus 1, 2, 4: Very well done again. You're a true Lemmings Master for solving these levels so quickly!

Bonus 3: My personal favorite level but ouch, you found a backroute again. I don't know how to fix it yet but I'll try my best just like you did solving the levels.

Thanks a lot again for the videos and your feedback!

[NieSch]

Here it is already, the "post kaywhyn update":

Update: V2.0, see first post for download (attachment).

Changes:

Spoiler

Backroute fixes for:

The L-Team
If I Were a Rich Lem
You Better Watch Out
Tarzan & Jane (Part II)
Mission Unreachable
Heroes to the Rescue
Jolly Jumpers
Working Lem Blues

Also changed:

Welcome to the Twilight Zone: the exit limits are back again and the level is now Mayhem instead of Taxing.
(Lemmings Looking for Adventure is now Taxing instead of Mayhem.)