@IchoTolot: Thanks for the replay :thumbsup:, even though it is a backroute. I will post a replay of the intended solution a day or two before voting starts.
@namida: What about backroute fixes? Are we supposed to post them here during the contest or should we on the contrary refrain from posting ones, because it is the level we handed in that are going to be voted on?
@All: I have made replays as well and here they are.
Furthermore some comments on the levels. Note: Even though they are hidden, they contain only very mild spoilers. Nevertheless I would recommend trying all levels before reading the comments.
Precarious Construction (Part 2) by Crane: Nice layout. However the solution is not really special and something you would remember for years to come. Edit: Just seen Crane's last post and I suspect that my solution is a backroute as well.
Shadowrun by IchoTolot: Reverse the comment on Crane's level: A brilliant solution, but not quite an eye candy and having to select (actually twice and precisely!) the i-th lemming (for some 5<i<15) in a 99RR-lemming crowd takes away some fun. A RR of 95 (perhaps with only 15 lemmings) would have been better in my opinion.
Careless Oasis by keiya: The easiest and most beautiful looking level in the set. Try to get 100%.
General Tsao's Lemming by möbius: A elaborate version of a theme I first encountered in Ben Conways level "Good neighbours" (Conway11.dat) and later in one or two more levels. Even though the left third is not terribly interesting, this level adds some twists to the theme just mentioned. Especially the diggers seem rather useless on the first glance.
Like I mentioned in the other topic, backroutes don't nessecerially make a level bad. It just means they have an unintended solution. Mayhem 13 is the best example of this - despite at least two backroutes, it's still a very well-liked level. Likewise, this isn't just about "hardest level" - it's about "best level", which means that if your level is fun to play and/or people like the appearance, it still has a shot at winning.
Anyway, I had a quick go at these levels (except Shadowrun as I haven't set up Lemmini on this PC yet), and I must say, they're pretty challenging. I came close on Precarious Construction (Part 2), but didn't manage to beat it yet - I got 96%, but that's the best I could acheive so far. Careless Oasis I did manage to beat; while it is a simple and small level, I did like...
the trick of, when releasing the crowd, having to bounce the builder off the left blocker.
General Tsao's Lemming, I had some ideas on but I haven't been able to put together a full solution yet. And Lost in Colourland has me pretty damn stumped so far.
namida; what does left clicking do? what is that arrow that appears? ??? on that note; how do you select only walkers?
Anyway--I looked at some of the levels and agree with namida's comments. I haven't really tried hard on any yet. I really liked the design and look of Precarious Construction (Part 2) [why the part 2? unless it's a secret] This level looks familiar to me.. but then most levels do to me because, Idk why. And I find no immediately obvious solution.
Lost in Color land looks really hard from the start. Looks odd in the editor because of the exit. [but looks good]
I haven't yet look at Icho's but I will.
Nepster solution to my level is not intended. Don't know how difficult it is, I'll wait for more comments/backroutes. This level isn't really one that's easily backroute fixable at all.
[at least both exists were used and all climbers/floaters were used. I was very afraid a much more major backroute like breaking that aspect of the level was going to happen
I think I forgot to mention; it's heavily inspired by two older levels; Technoir by Lacktardo and Fall Guy by BulletRide
Alright, I finally had a proper go at these levels. I managed to solve all of them except Shadowrun; while I had a general idea here, the need to replay levels from the start (even with a replay feature - it still relies on you interrupting it at the right moment, and the fact it scrolls the screen automatically does not help) on Lemmini was driving me freaking crazy, so I gave up for now. Maybe I'm too used to Lemmix's fine control features...
Here's my replays for the four NeoLemmix ones.
My thoughts:
Precarious Construction (Part 2)
This is a really neat level. It took me a while to think of letting the last lemming past the blocker like that. I'd say this one took me the most time overall to solve.
Shadowrun
This seems like a really neat level; I have an idea of the overall solution but Lemmini makes it a pain in the ass to execute.
Careless Oasis
It does show off a neat trick - bouncing off one blocker to escape from between them - but overall, this level is very simple and quite bland, unfortunately.
General Tsao's Lemming
I'm fairly sure I backrouted this one. If not, that's a really clever trick with the miner by the exit.
Lost in Colourland
I'm almost sure I backrouted this one - while there's nothing that feels overly backroutey about it, I just get the feeling a level from Nepster is going to be a bit harder than this solution was. xD
Definitely some great levels here! :)
I've decided to upload a replay with the intended solution for my entry "Shadowrun", so that you can control yourself if you got the right solution or backrouted it.
Nepsters solution I wouldn't consider a big backroute, but I changed the level for the final pack so that you can't just dig down the right pillar and climb it up again (it would create an edge then)