Another update just went out for this, with a build of the client now running as a web client (so no download or installation required, just run it directly in the browser). You can run this at: https://locksteparcade.com/Client

This was a fun diversion, @Guigui!

Quite easy of course, but also awkward, as advertised! I've played easier packs made by people a lot older There are some surprisingly decent levels here, given that they're designed by your kids. Good job, Val and Max! Replays attached. Probably backrouted a bunch of em, but hey, that's the way it goes

Howdy!

I few years ago I wrote a lemmings 1 data decoder and viewer ("rustlings") in an effort to get to know rust. At this point, it is capable to decode the original data files, extract level and graphics data and display sprites and levels. You can find the source here: https://github.com/DirtyHairy/rustlings

A few days ago I started working on it again, with the intend of expanding it into a full game engine. Since then I have spent a bit of time poking the original .exe with Ghidra to reverse a few bits and pieces that I am missing (or do not just want to read off from existing reimplementations), and on the way I also reversed the code generation algorithm. As I couldn't find much about this online, here's a JavaScript version that can generate the codes for all original levels, in case anyone else comes looking for the same thing:

// rating and level both zero based
function codeFor(rating, level) {
  const secret = "AJHLDHBBCJ".split("").map((x) => x.charCodeAt(0));
  const percentage = 100;

  const levelIndex = 30 * rating + level;
  const code = new Array(10).fill(" ".charCodeAt(0));

  code[0] = ((levelIndex & 0x01) << 3) | secret[0] | ((percentage & 0x01) << 2);
  code[1] = ((levelIndex & 0x02) << 1) | secret[1] | ((percentage & 0x02) >> 1);
  code[2] = (levelIndex & 0x04) | secret[2] | ((percentage & 0x04) >> 1);
  code[3] = ((levelIndex & 0x08) >> 3) | secret[3] | ((percentage & 0x08) >> 2);
  code[4] = ((levelIndex & 0x10) >> 3) | secret[4] | ((percentage & 0x10) >> 1);
  code[5] = ((levelIndex & 0x20) >> 5) | secret[5] | ((percentage & 0x20) >> 3);
  code[6] = ((levelIndex & 0xc0) >> 4) | secret[6] | ((percentage & 0x40) >> 6);
  code[7] = (levelIndex & 0xf) + secret[7];
  code[8] = (levelIndex >> 4) + secret[8];
  code[9] =
    ((code[0] + code[1] + code[2] + code[3] + code[4] + code[5] + code[6] + code[7] + code[8]) & 0xf) + secret[9];

  for (let i = 7 - (levelIndex & 0x07); i > -1; i--) {
    const tmp = code[6];
    code[6] = code[5];
    code[5] = code[4];
    code[4] = code[3];
    code[3] = code[2];
    code[2] = code[1];
    code[1] = code[0];
    code[0] = tmp;
  }

  return code.map((x) => String.fromCharCode(x)).join("");
}


Good point i don't mind back routes, sometimes they are harder/more elaborate than the original solution though. I can see why they would be annoying to the person that designed the level though.

I personally like levels that can be solved many different ways, i like figuring out how to solve it the 'correct' way though.

I dont like levels which involve too much precision, my reflexes aren't great, but it is a great sense of achievement when you actually finish it.

I guess my least favourite levels are those which involve things like digging to oblivion lol.

They're very difficult but it's a great sense of achievement when you actually finish it.

SNES Manual

"Look what I can do!" Climb; Float; Blow Up Blockers (he he); Block; Build Bridges; Dig Tunnels – across, diagonally, and down

"Uh oh! I'm going to have to work fast if I'm going to save my buddies"

"Two blockers are required to stem the flow of Lemmings going over the edge. Now a quick leap over the side...I hope my brolly opens... Touchdown!"

"I could probably climb this cliff but my buddies wouldn't able to. Time for a spot of bridge building I think. Now to dispense with my blocker and let the rest of my pals through."

"Another Blocker here and it's tunnel time! Oops! Mustn't get my feet wet. Another bridge I think."

"Now if I get rid of my last Blocker all the guys will troop through while I tackle this one-way pillar. I'm bushed!"

"Another safe landing, a quick dig through in the direction of the arrows and its everybody out."

            Lemmings
LOADING INSTRUCTIONS

Always switch off your console for at least 30 seconds before loading the game. Failure to do so may result in virus contamination of the Lemmings Game Paks. See the virus warning and the warranty notice on page 16 for further information.

▪Make sure the power is off and there are no Game Paks inserted.
▪Insert the Game Pak (the label must be facing you), and push when it locks into place.
▪Switch the monitor/TV then the console on by putting the "Power" switch to "ON".
▪Lemmings is best played by using the controller. Using a mouse (which this game is released before the pointer) will not work. A second controller, plugged into the second-player port, is required for a two-player game.

                  Lemmings
                  The Game

An intriguing game in which you help hordes of mindless but delightful creatures — known as Lemmings — escape over 125 hostile enviroments.

Lemmings drop through a trapdoor in each level and, as they are creatures of very little brain, they need all the help they can get to survive the dangers that lie within.

Lemmings are very cute but also very dumb. They will mindlessly walk off cliffs, into water, hazards and traps or they will mill around bumping into walls or other obstacles unless you help them get their act together. You can assist them by giving them certain skills and powers that will help them get through each level of the game. Once you have assigned skills (shown as icons on the bottom of the screen in each level) to certain Lemmings they can use those skills to help them and their fellow Lemmings cope with the dangers that swround them. Each level of the game is an increasingly difficult environment that the Lemmings must navigate. At each level you have a different number of skills available for assignment; you have different times available for mastering that level and you have varying numbers of Lemmings that you must save to complete that particular level.

A quick brain, the ability to plan ahead and lifetime's dedication to the Save A Lemming Campaign are required to get the right Lemming to perform the right action at the right time. A forgotten blocker, a rogue miner or a misplaced bridge could spell disaster for every Lemming on screen.

Before Play Commences

Load Lemmings, as per the instructions on page 9, until you see the Main Menu screen.

Lemmings is organised into five increasingly difficult game categories: FUN, TRICKY, TAXING, MAYHEM and SUNSOFT. The FUN category consists of around 30 levels and is designed to familiarize you with the game concept and how to work with Lemmings skill attributes. You don't have to start with this category. You can go directly to any of the higher skill categories but we suggest that you begin with at least a few of the levels in the FUN category to get the feel of the game before proceeding to the more difficult categories. TRICKY, TAXING and MAYHEM increase in difficulty, with the MAYHEM and SUNSOFT levels being the most difficult. Each of the game categories has around 30 levels except for the SUNSOFT difficulty, which has 5.

PASSWORDS

After you complete each level you are shown a password on screen. Make a note of it, as you will be able to go direedy to that level when you play Lemmings again and don't wish to replay a level you have already mastered.

THE MENU
▪Select "ONE PLAYER GAME" to begin a one-player game.
▪Select "TWO PLAYER GAME" to begin a two-player game.
▪Select "PASSWORD" to insert a password.
▪Press Select and Start to reveal more options. Press them again to go back.
▪(Select and Start only) Select "PAD 1 SETTINGS" to configure the controls of the first controller.
▪(Select and Start only) Select "PAD 2 SETTINGS" to configure the controls of the second controller.
▪(Select and Start only) Select "SOUND TEST" to test music and set sounds.
▪Press Up or Down on the D-Pad to select a setting.
THE INTRO
▪Press any button to skip the intro (other than D-Pad or the trigger buttons).

Game Controls

Point and press on your chosen icon to highlight it then – if required – point and press on selected Lemming.

Pushing your cursor left or right to the screen edge scrolls the play area – simultaneously holding B scrolls faster. You may also scroll the screen by dragging the
cursor over the small map (right of icon panel) or instantly zoom to any area of the level by pressing in the map.
Each level displays a password when completed.

INGAME

D-Pad moves cursor
A selects Lemming
B makes cursor "run" using the D-Pad
X selects previous skill
Y selects next skill
L scrolls level to the left (quickly if B is held)
R scrolls level to the right (quickly if B is held)
Start pauses the game
Select is used for any button mapping
Select and Start restarts level

INTERLEVEL
Press Select to change difficulty level (in order: FUN, TRICKY, TAXING, MAYHEM, and SUNSOFT)
Press Select or Start to start level
Press Up or Down to change level

Icons (from left to right)
1 Increase and/or decrease flow of Lemmings onto the level*
The following are the skills you can give to Lemmings
2 Climber – climbs vertical surfaces
3 Floater – a brolly (umbrella) opens to ensure a safe descent
4 Bomb to dispatch single Lemmings (one way to get rid of Blockers)
5 Blocker – stands with arms outstretched to block the passage of fellow Lemmings and taps his toe
6 Bridge Builder – builds bridges
Each builder has only twelve building bricks. When a Builder has laid his twelfth brick he turns to look and shrug at you for a moment...if you click on him again he will lay another twelve bricks (if you have any Builders remaining), and so on until you run out of Builders. If you don't click on him after he lays his twelfth brick he becomes a Walker again.
7 Basher — digs horizontally, will only dig when a suitable surface is directly ahead of him
8 Miner – uses a pick to dig diagonally down
9 Digger – burrows vertically
10 Pause – gives you time to think
11 Nuke 'Em destroys all Lemmings – should you find yourself in a 'no-win' situation (double press to activate)
Each skill may be only used a limited number of times (shown above each icon).
The green display to the right of the icons depicts the whole level.
The square cursor on that display depicts the current area shown onscreen.
*only in One Player mode

Directly above the icon panel are (from left to right):
Lemming identifier, plus the number of Lemmings currently under the cursor
Number of Lemmings currently occupying the level
% of rescued lemmings
Time remaining to complete level

The Two-Player Game
In two-player mode the screen is vertically divided in two by a Lemming level indicator. This indicator displays the amount of Lemmings each player has successfully rescued from the level. The left player controls blue Lemmings the right, green. Each player has his own exit and competes to get as many Lemmings (either his or her opponents) safely through it. Each player has 40 Lemmings in his team on the first level but on later levels this number is dependent on how many Lemmings were saved by individual players the previous level (i.e. Lemmings saved are added to players' initial 40 for the next level).
Lemmings instinctively head off in the direction of their own exit as soon as they
enter the level. Each player has his own set of skill icons.
Pressing Start pauses the game.
Both players have to press on Nuke 'Em for Lemming annihilation to take place.
The two-player game is played until both players fail to rescue any Lemmings.

Some Points to Note
Steel (shown as square plates and usually used to contain liquids) cannot be dug through or exploded away.
Builders stop constructing bridges:
(i) When they run out of bricks
(ii) If the bridge hits a solid object
(iii) If the Lemming hits his head while building
Miners and Diggers keep digging until they dig through the layer, after which they fall through the bottom of the layer.
Bashers keep digging until there is no more material in front of them to dig.
A Lemming designated as a Climber or Floater retains these skills until the current level is ended or until he dies. A Lemming given both these skills is referred to as an Athlete.
All other skill icons take effect as soon as you click on a Lemming – make sure that there is something to dig in front of a Basher or he will give up right away and you will have wasted a skill.

I like the SNES, NES, and the Sega Mega Drive version manual of Lemmings although I hate the Mark Tsai and the Windows 95 version of the manual (the Mark Tsai version and the Windows 95 version has exclamations in parenthises in it due to my behavior concern and adjustment disorder). I also like the Atari Lynx version of the manual. I will post them later.

This is the lemming I drew.
It is sketched.

It's wild how much the Amiga version stands out compared to the others. Those special levels really had a unique vibe that the PC/DOS ports just didn't quite capture. If anyone's looking to play them today, the 'Amiga' level packs for NeoLemmix are a lifesaver - they port the levels over perfectly while keeping the modern quality-of-life features.