Fiat Lem! (Let there be Lemmings!)

[Pieuw]

Dodochacalo and I are happy to finally release our collaborative levelpack!
It contains 80 levels - 30 by Dodochacalo and 50 by myself - divided into 4 ratings. Our work spanned over a decade with lots of large gaps between short productive frenzies. Our main goal was to try and innovate while staying classic. We mostly used original tilesets, skills and objects, but tried to make levels that would feel fresh, puzzle-wise and/or layout-wise. There are a few exceptions of course, some new skills or objects may appear here and there.

We initially wanted to make 50 to 60 levels each but since we were making slow progress we thought better to release it now than wait another decade We had to compose the ratings with what we had and that's why the difficulty may be bumpy at times. This being said, the pack may get updates in the (far) future with new content.

Now for a quick presentation of the ratings:

1/ Incipio (~ I begin)
Note: There are only a few levels by Dodochacalo here but don't worry, some gems are wating for you later.


RELEASE THE KRAKEN!


2/ Proficio (~ I progress)


Latecomers


3/ Scando (~ I climb up)


20,000 Lems Under the Sea


4/ Impero (~ I rule)


Itinéraire Touristique


Some people here already played my levels. You'll find them mostly unchanged here except for a few tweaks and backroute fixes. The main change I made is that I removed The Architect was on Acid and replaced it with another mystery level somewhere in the pack.

We hope you will enjoy these levels! Any feedback is of course appreciated, and replays (even mean ones) are welcome.

The game and rating logos were made by Dodochacalo!

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Thanks to the people that helped us test levels over the years - I hope I won't forget anyone: Akseli, Mobius, Uberwolfie and David

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[work in progress] Here is a few details about the levels (we each commented on our own levels):

Spoiler

01/ Haute Voltige
This is french, meaning "acrobatic act". At first this level required a trick involving a floater turning around mid-air with a hanging blocker and a well-timed bomber. But as I originally made this level for Lemmini, at some point I decided this was too tedious to pull off and completely changed the solution. Now it's an easy level. Easy levels are nice too.

02/ VDNKh
The title is a reference to the video game / book Metro 2033. VDNKh is a Russian metro station where some of the plot takes place. At the center of the map you can see a defense post with a flamethrower and a barricade. Further on the right a breach goes deep into the unknown, from which creatures may come out.

03/ What the Frick Frack Patty Wack?
This one was just to showcase this odd (but fun) basher on steel behaviour.

04/ Sandstones May Break My Bones
Easiest level of the pack that only exists for its sequel... (see: Incipio 15 below)

05/ Formal Semantics of Modal Logics
This is a simple inversion. The over-the-top layout and title are just to make it look more convoluted than it is.

06/ Quid Pro Quo
Just tried to make a lovely little puzzle here. Sometimes I find it harder to make good easy puzzles and I'm happy when I manage to stay focused on a simple idea without overcomplicating it.

07/ Smells Like Team Spirit
This is your typical basher level! I really love those, and I tried to make this one interesting and fun to figure out. I think the reference in the title is obvious?

08/ As not easy as it doesn't look
This level is broken and needs serious maintenance. It may disappear in a later version of the pack.

09/ Brace Yourself, Fall is Coming
First made for Lemmini, with a self-made rightward entrance. Its title is a reference to Game of Thrones' famous motto ("Brace Yourself, Winter is Coming").

10/ RELEASE THE KRAKEN
This is purely a layout oriented level. I just wanted to make a giant octopus for some reason.

11/ Bridges in the Sky
The title is a song by Dream Theater. I tried to build a layout inspired by this but I'm not really satisfied with the result.

12/ Mountains
Here is a heavy reference to one specific scene from the movie Interstellar. I'm not a fan of this movie but that scene stuck with me ever since and I thought it would be interesting to try and depict it in NeoLemmix.

13/ Something Wicked This Way Comes
Reference to the novel by Ray Bradbury.

14/ Architects of Fortune
Using the chain terrain piece to its full potential! The title is a reference to this song by Circus Maximus.

15/ Been There, Done That
First sequel, where bashers are now miners! An easy level though. (see: Incipio 04 above)

16/ Novelty Act
Another try to extend the basher capacity. This level is clearly gimmicky. Also I got the title here.

17/ Paucity
Just a little puzzle with a few skills. This is the very first level I created for this project!

18/ Ethereal Refinery
No idea how I came up with this title. I guess the lemmings flowing down made me think of droplets running down a still?

19/ Convoi Prioritaire
This is french, I guess you could translate it is "priority convoy". The idea being that the crowd must not be stopped nor turned around. Make way for the Lemming train!

20/ Graph Theory
Initially assigned to a "bonus" rating, this level isn't just about lucky die and retry if you know how... The design here is quite simple yet resembles a pre-Columbian temple. Its title is a reference to the mathematical theory of interconnected objects.

Spoiler

01/ A Good Lem is a Dead One
My very first Fiat Lem! level, harder to complete on Lemmini (due to bomb timing).

03/ The Wall
Minimalist design on purpose. Its minimalist title is a reference to Game of Thrones' giant ice wall.

05/ Fire & Blood
Part one of a diptych whose gimmick is to have two entirely identical levels (including skills) with just one little difference: entrance and exit were switched! (see: Proficio 15 below)

08/ Snowpiercer
A well-known technique that requires meticulous preparation here. Snowpiercer is a French comic world famous for its cinematographic adaptation.

10/ Ancient Astronauts
Having only one builder forces you to use your miners and diggers wisely. One of my favorite designs, due to its simplicity; the structures made of bricks and stairs somewhat resemble the idea I have of an alien spaceship, hence the title.

12/ Paved With Good Intentions
I always loved puzzles with only a few builders, the poor creatures having no choice but to wander through the level. I guess blockers can be more than just single-use. As the proverb says, what is "paved with good intentions" is the road to... hell.

14/ Latecomers
If it had not been for the low release rate, that level would have been of little interest, except for its design that mimics 3D graphics.

15/ Blood & Fire
Part two of a diptych whose gimmick is to have two entirely identical levels (including skills) with just one little difference: entrance and exit were switched! That second puzzle is supposed to be slightly harder to complete, not enough for the Scando rating though (see: Proficio 05 above)

17/ Bad Reflections
Punny title (a lot of my levels include symmetrical layout though... and punny titles); made easy by its limited room for maneuver... and the conversion to NeoLemmix. The gallows isn't really a problem here, is it?

20/ Eclectic Power
Two nearly identical halves that must be solved differently (hence the punny title). Maybe a little too difficult for the Proficio rating.

[Mobiethian]

Wow! This is extremely nice, the level design is beyond beautiful and many different things make the levels look extra fun. I'll be having fun with this, downloaded and started playing. Thank you!

[kaywhyn]

Awesome! Congratulations on the release, Pieuw and Dodochacalo! I've loaded it in NL and it looks great. I have added the pack to my to-LP list I was definitely most looking forward to this considering its collab nature among French authors whose packs DoveLems (including Dodochacalo's mini Lemmini packs too) and PimoLems were my very first custom level packs I've played (after MazuLems), and I was even more excited when you gave the news of Dodochacalo's return and resuming working on the pack with you.

Now that this pack from the both of you is finally out, there's now plenty of packs that I need to go through, but rest assured that I'll eventually get to this one. It might not be for a while, but don't worry, I will get around to playing this. When I do, please excuse my butchering of any French words that I might come across during the LP This definitely happened a lot when I played The Lemmings Have Grown by David, and of course the reason is clear: French isn't my native language. I had opportunities to take it in high school, but I ended up taking Spanish for my Foreign Language requirement, and I took it all 4 years.

Speaking of David, I need to play through his DavidLems, and that's been prioritized since he released it on Lemmings Day earlier this year. Also, might there be a collab with him in the future with the both of you? He's French as well

Merci, gentlemen! Looking forward to playing the pack when I get to it, and I will definitely let you and Dodochacalo know when I am!

[mobius]

awesome to see it finally completed! I'm anxious to play, in fact I decided I will record my progress through the pack and upload videos to youtube (probably not stream it but we'll see). Expect quite slow progress and uploads however.

I've tested a few of these levels out privately and can say that they looked and played absolutely amazingly then, before fixes and improvements, so I highly recommend this pack!

What does Fiat Lem mean in English? Google translate doesn't have an answer... Or maybe it's just a reference to the car company I guess?

[Proxima]

What does Fiat Lem mean in English? Google translate doesn't have an answer... Or maybe it's just a reference to the car company I guess?

Fiat is the subjunctive form of the verb "to be", so it would mean "Let there be Lemmings!"

[Pieuw]

Thank you all!

Speaking of David, I need to play through his DavidLems, and that's been prioritized since he released it on Lemmings Day earlier this year. Also, might there be a collab with him in the future with the both of you? He's French as well

I don't think I'll work on any new project for a long while but who knows what the future holds?

What does Fiat Lem mean in English?

Ah yes, I was supposed to write the translation in the topic name. Thank you Proxima for your input in French it translates to "Que le lemming soit !" which is the title of the first level from FranLems.

I didn't mention this but we fiddled a bit with the talismans, mainly to see how they work. We put a few in the pack, mostly in the first rank. If anyone has suggestions about interesting talismans to add, we may add more in the future

[kaywhyn]

@Pieuw

I'm just posting to let you know that all replies have had their titles changed to be the same as the one you changed in the OP Unfortunately, I had to move the topic somewhere else first before moving it back to the NeoLemmix Levels board, but when doing so there is the option to change all subject titles to match the OP's, so I checked that box, and viola, all match now! I could instead just edit each of the individual posts to match the OP's title, but that would mean every post would have "last edited by kaywhyn at the bottom."

[Armani]

I started playing through this pack! And here're my replays for the first rank!

Both Pimolems and Dovelems were one of the very first custom packs I played. I remember the good old days when I found out this forums, ease of designing levels with the NL editor and many many user-made levels. I have a feeling I'm going to love this new pack too!
P.S. I recorded the playthrough(mainly for archive purposes): youtu.be/U8c1bJxN9yU

comments on individual levels

Incipio rank

1 Haute Voltige - nothing special. It's a pretty good standard easy level to start off the pack.

2 VDNKh - open-ended, anyway-you-want level with more than enough skills. What does the title means though?

3 What the Frick Frack Patty Wack? - I have no idea what all the climbers/floaters are for. nice introduction level of the trick of a basher sliding up a steel slope.

4 Sandstones May Break My Bones - simple but clever puzzle. The talisman timelimit is pretty tight.

5 Formal Semantics of Modal Logics - pretty much a self-solving level. The layout of the level is absolutely beautiful!

6 Quid Pro Quo - nice puzzle with minimal skillset.

7 Smells Like Team Spirit - probably the first difficulty spike of the pack. You really have to think how and where to distribute specialist lemmings to achieve the talisman.

8 As not easy as it doesn't look - This feels backrouty. My solution is hackish and only use half of the builders.

9 Brace Yourself, Fall is Coming - Nice fall survival puzzle. I think my solution is mostly intended. But the fact that I saved many more lemmings than the talisman condition & a leftover builder makes me think something is not intended.

10 RELEASE THE KRAKEN -  very cool and creative design.

11 Bridges in the Sky - The trickiest part was to figuring out that you have to release the block with a digger with a lemming fallling from above. Rest of the solution came naturally.

12 Mountains - eccentric and a little bit confusing level. It's still very aesthetically pleasing.

13 Something Wicked This Way Comes - looks intimidating but this one turned out to be not too bad.

14 Architects of Fortune - I had to take full advantage of all the chains to get enough height I needed. fun one.

15 Been There, Done That - same terrains with Incipio4 but with different skillset. I think I like this level more. Having no basher makes the level more puzzly and challenging.

16 Novelty Act - not my favorite type of level. But you still have to think how to delay the non-climber lemming so the worker has enough time to build over the large gap.

17 Paucity - easy but not trivial.

18 Ethereal Refinery - This is probably my favorite level of the first rank. My solution has some leftover skills but I think main trick is there and I can see where I was able to save those. And again, the visual of the level is awesome.

19 Convoi Prioritaire - much easier than the previous level.

20 Graph Theory - I really didn't want to test which teleporters lead to which receivers one by one. So I just overuse the CPM and backtrack till I got to the starting teleporter from the receiver right next to the exit.

[Armani]

Here're my solutions to second rank. Some of the levels got multiple solutions.
If I felt like a certain solution of mine is definitely a backroutes, I went back and played the level again to find a more legit solution.

comments on individual levels

Proficio rank

1 A Good Lem is a Dead One - nice level. I like the concept of this level.

2 Maintenance Staff on the Loose - I like how all the lemmings but one have to build to cover the one pixel gaps on the wall. I don't think my solution is too off from intended but I have a leftover builder.

3 The Wall - I got two solutions: First one is definitely a backroute. The second solution on the other hand feels intended to me.

4 Swim Swam Swoop - cute little puzzle here.

5 Fire & Blood - Also two solutions for this level. First one is a bad backroute, I just bashed under everything and that's it. In second solution, I used every skill and looks intended to me.

6 Low Tide - Using the floater purly to delay a lemming a little bit was the hardest thing to see.

7 Second-Hand Wonderland - I love these no-builder levels that require creative uses of destructive skills!

8 Snowpiercer - I was already familiar to the main trick of this level so it was a releatively easy level for me.

9 From A to B and Back Again - Another gorgeous crystal level.

10 Ancient Astronauts - nice little puzzle with only 3 lemmings. They are all heading to danger already from the beginning and preventing that was the hardest thing. My first solution looks like it's a bad bacrkoute though.

11 Attack of the Big Root Thingies - I like the way to send multiple workers here and there and prepare the path simultaneously. It was very satisfying to pull it off the talisman indeed!

12 Paved With Good Intentions - That was a very cool way to recycle the climber lemming.

13 Land of Confusion - very confusing level as the title suggests XD. I'm pretty sure the permanent skills are red-herrings. I can't see them being useful anywhere.

14 Latecomers -  I assume using the trick of "two diggers canceling each other" is not intended. My second solution looks much more promising and also fits the title!

15 Blood & Fire - Not sure if digging into the steel to contain&compress the crowd at the beginning is intended.

16 High Tide - similar to Low Tide in some ways but also different to it in other ways.

17 Bad Reflection - one obvious backroute and one seemingly intended solution. Everything falls into space perfectly. I like how only one lemming turn around at the basher tunnel so he got enough time to build twice before the crowd catch him up.

18 Dual Flavored Swirls - This was the easiest level so far, a total cakewalk

19 Convergence Disorder - maybe the leftover digger can be used to reduce the precision?

20 Eclectic Power - It was a really cool closer of the rank. It has somewhat symmetric design but the same solution doesn't work on both side at all!

Proficio1~9: https://youtu.be/kqBONeZn-pA?si=Y6O0VIzSjHsFIEqb
Proficio10~20: https://youtu.be/HdXZr42AcTI?si=34i9j8IBEKoQ9rRs

[Pieuw]

Thank you Armani for the detailed feedback! I already watched your Proficio 1 video yesterday and will watch the second video today to comment on your solutions
It's nice that you're trying to find the intended solution after backrouting a level!

Some levels are probably misplaced and we may change the order at some point after getting enough feedback. Also it's cool to know you're enjoying the few talismans we put there. Some of them, like in Smells Like Team Spirit and Attack of the Big Root Thingies are there to nudge toward the intended solutions.

I think I'll write some details about the levels, like title references and stuff. Not sure if it's best to do this in the topic or in a readme file like I did for PimoLems. Or both maybe

[Armani]

Here're my solutions to third rank. 

comments on individual levels

Scando rank

1 Cabinet of Curiosities - I like how normal lemmings had to sacrifice themselves to save and reuse the climber lemming but he also had to sacrifice himself to destroy the final wall.

2 A Time to Kill and Time to Save - neat little puzzle. making the wall climbable with a falling bomber was clever!

3 Structure of Matter - That was a creative level. using the bombers to destroy the terrain across the thin steel block is not something you can see very often.

4 Newton's Cradle - I save one more lemmings than required which is suspicious.

5 Rickety Business - This seems to be one of your signature tricks! pretty easy but always satisfying to see the basher sliding down the slope!

6 Silos & Stitches - nice level. Taking the ceiling route was the hardest thing to figure out

7 Rooftop Run - The ceiling route is very well-hidden. 100% save requirement makes levels tricky and you really have to think carefully how to release all the blockers.

8 The Diving Board - relatively a breather

9 Save Our Souls - I love how you have to catch the climber from the right exit with the builders from the left hatch. If you take the most obvious approach, you'll always one or two skills short!

10 A Dream of Earth - It's quite astonishing to see what you can do with original styles. Even more so when those beautiful levels also have clever solutions!

11 Pareidolia - deceivingly tough one. There are many approaches that almost work.

12 Viaduc Caduc - This level is from demo pack. was quite easy

13 They came at night - I really love the aesthetic of this level. The puzzle is decent too.

14 20,000 Lems Under the Sea - I think I was not supposed to reverse through the OWW with the bomber, so here's the second solution!

15 Dos and dents - one of the occasional breathers

16 Take Five - My solution should be a backroute. I normally have a glimpse of what the intended solution roughly looks like when I look at the layout and skillset, but this level I absolutely have no clue. Guess I'll just wait for the update.

17 Razing the Foundations - One of my favorite levels of the rank.

18 Hanging Gardens - surprisingly a hard level despite the small size and skillset. I kept thinking that I have to bomb away the trap which led to skill shortage. There are several approaches that almost work!

19 Ruturn to the Shire - I like the zig-zag buiders to separate the worker lemming.

20 Precarious Guidance System - A worthy rank-finisher of the rank. Pieuw's signature trick is used again in a very complicated but also elegant way.

Scando1~7: https://youtu.be/aY-Qz13YI9U?si=uYuOqUQQn20LdIaT
Scando8~20: https://youtu.be/mjzgznXrqGI?si=sYcOCF2DkRX7nE3X

[Pieuw]

@Armani

Some levels may be considered breathers when one is already familiar with the tricks they require. This makes ranking some levels quite difficult. Do we take the original Lemmings games as reference or do we assume most players are now familiar with such tricks as the digger being turned around by a blocker? What if a new player comes around and gets stuck on a very early level because they don't know any of these tricks? This is a pickle

I'm glad you liked level 10, this is the very last one I made for the pack. It's indeed purely made with the dirt tileset but I cheated a little by abusing the group tool. I made single pixel terrain pieces in order to add some details.

Take Five may be too convoluted for its own good, and it's quite broken anyway. Your backroute will be easy to block but I'm sure others will be found very quickly.

Also I think you switched your commentaries about levels 6 and 7?

A word about some of Dodochacalo's levels! It's great you solved Hanging Gardens as intended, I think it's an excellent level. You backrouted Rooftop Run and Save Our Souls though, two of my favorite levels of his. I know he's already working on fixing them. Hopefully you'll be able to replay them to solve them as intended

[Armani]

Played through the final rank!

comments on individual levels

Impero rank

1 Pizza Party - very simple skillset and layout but still very tricky to figure out. Nice level to start of the highest difficulty rank. I love the idea of extending the miner with the builder exactly the amount needed.

2 Satonorium - Other than the obvious backroute , the lack of destructive skills makes this level challenging!

3 Lemgram - I like how the climber has to go all the way around to release the crowd.

4 Shelf-Control - Luckily the rope trap is one of the slowest traps ever exist.

5 Perfectenschlag - I smell a backroute here

6 Hypostyle Freestyle - very satisfying to figure out, another favorite of mine.

7 Crisis Management - took me the longest to figure out. easily one of the candidates for hardest level of the pack!(unless I overcomplicated the solution and made my life harder myself )

8 Forbidden Freiendship - nice two lemmings level. Releasing the climber with the normal lemming was the best part of the level.

9 Itineraire Touristique - very small skillset but surprsingly tricky level.

10 The Lemmings Surveys Corps - very challenging level. Since you told me the intended solution is more esthetic, I look forward to more updates!

11 Funhouse Shmunhouse - I feel like this level has many possible solutions. But they use most of the given skills at least.

12 Emeraldpunk 5047 - probably backroutes.

13 Honey, I shrunk the Lems - I like the concept of making every terrain pieces large so it looks like the lemmings are all smaller than usual.

14 A tad mad, a tad rad! - I was 50:50 whether my (second)solution was intended or not. Using the chains at the far right side of the level feels both odd and intended at the same time!

15 Against the Stream - The solution involves a digger sacrifice, which is not easy to see.

16 Deus Ex Machina - love the falling bomber to release the both crowds. The timing is a little bit unforgiving but I think it's okay.

17 To Protect and to Serve - This level is riddled with backroutes but has very clever solution and deceivingly difficult.

18 False Hapiness - might be a backroute.

19 Agemo's Trials - This level is definitely a unique one.

20 Horus's Reaching Hand -  not the hardest but epic level to finish the pack! The blocker's hand barely reaches the other side so the crowd don't splat and go safely to the exit.

Impero1~7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nFbwUlTcsA
Impero8~14: https://youtu.be/9YE2YlrvPIk?si=xcV3uHXalEQSyb4n
Impero15~20: https://youtu.be/OqKsS0QzKgs?si=odtrrEAS0v1JoXgE

[mobius]

Enjoying it so far! especially enjoying the levels that are new to me, (and struggling a bit with levels I'm already familiar cause I forget how to solve them ). The recording wasn't going well; I'm not happy with how that turned out so far, I may just write any comments I have in here after all.

[Pieuw]

Well done completing the pack @Armani! We already commented about your solutions on your videos. We will update the pack soon to fix the backroutes.

@Mobius it's nice to know you're enjoying the levels! Written feedback is fine, don't worry about it.