Levels

[Charilaos]

This issue serves as the general discussion about levels.

• Clever / fun new level ideas!
• Reporting levels to be in the wrong category or difficulty.
• Reporting levels to be broken or too easily solvable because the intended puzzle or obstacle can be ignored completely
• Anything other level related

[Charilaos]

This is "Rock your way out" (Easy). Designed to teach as many different interactions with stones as possible in a fun way, without dying. I've noticed some new players have a fear of standing underneath stones - no more after this one! It's also meanly designed to get you stuck at some point, after which the player is hopefully taught to push more carefully in crowded places.

[c0pperdragon]

This is a nice one. I have used the level editor to quickly add it to the "experimental" level pack and also provided a demo. I guess we actually would need a lot more easier levels. I have the overall impression that computer games became a lot easier in the last decades, especially casual" games. Users (my children for example) are too easily frustrated....

[Charilaos]

1 update + 1 new one!

Rock your way out

This one was designed to teach interactions. The problem was, there are alternative ways to play it, in which you could miss some interactions. With the updated version above, all interactions are mandated. Left-to-right: pushing stone + standing underneath without dying, then rolling over gems, then the ability to get stuck if not careful (now also earlier) + seeing stones roll of other stones, then an improved version of standing under falling stones without being able to walk back, and finally the stone rolling off the exit.

Circular gravity

There are some elements that aren't used enough in current levels: laser canons (especially pushing them), yamyams, elevators/pushers, pillows, converters, onetime doors. This one is the first of a series aiming to fix that. I think this one should probably be rated (at least) Normal & Science. Couldn't test, so I hope you can tell me whether it's challenging enough, and whether you could find an unintentionally easy solution.

[Charilaos]

Level re-classifications

I collected these notes since a long time ago, but apparently you had already re-classified most of them exactly how I planned ;) These few levels are left:

• Armageddon levels can both be classified as Survival (only II currently is)
• Blackout (now MAD) is much easier, about Normal
• Hello: add this description: If you want to challenge yourself, try to finish without pushing any stones or bombs.
• Think and blast much harder than Machine II (but I have a hard time classifying them myself)
• Stairway to Heaven is Difficult, not Tough
• House should be Tough not Difficult

Fixes for slightly broken levels

• Armageddon levels should both revert to the original yamyam remainders to restore the fun of continuous explosions
• Pea Soup should require 2 more emeralds, as now there are too many for the requirement
• Growing Trap should require 5 gems

Most importantly: resurrecting old classics

Some very nice levels are missing. Over time we have added new features and restored some lost features, because of which the following removed levels can be inserted again — for the better!

• MAD: The Balance III (yes, the whole mechanism is triggered automatically when starting the level, but even if that’s against the new philosophy it’s fun enough to be acceptable - especially for MAD)
• 4 x Burger
• Mats Attacks
• Go Mad
• Firewall
• Supernova
• Sit and Wait (without the old timer)
• Telephone Wire and Rock on Rails: they're the exact same levels
• Scream
• Puzzle buffet
• Yam yams in your way
• First come first eat
• Is the level size limit still 64*64? Lightmare and Treasure hunt really need to be back!

[c0pperdragon]

Besides a few minor improvements (explosion animation for example), I have worked through your list and basically implemented your requested changes to the existing levels. I only keep Pea Soup as it is, as it was intended to have 2 emeralds destroyed (it says so in the hint).

I even resurrected Balance III. I haven't had more time to check more of the old levels. Only Mars Attacks which is too big for the 64x64 restriction. And yes, I will keep this restriction, as my whole undo/redo buffer system relies on the fact that x and y positions can fit into 6 bit each.

Reinhard