16-Apr-2021, 4:54 PM
I received a total of six levels for this competition, all in the Strict category and all from different designers. I have had a great time playing through these levels and trying to review them. Overall, I’m impressed by the levels that you have made within the limitations of this competition.
Warning, spoilers (to some of the level solutions) ahead.
Thank you to all of you for participating!
Warning, spoilers (to some of the level solutions) ahead.
4th place [Click to Show Content]
Dave Varberg aka Geodave - Running with Aaron Neville (CC2 level)
Dave, I’m so sorry to have to put your level last place, but I feel that there is not much to it other than the time crunch. I know that the theme of this competition was limiting, and I also gather that you made the level at the very end so with a very short time available, so I appreciate your effort and participation. I think your level could be the start of a larger Chip-and-Melinda-collaboration level, and perhaps you could then make use of the extra block available at the beginning. I had to google Aaron Neville and am probably missing what the connection is to the level, but I really like the sound of the title.
Dave, I’m so sorry to have to put your level last place, but I feel that there is not much to it other than the time crunch. I know that the theme of this competition was limiting, and I also gather that you made the level at the very end so with a very short time available, so I appreciate your effort and participation. I think your level could be the start of a larger Chip-and-Melinda-collaboration level, and perhaps you could then make use of the extra block available at the beginning. I had to google Aaron Neville and am probably missing what the connection is to the level, but I really like the sound of the title.
3rd place (shared) [Click to Show Content]
I really tried to range your levels from 3rd to 5th place, but no matter how I placed you it didn't feel right. These were three very dfferent levels with different qualities.
Jeremy aka Daveshotme - Ice Capades (CC1 level)
The competition version of this level is unfortunately busted, as it is possible to exit in time in front of the pink ball even with the ice skates on. The intended solution, though, is very intricate and cool, and very hard to execute. The timing needs to be very precise, especially with the partial post and also with the teeth following you down at 19,15 the same time as you don’t want to be killed by the pink ball below. Then there is also a lot of dodging before getting to the partial post, which makes it frustrating if you have to do that part several times before getting it right. Slide delay also is an issue at times. A player more skilled than myself might consider this a fun challenge, and for myself it was an interesting level to solve in SuCC. It is a very creative use of the “trap but no trap button”. I would have made this level in a corner just to make more of the level visible from the start, and while the concept is great, I think the level could benefit from being a bit larger with more leeway for the monster dodging and the pushing of the block.
(You’ve also told me that in the version of this level that is in your personal set, where you’re not limited by the rules of this competition, some of this is already taken care of by using a pink ball cloner instead of just a single pink ball in the middle, which sounds great.)
Will C-S aka Calica - The Day I Tried To Live (CC2 level)
At first glance it looked like a case of just mapping out the paths and then wait, but it turned out to be a little more of a puzzle than that. I hadn’t seen this concept before (and had obviously missed In the Pink), and I enjoyed playing it. The wait at the end wasn’t as long as I expected it to be, but if this was to be (part of) a level in one of your sets, it could be neat with something else to do after setting up the paths, while waiting.
I also really liked the level title even if I didn't find it too hard to survive this level.
Snacksforsale - Third Man Locksmithing (CC1 level)
This was a hard puzzle, I almost gave up. It's cool that you could make something so simple, so hard. I don't think the time limit would have to be so short for this level. Your level was one of the most "liked" on the Discord.
Jeremy aka Daveshotme - Ice Capades (CC1 level)
The competition version of this level is unfortunately busted, as it is possible to exit in time in front of the pink ball even with the ice skates on. The intended solution, though, is very intricate and cool, and very hard to execute. The timing needs to be very precise, especially with the partial post and also with the teeth following you down at 19,15 the same time as you don’t want to be killed by the pink ball below. Then there is also a lot of dodging before getting to the partial post, which makes it frustrating if you have to do that part several times before getting it right. Slide delay also is an issue at times. A player more skilled than myself might consider this a fun challenge, and for myself it was an interesting level to solve in SuCC. It is a very creative use of the “trap but no trap button”. I would have made this level in a corner just to make more of the level visible from the start, and while the concept is great, I think the level could benefit from being a bit larger with more leeway for the monster dodging and the pushing of the block.
(You’ve also told me that in the version of this level that is in your personal set, where you’re not limited by the rules of this competition, some of this is already taken care of by using a pink ball cloner instead of just a single pink ball in the middle, which sounds great.)
Will C-S aka Calica - The Day I Tried To Live (CC2 level)
At first glance it looked like a case of just mapping out the paths and then wait, but it turned out to be a little more of a puzzle than that. I hadn’t seen this concept before (and had obviously missed In the Pink), and I enjoyed playing it. The wait at the end wasn’t as long as I expected it to be, but if this was to be (part of) a level in one of your sets, it could be neat with something else to do after setting up the paths, while waiting.
I also really liked the level title even if I didn't find it too hard to survive this level.
Snacksforsale - Third Man Locksmithing (CC1 level)
This was a hard puzzle, I almost gave up. It's cool that you could make something so simple, so hard. I don't think the time limit would have to be so short for this level. Your level was one of the most "liked" on the Discord.
2nd place [Click to Show Content]
Bowman - RAMIFICATIONS (CC1 level)
A very fun and clever puzzle! I have to admit that I was only able to solve it in Lynx (where you can use the fact that monsters don’t enter hint tiles), but after seeing the intended solution, there is nothing strange about it and I should have been able to solve it. I was frustrated by the level in the beginning thinking that it was too hard, but like with many good levels, my view of it shifted once I solved the level (which in this case as admitted, due to lack of time I watched the tws before solving it on my own). I think it is impressive that you made this within the limited tiles available.
A very fun and clever puzzle! I have to admit that I was only able to solve it in Lynx (where you can use the fact that monsters don’t enter hint tiles), but after seeing the intended solution, there is nothing strange about it and I should have been able to solve it. I was frustrated by the level in the beginning thinking that it was too hard, but like with many good levels, my view of it shifted once I solved the level (which in this case as admitted, due to lack of time I watched the tws before solving it on my own). I think it is impressive that you made this within the limited tiles available.
1st place [Click to Show Content]
VT - Yellow Snow (CC1 level)
Congratulations on winning the competition! I just loved your level. It was such a fun puzzle to figure out, and I thought I had it several times before I actually did. I love small levels like this where you can see (well almost) the whole level at the same time, and still it’s not simple to solve. You really accomplished to make a great puzzle using only a few tiles. I think the time limit didn’t have to be so short, though. It’s not that bad since you can see most of the level before starting to play, but I also don’t think that the level benefits of a short time limit. It’s a great little level withouth the need of also being time sensitive.
Congratulations on winning the competition! I just loved your level. It was such a fun puzzle to figure out, and I thought I had it several times before I actually did. I love small levels like this where you can see (well almost) the whole level at the same time, and still it’s not simple to solve. You really accomplished to make a great puzzle using only a few tiles. I think the time limit didn’t have to be so short, though. It’s not that bad since you can see most of the level before starting to play, but I also don’t think that the level benefits of a short time limit. It’s a great little level withouth the need of also being time sensitive.
Thank you to all of you for participating!