Why "Across The Gap" may be harder than "Highland Fling"

[Minim]

Generally I'm not a theorist, but this is one kind of topic that I thought would make an interesting read for everyone.

What I would like to talk about are two levels from "Oh No! More Lemmings". Crazy 16's "Across the Gap" (ATG) and Havoc 13's "Highland Fling" (HF) Two levels in two separate difficulty ratings that some people would complain being in the wrong difficulty area. (Well, a lot of levels in this game are kind of out of place anyway). These two levels are what I would consider the worst offenders. So why would more solvers be actually telling the truth and complete a level 57 places up the ladder before this Crazy level?

So, firstly, let's have a look at each level and their respective previews.


Crazy 16: Across the Gap
Number of lemmings that drop: 16
100% to be saved
Release rate: 1
Available time: 03:00
Skills: 3 climbers, 16 floaters, 3 bombers, 16 blockers, 3 builders, 16 bashers, 3 miners, 16 diggers.


Havoc 13: HIGHLAND FLING
Number of lemmings that drop: 80
93% to be saved
Release rate: 5
Available time: 04:00
Skills: 2 bombers, 4 blockers, 10 builders, 1 basher, 1 miner

Well, it all boils down to the differences in the data given in the previews and how the solver approaches these levels. In terms of similarities both levels have:

* Similar skillsets - Bombers, Blockers and Builders.
* Similar starting level design: Both starting platforms have a wall to the right and a hazard to the left.
* Similar concepts: To trap the lemmings while letting one of them do the hard work.

Where they differ greatly is the requirements: You need to save 100% in ATG and 93% in HF. How solvers will approach these two levels is what will make this comparison interesting.

Some spoilery comments

Let's assume that we have ordinary lemmings player who knows how to create paths but doesn't know some of the more complicated methods of trapping lemmings. They approach both levels in a certain order: The example I will use being the more organised approach of "Let's trap the lemmings first, and then create a path to the exit". So, let's see how this approach differs between these two levels:

With HF's the area of the starting platform is quite big. This makes it easy to execute as you can afford to lose 2 lemmings as blockers, and placing them in the appropriate places isn't too difficult. Plus, you can set them free with a bomber and still pass thanks to the lenient requirement.

However, with ATG the area is much too thin, and only way to trap the lemmings safely is to make two blockers on both sides. This would constantly leave you short of the 100% requirement, and bombing them would obviously spell disaster. The solver is forced to avoid that approach and find another one which - whether or not they want to - is to "Ignore all rules and just make sure you reach the exit. You have infinite lives in this game so why not?" The trick to solve ATG requires this type of approach. If they watch where the second lemming is going after the first one elects to create a path then they are more likely to succeed than fail.

So, I hope this is an understandable and intresting read. Any questions or comments would be much appreciated. Thanks for viewing!

[mobius]

I found ATG quite a hard level; that one stumped me for years (Although most did from that game when I was young).
HighLand Fling on the other hand I never played when I was young, now I found it kind of a boring level without much interesting going on (Except the appearance which I like), especially at this place in the game. And I'd agree of course; I think ATG is way harder.

[Simon]

Yes, good example. Missorted levels make a huge chunk of ONML feel about equal in difficulty. Crazy has elegant small puzzles, but they aren't easy.

-- Simon

[DoubleU]

I've often thought there ought to be a way to rate all these levels objectively, like how "Loogaroo" rates game shows, on a combined scale of 1-10: rate them by several different categories and combine.