[NeoLemmix] Lemmings Reunion [Difficulty: Medium-Hard]

[IchoTolot]

Worked through everthing and released a patch!

V 4.8 is out!

- 2 01 (removed timer)
- 2 06 (removed timer)
- 2 08 (removed timer)

- 3 03 (removed timer)
- 3 04 (removed timer)
- 3 22 (removed timer)
- 3 24 (removed timer)

- 4 01 (added OWWs up to the sides of a pillar)
- 4 08 (added a gap,  + 1builder, removed timer)
- 4 12 (added steel)
- 4 13 (removed timer)
- 4 18 (removed timer)
- 4 23 (removed timer)

- 5 06 (removed timer)
- 5 12 (6 builders are now a pick-up skill)
- 5 21 (added steel)
- 5 27 (added a OWW)

I mentioned earlier that there are a few things in this pack I 100% would do differently today due to changing of standards (level sizes, timers, pachelbel's canon,....). 1 thing I couldn't stand anymore looking through the replays again: Some really unnessesary timers - away they go (or at least most of them).

A few backroute fixes were needed, the rest is acceptable/intended.

[kaywhyn]

Resolved the levels that broke my replays: 4 1, 4 8, 4 12, 5 12, 5 21, and 5 27. How are these new solutions? I still don't use one of the climber pickups for 5 27. Seems that it's optional just to finish the level faster. I also save 1 over the requirement.

[IchoTolot]

V 4.9 is out!

- 4 08 (the blocker is now a pick-up skill)

- 5 21 (removed timer)


All but 4 08 are now acceptable.

5 27 is really just a minor variant but contains all important parts.

[kaywhyn]

4 8 resolved. This should be intended now, and if so, very nice solution!

[IchoTolot]

Yes, this is intended now.

[IchoTolot]

V 5.0 is out!

Includes a backroute fix recently added based on ShmoLem's PimoLems replays:

- 5 02 (2 builders are now a pick-up skill)

[kaywhyn]

V 5.0 is out!

Includes a backroute fix recently added based on ShmoLem's PimoLems replays:

- 5 02 (2 builders are now a pick-up skill)

I meant to report this issue from a few months ago, but it kept going over my head I don't know if this was intentional, but I noticed that Nightmare 2 plays a Pimolems track instead of a Reunion track for NL. I have to suspect that when you fixed Shmoley's backroute for the level in Pimolems that you overwrote the Reunion file with the one from Pimolems and hence that's why it has the wrong track assigned Minor issue that doesn't break the level in any way, but let's say I'm being pendantic here

[IchoTolot]

I meant to report this issue from a few months ago, but it kept going over my head I don't know if this was intentional, but I noticed that Nightmare 2 plays a Pimolems track instead of a Reunion track for NL. I have to suspect that when you fixed Shmoley's backroute for the level in Pimolems that you overwrote the Reunion file with the one from Pimolems and hence that's why it has the wrong track assigned Minor issue that doesn't break the level in any way, but let's say I'm being pendantic here

Exactly

V 5.1 is out!

Fixed the music on 5 02.

[kaywhyn]

Oh no, more backroutes Yup, I went there Several solutions attached for Nightmare 21, the first one which is a very glaring backroute. That's easy to fix by putting more stuff in the way like you did on the left side of the emerald structure.

The others aren't as severe, though maybe acceptable challenge variants rather than slight backroutes? Second solution has some skills leftover and saves the requirement exactly. The third solution swaps a skill at the beginning with one of the leftover skills of the second solution but are otherwise identical. The fourth solution is essentially a more efficient version of the second one.

I recently went through my video series on this pack again, and when I got to Nightmare 21 I had a suspicion that it could still be backrouted, and indeed it's sadly true.

[Swerdis]

So now that I have finished Lemmings Reunion and all the things over Christmas have settled down a bit, I want to write down some notes about this pack. I will start with some general thoughts beforce I come to the individual levels. I will do this rank by rank.

It's the end of quite a long journey of almost five months. I started playing Lemmings Reunion on July, 28th and finished in the morning of Christmas Eve. I didn't play every day, but constantly. The only longer break was nine days, from September 8th to September 17th. I really rushed through the first two ranks, but then it became quite tricky and the progress really slow. The difficulty curve levels off a bit in the end in my opinion as I think the Nightmare! rank is not significantly harder than the Ultra-Violence one. While I would say Lemmings Reunion is AMONG the hardest packs I ever played, it doesn't contain any of the hardest individual levels I ever played. The difficulty comes more from the consistency - there are hardly any real breathers in the higher ranks. Also the levels are absolutely fair designed. If one finds a hackish, unelegant solution, one can be almost sure that it's a backroute. And I most certainly backrouted several levels. My only slight point of criticism would be that some of the tricks within this level pack are a bit overused, such as extending bashers by bridges (plus a few other ones). The music is not my cup of tea, too as I'm not a big fan of variations of the Original Music. I prefer the original ones or, even better, completely new tunes. But that's just my personal taste. All in all this was a great pack which is now among my favourites with Insane Steve's World, Lemmings Destination and Sublems.

Now here are the individual reviews.

I'm TooYoungToDie

Spoiler

1. Just Dig! Reloaded! - Nice level to start the pack. A tutorial level which teaches the player how to use diggers. Failing is almost impossible unless one acts really stupid.

2. Hell of a Bash - The Basher-tutorial-level is even easier and thus a very quick solve.

3. Ups and Downs - Could be difficult with other skills provided, but Climbers and Floaters make it a cakewalk.

4. Iceblocked - Blockers prepare the path. The right exit can't be reached.

5. Don't Mine If I do - At least it's not completely irrelevant where to mine, but again an easy Tutorial-level.

6. Bomb your Way through - Now, Ladies and Gentleman, let's introduce the bombers. Losses are inevitable...

7. City Builders - I've got a special (negative) relationship to this tileset. I find it chaotic and really confusing. Now we got our final skill taught.

8. Your Turn! - Good lord, this music....! In opposition to some other users in this forum, I'm not an opponent of 10-of-every-skill-levels. As long as they are not repetitive, I like them - especially since they are often open-ended. This one's quite straightforward.

9. How about some help over here? - The first contact with one-way-walls is the highlight of this level in the brick tileset.

10. Uneven Terrain - Things get a tad harder with bashing directly from building, avoiding traps and finding the sweet spots for building. Fortunately there are more than enough builders here.

11. Coming Home for Christmas - Another step forward with building a bridge from the bottom to catch the crowd.

12. The Rise of Egypt  - The amount of skills becomes fewer, but there are still more than enough. A levels that looks harder than it actually is.

13. In The Gym - It's mainly building and bashing, but you will need almost all of your bashing-skills.

14. Be careful, Icarus! - This is certainly a step up, at least for novice players. Very nice tune here, one of my favourites in this pack.

15. A little bomb test - All the skills are needed. Climber-bombing is a new element, but can be worked out easily.

16. In the Shadows - A typical Worker-Lemming-Level with the crowd being contained by a blocker. Sort of a level that can be found plentifully in the Original Game, but not so much in NeoLemmix. I like them from time to time in the earlier parts of levels packs.

17. Preparation - Some emphasis has to be laid here in doing the things in the right order. Otherwise, a quite tame level.

18. And for my next Trick... - It's clear that the left obstacle has to be eradicated from above. One of the harder levels for beginners in this rank.

19. Save Your Blockers! - Since all Lemmings have to survive, the Blocker must, too. So it's critical where he has to be placed. Which is the only challenge here.

20. Lemming in the Sky with Diamonds - Annoying level with tons of bridge-building between tiny platforms. Reminded me of Ski Sloping Lemmings. Would the Beatles like this one?

21. The Saviors - Nice concept which is not hard to figure out. Making it work can be a bit tricky, though.

22. Bubbles and Builders - Another good one. To avoid deadly falls, one of the last Lemmings has to do the major work.

23. Oh, you wanted some of these? - No blockers there anymore to contain the crowd. Fortunately there are different ways...

24. No Knight Shall Die! - Easy level which doesn't require any special tricks.

25. Good Sportsmanship - The first level with a 99-Release-Rate and one of my favourites from the rank. It's not trivial how to isolate a pioneer from the crowd and defending his head start til the end - which is the level all about. 

26. Tomb of Ramses II - Look intimidating due to the number of hatches. But it's not too bad. The amount of skills is more than enough to bring all the Lemmings home.

27. The Sega Way of Blocking - Will be a hard level for those who don't know the required trick. The only level in the entire pack which demands this trick, too.

28. Morituri te salutant! - Tricky level. Terrain-removing skills are scarce and should not be wasted. I'm not sure if my solution is intended for I think the climber should be used somehow.

29. Roofjumpers - One of my absolute favourites, very well-desgined. Gives a hint what to expect in the later ranks and took me a while to figure the solution out.

30. Disturbance in the Matrix - By far the hardest level in the first rank and another favourite of mine. There are several tricky things to do here, such as releasing the initial blocker or coordinating the three pioneers so that everything falls into place in the end. Just like the level before, this one is very clever designed.

[IchoTolot]

Thanks for playing @Swerdis!

As everything is complete now, I will soon find a nice afternoon where I will go through the vids+comments and search for some backroutes for my fix list.

Reunion is my first pack and looking back to it I often find things I would not do today or stuff I whish I did differently. I think this would be the case with any 1st pack from an author. That would also include the overusage of some tricks you mentioned that where totally mindblowing/hot stuff for me at that time and I did try to spread it more out and diversify them in later packs.
Music is, of course, totally personal taste and I won't hold it against anyone if they prefer their own playlist.

It is really good to see though that it still holds up as a pack you can recommend for players who at least have some custom level experience.

[Swerdis]

Hello Icho,

I can totally understand that and it shouldn't sound offensive in any way - it was just what went through my head when I finished your first pack. I had a lot of fun playing it throughout the past months. And as for the music: I NEVER play packs with a personal playlist. For me it's an act of politeness. A creator deserves that his pack is played the way he/she provides it. Sometimes, the music of a level is directly connected with the level itself, be it the title or tileset or whatsover. Playing such a level with a totally random different music will distort or dilute the playing-experience, I'm convinced of that.

Now here are the next individual reviews.

Hey, Not Too Rough

Spoiler

1. You Go First! - Very appropriate start of the next rank. Introduction of the compression method to bring one (in this case: two) Lemming(s) through the trap.

2. Christmas Climbing - I had some problems with this one. First I overlooked the 50 climbers for whatever reason, then I didn't see to assign a second climber from the bottom to build the final bridge in time. Good level!

3. Distract them! - When I remember correctly, this was a first-attempt-solve by me. Which means I got the concept quickly and I immendiately found a solution for every upcoming problem. I like this kind of levels!

4. Egyptian Riddle - Another easy one, but I feel this level can be a bit annoying for people who are quickly overwhelmed with multi-tasking. The concept with leading the Lemming to their specific locations and block them is great although I think I played a level similar to this one I a different pack before (can't remember which one, though). 

5. We are but Lems! Rock! - The hardest thing here is the digging part as a part of the green crystal must be removed too.

6. Please, Stop! - I'm a BIG fan of Two-Lemming-Levels and this one proves why. It connects a bit with the level before, at least the digging part.

7. The Cage - Lots of bridges, but I used up almost all of them. Not sure about a slight backroute as I saved the blocker.

8. Pyramid Trio - Maybe I overcomplicated things here, but I found this level really tricky. Don't know if it's intended to do synchronous bridge-building with three Lemmings over the trap in the central pyramid - but it worked.

9. Drunk Lemmings On Their Way Home - My first roadblock in the pack. Hardest parts were the beginning area, to prevent the Lemmings from turning around and the strange-shaped house left of the water pit.

10. Masters of the Mining Sport - With a bit experience playing this game, a very easy level. Turning miners around with miners can be difficult to execute, though.

11. Trick and Trap Time! - Ah, the first of several levels that uses the "Laying a brick through a thin wall so that another Lemming can land on the other side" trick. I learned this one in Insane Steve's World which made extensive use of it. So for me, this was a not a complicated level, but I can imagine, it's the case for others.

12. On a crystal clear night -  This is one of my favourites from the rank for all the different techniques it uses, for example bashing into steel. I also like the fact that not the pioneer, but the first Lemming of the crowd ultimatively completes the path  - which is only possible since the digging part is done so quickly.

13. Let's take the Highway - Not so easy level, maybe because of this tileset with all its hidden holes. I saved a bomber, so maybe not entirely intended.

14. Walking on Bubbles - Fun and pretty challenging one. I like the way the basher goes underneath the bubbles.

15. Blast Furnaces And Fiery Depths - The furnace is gonna burn us - at least some are allowed to die. An intimidate looking level and indeed a race against time. Not my favourite level for sure, but a good challenge which wasn't as bad as I initially thought.

16. I'ts Just The Yellow Lemon Tree - Most likely a backroute as I got several skills left. I found this one super easy.

17. Wheel Of Fortune - This one stumped me a while. Actually is was quite clear what to do here, but I couldn't make it work for a long time.

18. Bash and Mine Time! - Is harder than it actually looks. My solution is probably not quite intended, especially the bashing-part to make the wall climbable.

19, Middle Age Mining Technique - For me, a breather.  Extending miner tunnels with bridges can be hard to see for unexperienced players, I admit that.

20. The Pillar Cells - Challenging one. The climbers have to be used with thought! Can easily become impossible if things are done in the wrong order. Also, the first level which makes use of the basher/digger staircase.

21. Valley of the Sphinx - Not easy as well. It demands some precision to stop the crowd from following the leader and to free the blocker later.

22. Rock and Metal - I like this level a lot! Having multiple Lemmings work on different parts at the same time is always a good thing - especially when everything falls into place smoothly like here. The long bridge from the right side can be a tricky thing, though.

23. Let's Block some Lems - Another really good one which demonstrates the variety of possibilities to block a Lemming as the title suggests. Not easy to figure out sounce I overlooked that the pioneers are allowed to die.

24. Knights of Honor  - The beginning part with giving the leader enough time to build his bridge can be a bit tricky. But once this is done, the levels turns out to be a complete breather.

25. Maschendrahtzaun - A crappy song, but I don't like this level either. With all the given skills, i think it's way too easy for its position. Also, it's too long though I normally like long levels.

26. Line of Steel - A much better and not too hard level. At the bottom end of the pillar it can be a little tricky to make sure that exactly two Lemmings walk to the left - which is necessary to close the gap in time.

27. Learning the Dark Mining tricks - I think there are even darker mining tricks, such as canceling miners with miners (what I personally loathe). Anyway, an easy level near the end of the rank.

28. The Official Lemmings Swim Team - It was quite clear what to do here, although the fine-tuning was a bit difficult. Had to blockers and two bashers left - maybe a small backroute?

29. One Basher To Rule It All - Not only miners can connect, but bashers too, as this levels proves. Since I'm often too lazy to assign multiple climbers, I did it all with one. Which was possible, but made the level drag on forever.

30. The Fusion The final level of this rank is fun to play, but not overly hard. The most difficult thing is probably the right timing as there are several Worker-Lemmings in action. Especially the zig-zag miner tunnel through the dirt can be tricky. It's clear that the two diggers must saved until the very end, since there's no other way to pass the crystal blocks.

All in all, this rank is a slight increase in terms of difficulty compared to the first one, as it should be. It's still quite relaxing in my opinion, but things will pick up pace soon...

[IchoTolot]

I can totally understand that and it shouldn't sound offensive in any way

I think you may have misunderstood me here - I am not very good at expressing myself in textform anyway - in no way I found anything offensive here. In fact, I prefer to hear everything in terms of feedback, positive and negative, so that future projects can be better overall and current can be adjusted to at least an degree.

In my comment, I was just monologing a bit about my personal feelings of Reunion in the present: A good first effort, but today I could have done much better. (as it should be with experience) 
So, in fact, I would share your opinion about quite a few things here.

So, be assured that I won't be offended by any form of constructive criticism!

[kaywhyn]

@Swerdis

Great review! However, there's a couple of things I'm confused about in the spoilers, such as your feedback for 1 6 and 2 10. In the former, you mentioned that it "introduces the blockers" when it doesn't provide any and is actually a bomber tutorial level. The blocker tutorial level is 1 4.

For the latter, again you mentioned blocker in your feedback when in fact it once again doesn't provide blockers and instead teaches a different miner technique

Other than that, I agree with a lot of the feedback you wrote. It's quite nice to hear and read of your experiences with a pack that I too really like in spite of it being Icho's first one he made. In addition,

And as for the music: I NEVER play packs with a personal playlist. For me it's an act of politeness. A creator deserves that his pack is played the way he/she provides it. Sometimes, the music of a level is directly connected with the level itself, be it the title or tileset or whatsover. Playing such a level with a totally random different music will distort or dilute the playing-experience, I'm convinced of that.

I'm completely onboard with you regarding the music for level packs. I too always play level packs with the music pack as intended for the pack and by the author. The only exception I've made is for Lemmings Plus Alpha, as honestly I'm not much of a fan of the SMS Lemmings tracks, because I personally don't really like them. Instead, I grew up with the Dos/PC version of the Lemmings music tracks and hence I have a preference for them.

One thing to keep in mind is a lot of the levels are far different now and have changed so much from their original versions due to backroutes and whatnot. This is especially true since there have been several people who have played through the pack from way back in the days like josh and namida, and also including pre-testers like Akseli and Nepster. Then I finally started playing through the NL version of the pack last year and some levels still needed fixing. So really, in your playthrough, you're looking at levels that have been patched up since my playthrough of the pack from last year.


@Icho

Is it weird that whenever I read Swerdis' feedback that I have all your Reunion levels memorized? I don't have all level titles of the pack memorized, just that when I read the title in his feedback I know instantly which level is being talked about. It probably all comes from how I constantly rewatch my video series on your level packs, as I've probably done so at least 10 times now or so

[Swerdis]

Thank you Kaywhyn for your feedback. You're totally right, I confused something here. I just meant bombers when I wrote blockers. The other thing is a bit more complicated since I really memorized this level (without checking it again) with blockers turning miners. But it's miners turning miners. Next rank is coming soon, I promise.