[NeoLemmix] Lemmings Open Air [Difficulty: Medium - Hard]

[Strato Incendus]

Wow, you really must enjoy this pack a lot if you go to such lengths!

I remember somebody making that effort for Paralems, where many of the tracks referred to copyrighted film music or similar. But for every single one of 120 levels, that's an entirely different dimension of dedication.

PS: "Let the bodies hit the floor" (Heavy 13) has been updated a while ago. Maybe you just don't have the latest version of the pack. The Zombies swimming out at the bottom edge of the level should no longer be a thing, I've added a steel piece there. I just checked whether my latest version of the level is also the one included in the ZIP download, and yes, it is (last modified on 8th February 2021).

[ericderkovits]

Ok, I didn't realise there was an update. Downloaded the new pack. Thanks Strato for mentioning there was an update as I didn't have it.

Also It looks like 4 levels were updated.
None of the updated levels broke my replays, except now because of Heavy 13(Let the bodies hit the floor) was updated the 1 top platformer got infected but that's ok, as instead
of 1 over the requirement now I just met the requirement which was the same before the swimmer change.

updated levels

Loud 21 (I believe I can fly) appears to have a small diagonal gap now just below the hatch on the floor. My replay still the same and doesn't break.
             I notice though it breaks David's solution(He must have backrouted it)

Loud 26 (Euphoria) appears now to have 4 steel block added. Again doesn't break my replay. It does break David's again(must be a backroute fix)

Heavy 13 (Let the bodies hit the floor). Added steel to prevent zombies exiting water left of bottom tranporter(due to new swimmer change-mentioned by Strato as a fix)
               As stated above I just saved the met requirement instead of 1 over due to a zombie infecting the top platformer.
               And yes I let the Bodies hit the floor in my solution

Hardcore 11 (Charred Remains) The only difference I can see is a small piece of terrain on bottom of steel blocks right of of rightmost hatch. I think Strato said this level needed
                   fixing for the Intended solution due to the new swimmer change.


Note: also updated the 4 levels in my Mega storage for the actual music ones. Same Link above will work with the 4 changed updated levels for the actual music ones.

[Strato Incendus]

I hadn't written it at the top of that post, but I did mention the update in my post from early February:

"Let the bodies hit the floor" has received a small steel piece to prevent the zombies from swimming out, as suggested.

The updated version is attached to the starting post. Please keep reporting any issues you find! My mass replay check didn't show any further breakages for my replays, but yours might.
(No new backroute fixes yet, right now I just wanted to ensure as quickly as possible that the pack remains fully playable with the newest version.)

Yes, all the changes to the four levels you mentioned are part of the latest update.

[Strato Incendus]

Since I just wrote this on YouTube, I'm also adding it here:

ericderkovits's modified version of Lemmings Open Air, including the versions of the levels, the music tracks they're referencing, and the MP3 files themselves that ericderkovits shared along with his version of the pack, are not something I officially endorse. I just want to make it absolutely clear that I am not responsible for any copyright violations related to the music tracks ericderkovits shared here for use in his version, nor for any backroutes that might still be present in those levels.

I will only keep updating the official pack, whenever backroute fixes, physics changes etc. require it. The level titles themselves being named after songs is not meant as an incentive to use the actual songs those levels are named after as background music, even though you're of course free to do so while playing the pack privately if you own those tracks. However, this is definitely not meant as an incentive to download any of these songs somewhere illegally.

The intended music for Lemmings Open Air consists only of the tracks I uploaded in my music pack for it (see the opening post of this thread), which are all entirely self-recorded by me.

The compositions of those tracks are either public domain (like Alla Turca, Forest Green etc.) or belong to DMA / Psygnosis.
For those tracks where the latter is the case, I'm not using any potentially copyrighted compositions for Lemmings Open Air or Lemmings World Tour that the NeoLemmix player itself doesn't already use by default.


EDIT: On my request, eric has removed the links to his version of the pack (and the matching music tracks) from his post (thanks! ).
He's free to share them via private message with anyone interested in playing the pack privately with the different tunes.

[ericderkovits]

ok, I've just watched Icho's solutions to LOTY 2020 of the 4 levels from this pack; for the levels Loud 29(You keep me hangin' on) and
Hardcore 28 (The puzzle), his solutions don't seem intended.  And his solution to Loud 29,  I don't think it is quite the intended one.

For Loud 29

Spoiler

since Icho used a shimmier who wasn't a glider, I think if that spot where the shimmier falls is splat height. his solution will fail.
The shimmier isn't supposed to be a non-glider as in Icho's solution to loud 29 he had the shimmier not start from the far right.
He picked the shimmier from the crowd(non-glider), and had it shimmy left from the middle. Also he didn't even use the digger pickup skill. I think the actual intended one is a very special one as I don't like Icho's not quite intended one. I still would like to see this level have the true intended solution, where the shimmier is a glider shimmying from the far right (Also shimmiers are one of my favorite skills so I would definitely like to see the glider shimmying from the far right as intended). Also I really love the actual intended solution as this is my favorite level of the pack and would like the intended one truly enforced as this level was nominated as LOTY
2020.

For Hardcore 28

Spoiler

Icho had way too many skills left, so his solution doesn't feel intended either although I'm not sure what the actual intended solution is. My solution used every skill and was totally different than icho's. Maybe this level might need a fix too.

here is the suggested fixed .nxlv for Loud29.

and included the intended solution to show it works for the adjusted level.
also included Icho's attempted solution for the adjusted level showing the non-glider shimmier will splat.

[Strato Incendus]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I've found IchoTolot's YouTube video for my LOTY-nominated levels and will watch his solutions there first, so I can also hear his comments on them.

[kaywhyn]

Wow, I can't believe it's now officially been a year since this pack's release! All this time has sure gone by really quickly. And to think that I had the honor of being one of your pre-testers of this pack from around this time last year It definitely was the right move, especially since this latest pack of yours is of far higher quality than all your previously released packs thus far Not that LWT wasn't, as it's not that far behind, but then again I am a music person, and these two happen to be musically themed packs

Anyway, I do have two replays that I've been meaning to post but for some reason I haven't yet They are for Loud 20 and Hardcore 25. The former is one of those seemingly unfixable levels due to backroutes, but this replay is more to show that this latest version of the level is possible to complete without a bomber, as I remember going through the thread and reading that long before this version that no bomber solutions were possible. For the latter, it's likely a backroute, particularly since I don't collect all the pickups. I guess despite that, it does go to show that it is possible to save 71, which I suspect is the maximum possible for the level, but only via a backroute, showing that it's apparently faster this way. Just barely though.

I definitely look forward to your future level packs, especially with the two currently in development, once you do return to working on them at some point. Not sure if we're long overdue for a status update on them? Of course, no hurry!

[Strato Incendus]

Yes, this pack has received quite a lot of attention in just the single year it's been out. I guess my "marketing in advance" with the regular development updates did its part.

At the same time, that has also been the reason why I haven't been faster with level creation on the other two packs currently in the works (Lemmings: Hall of Fame and Lemmings, Drugs, & Rock 'n Roll). I myself had forgotten that it's only been a year since LOA came out - it feels like it has been out for ages. But given that it was in the making for two years, that means it still hasn't been out as long as it took me to make it. Maybe your "revival" of this thread for the one-year anniversary will draw some new players to it now - as your level-solving commentary probably did, too.

Maybe I should focus on getting Pit Lems Remastered done first, since all those levels already exist. I also already converted them ages ago - I just need to bring them into a proper order and make sure all the solutions still work, after all the physics changes we've had in New Formats in the meantime. But making Pit Lems available for New Formats (replacing the radiation and slowfreeze levels with some select stuff from Paralems and Lemmicks) would give people something "new" to play in the meantime - at least new for anyone who has only ever known New Formats - without me having to make a bunch of brand-new levels first.

On your two solutions:

Spoiler

Loud 20 ("Bonfire"): This level has many backroutes that I've never been able to fix, so this is just another one. Nice new trick, though, cancelling a Fencer mid-stroke to allow the crowd to walk up a Stoner! Should work with Walkers and Jumpers just as well as with the Shimmier you used. Perhaps I'll make that part of an intended solution on a future level!

Hardcore 25 ("Wipe your a** with sandpaper"): That's actually a perfectly acceptable alternative solution; you still used close to all the skills, and had to send a lemming to the "toilet-paper roll".

[Swerdis]

It's been a while since I played Lemmings World Tour, the largest pack of levels which can be found here in the forums. I started playing this monster of a pack on April 17th in 2021 and finished it almost exactly five months later on September 18th. The pack had outstanding visuals and a relatively flat learning-curve - apart from a very harsh first rank which was meant to be a tutorial-rank, but went a bit over the top. I feel it's time to dedicate myself Strato's second pack which is much shorter, but lays emphasis -  at least that's what I have read - more on the puzzle aspect of the game. I will note down my progress here, that's what I do since several packs now - it's easier for me than writing a huge conclusion in the end when it's hard for me to remember the solution of every single level.

Spoiler

Soft

1 - I wanna know what Lemmings is

For a first level of a pack, this was at least a demanding one. As there is only one builder (like every other skill) it was quite clear where he has to go. I overlooked the blocker for some time - he was the starting point from which everything fell into its place then.

2 - Dreams are my reality

Only NeoLemmix-skills here and a one-of-everything with ten skills. This is a hard level which makes use of the stacker/stoner-trick to release the crowd. Could well be an early roadblock für novice players.

3 - Keep holding on

Can be tricky as well. A lot of things don't seem to work here with no construction and very sparse terrain-removing skills.

4 - This time

Much easier than the three levels before and therefore the first real breather.

5 - Diamonds are a Lem's best friend

This one took me a while. But that was only because I interpreted the arrows wrong. Which is my main point of criticism here. Due to the thin platforms, the direction of the arrows remains somewhat unclear. So I was sure I could not fence out the upper Lemmings. When I finally tried it and it worked, the rest of the level was easy.

6 - Fire escape

Nice one! Hardest part was to turn the Lemming around. I bashed into the steel first which worked - but then I was one basher short in the end. So the shimmier is needed there, the odd-shaped terrain gives another hint.

7 - Across the bridge of hope

With some basic knowledge about bridges and what can be done with them, this is quite an easy level. One-attempt-solve.

8 - A thousand miles

Horrible level. The solution is not too hard to figure out, but the execution is unnecessarily hard. There seems to be exactly one spot the bridges have to be placed. Took me forever, but not because the puzzle was so genius.

9 - Against all odds

Not an easy one. My solution feels a bit hackish and I didnt' think it could be working until the very end. Seems like this level is at least a little bit open-ended.

10 - Walk the line

For me a very hard one which caught me by surprise that early in the pack. That's mainly because it uses several pretty uncommon techniques such as the way the second stoner und the second shimmier are brought into play. The glider is more irritating than useful, though. Good level!

11 - Call me maybe

Nice one. A bit easier than the level before, but still demanding. I initially thought the disarmer had to shimmy the entire way, over the top of the crowd to the left and then float down. But it turned out to be impossible due to the narrowness of the fencer tunnel.

12 - Mr Sandlem, give me a dream

Another pretty good one. It's clear where the bridge and the platform have to go, so a way has to be found to do the rest of the level without these skills. Again, a shimmier has to be used creatively.

13 - Lemming in chains

Tricky level, though the basic idea is relatively easy to grasp. Biggest problem was bashing through the bricks above the entrance in such a way that the basher later can climb up the wall left by sealing the gap with one stacker only.

14 - Always look on the bright side of life

Hard one, but that was mainly because I tried desparately to make my way up at the wrong spot (beneath the exit). It was a typical case of being one skill short - instead of reconsidering the entire strategy I thought I could compensate it somehow - but I couldn't.

15 - Both sides now

Very unorthodox solution here as this was certainly not intended. I watched Kaywhyn assigning the shimmiers to their actual purpose while mine doing nothing like that.

16 - I need a dollar

Way easier than the levels before in my opinion though it was still a bit tricky to isolate a pioneer. By thy way, I don't really see the purpose of the blocker and the pick-up-walker. The level would not be worse without these.

17 - Don't give up

Feels a bit hackish, but I think this is kind of an open-ended level that offers a variety of solutions. Kaywhyn proved that there is a more elegant way.

18 - Great balls of fire

Easy one and another backroute. I saved all here and spared the fencer and the digger.

19 - Hunting high and low

Nice, but not overly complicated level. Hardest thing was to release the crowd. Finally it dawned on me that the final platform doesn't have to cross the gap completely - sorry for the pioneer.

20 - My life would suck without you

This one was not so hard to figure out. The entire pack is very focused on the shimmier-skill so far and this level is no exception. At this point I'm used to its versatility, so this level was a much quicker solve as it would have been earlier on.

21 - Paradise

Ah the good old building into terrain to turn a Lemming around celebrates its resurrection. The start of the level is a bit tricky as only four bridges are allowed to isolate a pioneer and trap the crowd. The other problem was to turn the glider around, but that was only since I didn't see for a while that the skill must be assigned before the shimmier lands on the ground.

22 - No roots

Harder than I thought. Didn't see for quite some time that I could stop the digger with the blocker. That was the final piece of the mosaic to get the level solved.

23 - Don't worry, be happy

Easier than the one before in my opinion, but not trivial. This is a really good level since it offers many approaches from the beginning. Can be backrouted as kaywhyn proved.

24 - Still haven't found what I'm looking for

Nice use of the Dolly-Dimple-trick here, and using the shimmier just do delay a Lemming wasn't easy to see as well.

25 - This is a Lem's world

One of my favourites so far. It's really creative how the climbers must be trapped here. The rest isn't that hard - and I suppose the additional stacker is a Red Herring.

26 - Raindrops keep fallin' on my head

I thought this level would be a hard one due to the amount of skills, but it wasn't at all. Found it pretty straightforward, but attention has to be payed on the fencers as two are needed in the end.

27 - Lems in low places

A wild back and forth with the pioneer, but it's a level I really like. I wonder why the first shimmier doesn't shimmy to death by the way, but drops down instead.

28 - Ring of Fire

This one took a while as it required some precission. I finally managed to spare a bridge between the central pillar and the actual Ring of fire. Not one of my favourites, though.

29 - Money makes the world go round

Interesting level. I couldn't quite make it work with the pioneer only as he didn't hit the buttons while bashing the right crowd out. So I decided to free the left crowd first to have more Lemmings available that could help with the buttons. It worked - and I even spared two skills.

30 - Let's get loud!

Tricky level, but with several possible solutions. I used the Dolly Dimple trick here to isolate one Lemming while another worker goes the other way round.

All my solutions can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@Swerdis

[kaywhyn]

As mentioned, I'll definitely be watching, as I was one of the pre-testers I know Strato will be too when he gets the opportunity and is able to. This will probably give him good reason to check my Lemmings: Hall of Fame replays for the final two ranks, as the plan is for me to do a few more rounds of resolving before he releases the pack sometime later in the year. It's nearly been half a year since I PMed my solutions to him, but that's because he's currently in the middle of moving house, which unfortunately means no time to check my solutions for backroutes and hence explains why there hasn't been an update for a while. He should almost be done with the housing stuff, but I've already told him no rush and just whenever he is ready to send me a new version

Anyway, I will be watching your solutions and of course reading your feedback!

[Strato Incendus]

This will probably give him good reason to check my Lemmings: Hall of Fame replays for the final two ranks, as the plan is for me to do a few more rounds of resolving before he releases the pack sometime later in the year.

I just thought of that today on my way home, hoping the Easter break will finally give me the time to.

Me thinking of this as Swerdis started playing Lemmings Open Air is just coincidence, though.

[Swerdis]

Took me much longer than I thought to solve the first rank, but this was not just because of the diffculty, but more due to some holiday-travel, illness and a thousand more things. I heard the second rank is easier though - which would be no surprise since this was the case with LWT as well. We will see...

Spoiler

Loud

1 - Wait till you see me dig, baby!

Annoying level to start with, but finally not as difficult as I thought. I'm personally not particularly good at levels with tons of the same skill.

2 - Lems just wanna have fun!

Fantastic level which wasn't easy to figure out. Didn't see that the one-way-arrows on the small pillars in the middle don't reach the top. Also, miner cancelling another miner normally isn't my cup of tea, but here at least it wasn't too hard to execute.

3 - Heaven is a place on Earth

Tried the same thing like Kaywhyn at first, but couldn't make it work. This was because I didn't see that the Lemmings could reach the ceiling (to shimmy) from the place next to the bomber's hole. I bashed at first so I had no basher left to deter one Lemmings from marching to the right in the end. But I found a different solution which made the shimmiers obsolete.

4 - Wake me up when September ends

Can be challenging since the tricks used here are not really intuitive. That's especially true for the blocker-turning-a-digger-around thing. However, I was familiar with it, Flopsy used it here and there in SEB Lems.

5 - When I come around

Ingenious level, one of my favourites so far. First I thought it would be a breather, but I was totally wrong. Very nice play with the expectations of the player - for the most obvious approach will be a road to nowhere in the end.

6 - Notice me, Lempai!

Easier than the previous ones though some precision is needed. The placement of the walker is crucial - otherwise there are not enough builders left.

7 - Touch the hand of a Lem

Just messed around here a bit and made a precision landing - knowing that this is by no means intended.

8 - Red rain

Interesting level with nice mechanics. Got the talisman here though I didn't intentionally go for it (what I never do). Since kaywhyn found more or less the same solution I wonder where this one Lemming is supposed to die. 

9 - Born to be wild

Basic concept is quite clear here. As in many cases, the hardest part was the beginning. The final platform is pretty precise since the pioneer must not turn around, but also has to take care that the crowd is able to step on it.

10 - Viva la vida

Very nice level which wasn't too hard to figure out. I especially like the way the stacker is used here.

11 - One moment in time

Backrouted this level most likely - but different from Kaywhyn. Saved three skills.

12 - You can't always get what you want

Breather level. It's all about stopping the pioneer. In the first case, a sweet spot has to be found to make him stop in the hole. In the second case he can be stopped either by letting another Lemming bash, making him turn around in the basher's tunnel or - as in my case - by bashing into the steel block.

13 - The number of the Beast

The beginning is quite tricky here since the pioneer must not be able to climb over the starting block after he freed the crowd. I saved some skills so it's probably not quite intended.

14 - Fallen leaves

A pretty straightforward level. When solving it, I had a feeling this one could probably be open ended. I've seen Kaywhyn using the stackers in the end, but I didn't make use of them at all, for example.

15 - Reach for the stairs

Really hard level, definitely the hardest of the rank so foa. I knew I had to shimmy along the bridges, but I just couldn't find a way to get low enough for a long time. Having overcome this obstacle, the rest was easy.

16 - We didn't start the fire

Look harder than it actually is. The door opener is to jump into the right teleporter with the shimmier since he keeps on doing this after the release and can reach the miner pick-up later.

17 - Stand by me

A favourite of mine. I've got a sweet spot for 2-Lemmings-level anyway and this one is no exception. Nice idea with the blocker-placement.

18 - Lems, Lems, Lems

Hard level which is all about timing. The interim goal is to create a working circlewalk for the crowd so that the pioneer is able to prepare the rest of the path alone. But that's not easy to achieve, though.

19 - Twist and shout

Challenging one, at least. I' not too fond of this one since the solution lies pretty much on the table, but the execution was a real pain. Maybe it was my fault since I shouldn't have increased the release-rate to the max.

20 - Bonfire

A very backroute-prone level to what I have read (after solving). I think I backrouted it too though not as extreme as Kaywhyn did. Easier than the previous ones.

21 - I believe I can fly

Reminds me of the Troll-rank of Casualemmings. Didn't realize they were instant swimmers at first, but even after that, this took a long time. Don't like this level for I think it makes more use of a glitch than of the intended Lemmings-mechanics. Or are they supposed to swim in no water? I'm not really sure.

22 - Three times a Lemming

Found this trick by accident, but it seems I'm not the only one. A blocker-centristic level which can be quite easy, depending on the knowledge of the player about blocker-behaviour.

23 - Everything I do (I do it for Lemmings)

Challenging level. The main-trick requires a lot of precision, I also wasn't sure if the shimmer dies at the ceiling (he doesn't). The end doesn't feel very elegant due to the position of the rightmost trap which made the mining-part a bit tricky.

24 - Stop crying your heart out

Pretty ingenious level, especially the placement of the stacker. It's not clear from the beginning which skill goes where, they seem interchangeable to some extent (but really aren't). I'm an advocate for entropy-strong level like this one.

25 - With a little help from my Lems

A complete breather, but that's only because I backrouted it. At least I think I did.

26 - Euphoria

I don't like this level from a visual perspective, but it's easier than it looks and a great puzzle. I especially enjoyed the miner continuing his work after teleportation.

27 - November rain

Easiest level in the rank thus far. Don't know what's really intended here, especially with the bomber.

28 - In the bleak midwinter

Reminds me of a LWT-level. Nothing too hard here though it looks a bit confusing. Solved most of the level in clear-physics-mode therefore.

29 - You keep me hangin' on 

Outstanding level. The basic solution is not easy to grasp, really well-hidden. My only point of criticism would be that the execution must be very precise, but that's the nature of the subject in this case.

30 - Heavy cross 

Confuse-looking level with the upsidedown exit and actualy quite a tough nut to crack. This seems by no means intended as I have plenty of skills left - probably some Lemmings are supposed to swim to the left.

All my solutions can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@Swerdis

[Strato Incendus]

Glad you enjoyed it! I hope the difficulty isn't as over-the-place as for Lemmings World Tour, since a) Lemmings Open Air underwent pre-release testing, Lemmings World Tour did not, and b) the levels were a little freer to move around the ranks, compared to the World-Tour levels, which were more thematically tied to the rank names.

[Swerdis]

Having played the first rank and the first levels of the second I would say that it's even a bit harder than LWT at this point of the pack. I like the level design better here since these are real puzzles, every level is a challenge. Unfortunately, progress is slow at the moment, but that's because of private issues - I'm optimistic to find more time in the near future. Still a lot of packs want to be played

[Strato Incendus]

No rush, take your time! Indeed, while thematically, this is a follow-up to Lemmings World Tour (referring to the song-based theme), in terms of level design philosophy, it's more of a continuation of Pit Lems. (Which I still have to finish remastering for New Formats... but first, I must focus on releasing Lemmings: Hall of Fame.)

Basically, don't be surprised not to see me a lot on the forums during the first half of the year - which is in fact for music reasons, too.

Usually, once the Eurovision season is over, my mind eventually frees up to circle back around to Lemmings again. I try not to use too many Eurovision song titles for Lemmings levels, since most of them aren't that well-known to the wider public. But Lemmings World Tour had a few, since that of course went nicely with the levels set in different countries around the globe. ("Ovo je Balkan", "Dziesma par laimi", "Waterloo" etc.) In Lemmings Open Air, meanwhile, I can only recall "Euphoria" off the top of my head. There's definitely going to be a few more ones in "Lemmings, Drugs, & Rock 'n Roll".