Lemmings Heritage

[Mobiethian]

Thank you so much ∫tan x dx! I appreciate the replays always, I'm watching them now. You're really good at these levels!

I'll finish up with all of them as time allows me to watch and let you know. Cool!

[kaywhyn]

Hi Mobiethian,

I've played and solved all of the pack, so I'm just posting my replays and some nice feedback

Also, link to my LP of the pack: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbp2m4KlFpJuyxfGLi5Pu-82uNBxAFiYu

Enjoy!

General Feedback

Lemmings Heritage is Mobiethian's first level pack. During its development, he had a question on how NL orders ranks/levels in level packs, and it was from that point on that I lent him a helping hand in showing and explaining to him how to write up the text files for his level pack. After about a week or so, he got the ropes of it down very quickly and was able to compile the rest of the pack on his own. Whenever he had questions about certain things that he wasn't sure how to do, he would drop me a PM and I respond back answering his questions and explaining the process. Mobiethian has definitely learned and done so much in the first few months since joining the Forums earlier this year. We're definitely very happy to have him!

Lemmings Heritage originally contained two ranks of 20 levels each. In a later update, there was an additional third rank of 20 levels added. Based on the level pack title, Lemmings Heritage sticks with only the L1, ONML, L2, and L3 tilesets. Needless to say, it's pretty much like going back to roots with the Lemmings games. In addition, the pack has a custom sound pack where the sounds are from the Dos port of the game. If you decide to use this, make sure you back up the sound file of your NL directory so that in case you want to switch back to the defaults later you can. Along with that, courtesy of The Tomato Watcher, you can mix and match the sounds of different ports to your liking with these:

https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=6512.0

Even though this pack is on the easy side, like some of the others who played this pack before me, I too enjoyed it very much. There's still room for improvement, especially in regards to making the puzzles/solutions tougher, but for a first level pack this is quite a decent attempt at one I've already assured Mobiethian plenty of times that the Forums definitely has a place for easy/medium packs and that they aren't a problem at all. As a matter of fact, there's a handful of members here who most definitely appreciate such packs, since some rather stick to only easy/medium difficulty levels and avoid the hard ones altogether. I myself prefer hard levels in the game of Lemmings, but in all honesty I enjoy levels of all difficulties. Even then, as stated, I still enjoyed Lemmings Heritage. It definitely served as a really huge and nice break from all the brutally difficult levels from DavidLems which I recently finished a few weeks ago!

The pack does have a lot of locked exit levels, but Mobiethian did tell me they lessen over time, which it does. When they do appear, they luckily still have multiple ways of solving the level.

Smooth Rank Feedback

There isn't much to say about these levels other than except for a few levels, the entire pack seems to pretty much be open-ended in terms of how to solve them, as they don't seem to have any one intended solution. In addition, the levels aren't necessarily in increasing difficulty order. You might encounter a hard level in the early or middle of the rank and then it gets followed up with a breather level or vice versa. Definitely nothing wrong with this kind of ordering at all.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Smooth 1 - Push the little red button A really nice easy level to start off the pack!

Smooth 2 and 3 are both pretty much the same in regards to the solution with Smooth 1, with Smooth 3 being the heaviest in the amount of building required to be done.

Smooth 4 - Freedom happens here Nice unique concept of a climber/floater getting the button to unlock the exit and then the rest being two bashes to reach the exit.

Smooth 7 - It's just a spectacle! Nice builderless one Lemming level in the L2 Circus tileset, one of my favorites from the game!

Smooth 9 - You're fired! Harder than all the levels before this one, this was quite a nice challenge. I especially love the isolation of a climber needing to dig to get under the flamethrower so that he can go push the button and then the challenge of getting him back to the others to reach the exit since you need to save all. One of my favorites despite it being a simple build up to the exit afterwards

Smooth 10 - Let's not make this difficult! Back to very easy with making everyone a climber and either a bash or a dig through the wooden staircase low enough so that the floaters aren't necessary. Still a nice level with multiple ways to solve it

Smooth 11 - A glitch in the electrical system This one could had had multiple ways with the Lemmings exiting, but in a recent NL update it was decided that Lemmings shouldn't be able to jump to reach the exit and be able to exit. So, the only way for them to exit is to build to reach the midair exit. Still quite an easy level here, with the hardest dealing with the Lemmings heading towards an airlock trap at the start, but you have a blocker available, so, dealing with that isn't very hard.

Smooth 12 - Carbonated avoidance Love the Bubble tileset from ONML, and I like how there's still a few ways to do this level, such as digging at the end and cancelling with a basher once low enough so that you don't need the floaters, or you can simply make them all floaters so that digging down isn't necessary. Excellent work!

Smooth 13 - Hooligans in the Neighborhood Somewhat challenging, especially with the limited skillset but a really nice challenge if deciding to go for the save all. Otherwise, to make things easy for yourself you can just bomb and then bash underneath all the obstacles. Once again it's nice there's multiple options available in solving Probably a little too excessive on the back and forth walking in the 100% solution, but it's likely needed in order to get the save all anyway due to there being only one builder and how he needs time to get over some of the obstacles.

Smooth 14 - Don't mess up the biolab! Now this is a really good and somewhat easy level! Even moreso that the Biolab L3 tileset is one of my favorites due to the green color

Smooth 15 - Hippity hop! A really nice 1 Lemming level in which it's very obvious where the skills go but you can actually run out of time depending on how far away from the wall you bash. You'll always win if you assign the basher right when he's up against it. Just checked again and it seems that 1-2 more frames and then the clock would had ticked out completely. So, actually a pretty punishing timer with not much leeway in the basher placement, but it does work well for a 1-minute level.

Only critique I have is that it's not super clear that the swimmer would actually be able to hoist himself back onto land after swimming across the quicksand. Even then, the others before me who have played the pack were all able to solve everything, so therefore it at least means Mobiethian took care in making sure all the levels are solvable and possible

Smooth 16 - Sunny waters I really like how you need to build over one of the water gaps while the remaining two you need to jump over them

Smooth 19 - Will we make it across? Nice puzzle of having the Lemming who turns back towards the left to get the button and making him go towards the exit like the others later on. Just the bare minimum and right amount of skills to do the job

Smooth 20 - In the line of duty Nice level to finish the rank, with the hardest being how to deal with the OWW. Once again, you have a few options there.

Bumpy Rank Feedback

Pretty much more or less the same as the previous rank in the levels being open-ended for the most part. Also not really that much harder than the levels in the previous rank, but that's fine. Nothing wrong with that.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Bumpy 1 - Put your swim to the test! A nice and somewhat fairly challenging level to start off the rank, though it's only like this if going for the save all. In this case, finding where to put the blocker so that he can be freed later by a skill other than the bomber was challenging. Otherwise, if you don't care about the save all then you can just bomb the blocker. Again, I like how there's a few options for the player to pick how to solve this level

Bumpy 3 - Inspiration putt I realized later on one just needs to platform the bottom gap for each of them so that you can finish with a few to spare Sleep deprivation is definitely to blame here and therefore I was LPing in less than optimal conditions. That's my fault of course, not anyone else's, so I only have myself to blame here

Bumpy 4 - Now hiring miners and bashers Another level where I did it less than optimal but again really nice that there's still a few options in how to go about the level.

Bumpy 6 - The terrarium II Nice level that serves quite a nice challenge if going for the save all. Fortunately there's still a lot of freedom in carving out a solution with the plentiful skills provided, whether it's a save all or not.

Bumpy 7 - Throw lemmings from the train Nice depiction of a train in the level. Very nice challenge in which you need to be very careful due to the very limited amount of digging destructive skills. The huge amount of builders more than makes up for it and therefore it makes the level less of a problem if you decide to conserve the digging skills.

Bumpy 10 - Wrong time period Nice 1-of-everything level in 8 skill types, not all in the classic 8 skills due to some being NL exclusive skills. Looks difficult but it's really not. I have some skills left, but this is still a great level.

Bumpy 13 - Dig and die Nice somewhat challenging 1-minute level Even with the limited skillset there should still be a few ways to go about it. The hardest part is making sure no one goes out to the left once you break through the terrain, as well as finishing on time.

Bumpy 15 - What is that! Another nice somewhat challenging level in that it's very easy to deal with the traps due to there being absolutely no way to go over them because you only have platformers, not builders, and so you have to bomb to go underneath the trap triggers. I really like how the climber/slider has to go near the exit in order to platform to catch the others when digging through with the crowd. Another level where there's a bit too much excessive back and forth, though I think that can be dealt with easily so that the time limit isn't as much of a worry. I didn't do that in my solution, though.

Bumpy 16 - Closing for the night A bit too repetitive for my liking due to there not being much variety, though I can see now that it's possible to do it with less bashing than the amount I did in my solution if you wanted to. At least the design is nice, again with the L2 Circus being one of my favorites.

Bumpy 17 - From safety to danger Yea, this I would consider way too excessive on the repetitiveness of assigning the same skill. Don't take it personally. I myself am not much of a fan of levels where you need to repeatedly assign the same skill, even moreso when it's in a very short amount of time. Of course, as I have mentioned it's perfectly fine to max out the RR completely and then just freely and quickly assign all the permanent skills to them, as they aren't in any danger at all if any get past the teleporter. If any of them do and enter the teleporter coming back from the left, then you just have to make sure you don't assign the climber skill to them. Instead, just assign the floaters/gliders first and then once everyone uses it going in the correct direction you can then freely assign all of them climbers. I like this added touch!

Bumpy 20 - Chocolate milk bath Nice somewhat challenging level to finish off the rank! Look at me overcomplicating stuff with going over the ceiling to reach the button when in fact you can just send a swimmer/climber Should also be possible to save everyone if you dig to get very low and then bash underneath the ketchup wheel traps. So, once again, still a few options available in how to go about solving the level.

Rugged Rank Feedback

A newly added rank in a later update to the pack, it's not the most difficult of the ranks despite being the final one. Even then, this was still a nice addition to the pack! I believe I might be the first and only one so far to have played the entire rank.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Rugged 1 - In the middle of the night Another nice somewhat challenging level to start off the rank. I really love the challenge of there being only 1 platformer available and how to avoid the future dangers later on in the level. The jumping might be a little too excessive for my liking, but I will say that it's a nice way to avoid the traps.

Rugged 2 - Double door delight Yea, now this is definitely on the "way too excessive/repetitive" for my liking with the floater assignments, but even then you are allowed to lose up to 3 and therefore have 3 floater skills left if you wanted. The rest is just straightforward building up to the exit, with one builder needed in order to prevent the others from going out into the acid if you decide to build up on the right side.

Rugged 3 - The oasis method Nice level with the climber/floater/swimmer getting the button and then needing to help him get back to rescue him as you need to save everyone. Once again just straight up building to reach the exit in the end once you bash through both OWWs, with needing to build up a bit first before bashing through the second one.

Rugged 4 - The terrarium III Nice somewhat challenging level, with the hardest part being the starting thin platform. One must take care of going out in the wrong direction after ascending the vine between the poles. A few ways to deal with the releasing of the blocker later, so fortunately there's still a few options for the player to go about solving the level, as has pretty much been the case for nearly the entire pack.

Rugged 6 - Just think! Nice builders only level which looks challenging but isn't that bad at all. Should still be a few possible ways to solve the level. Mine likely isn't the only way.

Rugged 7 - Jungle jam Wow, I really like how you used the grass/leaves to make a level in the L3 Biolab tileset! Definitely gives the level a nice jungle look and feel to it. Looks somewhat intimidating as a result but the level isn't too hard if you know the most efficient way through it. Once again, the player has a few options to go about the level so there's still the open-ended nature of the level

Rugged 8 - Triple door terror Another level which looks somewhat difficult, especially with getting up in somewhat narrow corridors with only builders and fencers and a few other skills provided. Even then, there's still a few ways to approach the level. The building is probably a little too excessive, but again I probably could had reduced that amount if I had elected to use some more fencers. Still a decent level here.

Rugged 9 - Why don't you pay attention? I probably chose a bad spot to build to get up to the exit and therefore made it harder than it needed to be. It's probably easier to build up closer to where the entrance is. Also, it's not necessary to save the Lemming who pushes the button, but my preferred play style is going for save all's as much as possible.

Rugged 11 - A special Christmas The first and only Christmas level in the entire pack, I like how you either have the option to blow up the blocker or simply release it with a walker at the end if you want the save all

Rugged 12 - Take a hike! Wow, I really like how you did the water effect here Getting into the exit area is probably the hardest part of the level, but there's pretty much only one way to do so given the skillset.

Rugged 14 - The Tribes Ah, there's the level you told me about in the most recent email. Very nice with how you used al 12 L2 tilesets in the same level. This level is way too excessive on the repetition for my liking, but even then the player still has a lot of options on how to solve the level given the very open-ended skillset. For example, you can either go through the terrain like I did, or you can build over them. Even then, it's likely any solutions will be repetitive to some extent no matter how you do it. It's definitely a really easy level, but you also need to take care of the time limit.

Rugged 15 - Wait a minute! Nice level with one needing to turn back to the left to get the button and then quickly get back to the others to reach the exit in time. Luckily, the 1-minute time limit isn't a problem unless you bash the others out too late or don't 99RR early enough. I love the sense of urgency in this level!

Rugged 16 - Lollipop factory Nice somewhat challenging level in which you need to make very good use of the constructive skills. As long as you use them for the gaps and one to avoid the sucker trap, you should be fine. Not sure why I didn't think about bashing with the platformer so that he doesn't turn around sooner

Rugged 18 - Four door fury Decent level with a few ways to go about it, such as builders only solution for the save all, or with bombers to help the others get to the exit later. I of course chose the former

Rugged 19 - Go upstairs! Another nice decent level. The hardest part is probably getting the button, but that's just a simple build to turn around and the rest is easy from there. The player still has a few options to go about the level, such as building to get over the wall or simply have them all be climbers.

Rugged 20 - It's your decision A really nice non-trivial level to finish off the pack. My solution is probably the best way to get to the exit, but even then, you could brute force your way into the exit between the OWWs if you wanted to, for example. Needless to say, the final level is still of the open-ended nature type.

One thing I forgot to tell you about is that it's standard practice in NL to provide unlimited time unless the time limit is part of the puzzle/challenge or for backroute prevention. Other than Rugged 15, as these are pretty much all open-ended levels, I don't see any levels really needing a time limit here, but if you still want to provide a time limit which doesn't fulfill either of the two main reasons mentioned, then one generally sets an arbitrarily very high time limit so that it's never a problem. That's pretty much the case for nearly every level in this pack: The time limit is set high enough so that it's not much of a problem at all.

Also, as you might have figured out or seen from my DavidLems LP, you can put in more than one button in the same level. If that's the case, then all buttons need to be pushed before the exit is unlocked.

Once again, a great job with this pack Mobiethian. I still enjoyed this from start to finish even if it's on the easy side and, as Pieuw said, despite it being repetitive near the end (at the time he posted, there was only two ranks, and I guess it somewhat applies with the newly added Rugged rank, but there's still a bit of variety there in the final few levels). Yes, there is room for improvement, but I can assure you that you did a great job for your first level pack. I myself have yet to make one, and I'm not sure if I will, but I have my doubts that I can make one of great quality just as good as the ones I've played.

All in all, a decent first level pack from a newcomer. Thanks for sharing your work with us here on the Lemmings Forums and once again, we're very happy to have you! I look forward to your next level pack Lemmings New Worlds and of course your current in-development Holiday Lemmings 2024 pack further down the line

[Mobiethian]

It's a wonderful review, kaywhyn! Thank you again! You've covered everything, I am very happy with it.

I'll be watching the LP videos next, and I definitely want to improve on this level pack as time goes on. For example, I want to take those sports items out of the air. ha And I want to add custom graphics in addition to the logo.

It's great that you've done this, I highly appreciate it! Take care, and we'll keep on chatting as usual and make some amazing new levels in the future.