I finally got around to playing this on my gbc. I really like the core gameplay. I wish the game had some sort of randomized high score mode so I could keep playing even after beating it.
Glad you enjoyed it. The core mechanic is actually based on a puzzle from Neopets, but since that is always 3x3 I had to spend a fair deal of time figuring out how to teach folks before with smaller puzzles before dropping them into the deep end.
I spent a lot of time reviewing them to ensure they only have a single solution. Though I wouldn't be surprised if something very cryptic slipped through the cracks.
This was basically one of the most labor intensive parts of developing the game. And I resorted to using sticky notes to help visualize it a lot of the time.
You're not wrong, this puzzle was actually a last minute addition and probably had less overall testing.
That said only one of the proposed solution in your document has the full context to fill out from the clues available. All the others require some sort of guess.
This still breaks the conventions I set elsewhere, so definitely not ideal.
I mean... I see what you're talking about, but that doesn't mean anything for a player trying to reason through a puzzle.
Because - speaking as a player - the logic I employed could be described as... "I should put this hint here because if I put it somewhere else, it doesn't work".
And if it does work, I assume that I'm on the right track. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way, but I'm not going to backtrack if everything fits but I don't have the full context. I'm just going to guess. Because I'm logically assuming that if I guess wrong, I'll just arrive at a solution that doesn't work in some fashion.
This logic does rely on the assumption that there is either only one solution available, or any correct solution will be accepted. An assumption that pretty much every player would have. So the situation is indeed not ideal.
Yeah I am in agreement, but sadly the genie is out of the bottle. With how many downloads the game received I would be hesitant to release any patch for a non-critical error since most people will not manually update.
This is definitely something for me to consider should I ever make a sequel or large scale expansion. In my mind it feels I have a few options.
1) Create flowcharts like yours to ensure every puzzle has no forked solution tree. Which is fair amount of work, but doable.
2) Design additional levels like this and have Miku explicitly mention "A bomb squad member never guesses, the correct solution will always have full context" however I doubt most people will read what she says.
3) Add checks for multiple orientations of symbols for puzzles like this, which is again a fair amount of work, but doable.
Glad you enjoyed it! The music wouldn't have been possible without some cool folks who posted various midi charts of Miku's songs online, so I really gotta give them my eternal gratitude.
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Short but sweet, as long you defuse the bomb for Miku!
I finally got around to playing this on my gbc. I really like the core gameplay. I wish the game had some sort of randomized high score mode so I could keep playing even after beating it.
what a legit wonderful lil game. short sweet put a smile on mah face. ty.
This is amazing.
Great little puzzle game!
The difficulty ramps up nicely without ever feeling impossible, lovely stuff :)
Glad you enjoyed it. The core mechanic is actually based on a puzzle from Neopets, but since that is always 3x3 I had to spend a fair deal of time figuring out how to teach folks before with smaller puzzles before dropping them into the deep end.
Thank you for this game really enjoyed although still figuring for the right code lol
Glad you're having fun! Feel free to reach out if you need a specific hint.
Thanks
As a diehard Miku fan and puzzle enjoyer, I loved it! The later puzzles had me taking notes haha
Glad you had fun! Maybe you can give Miku some tips to improve her note taking technique as well.
fun game! though, some of the puzzle designs make it seem like there can be multiple solutions, but that might just be me.
I spent a lot of time reviewing them to ensure they only have a single solution. Though I wouldn't be surprised if something very cryptic slipped through the cracks.
This was basically one of the most labor intensive parts of developing the game. And I resorted to using sticky notes to help visualize it a lot of the time.
Maybe I'm missing something, but TO ME, it looks like 21 has 5 solutions:
https://files.catbox.moe/5vha7t.webp
The attached image illustrates my reasoning.
You're not wrong, this puzzle was actually a last minute addition and probably had less overall testing.
That said only one of the proposed solution in your document has the full context to fill out from the clues available. All the others require some sort of guess.
This still breaks the conventions I set elsewhere, so definitely not ideal.
I mean... I see what you're talking about, but that doesn't mean anything for a player trying to reason through a puzzle.
Because - speaking as a player - the logic I employed could be described as... "I should put this hint here because if I put it somewhere else, it doesn't work".
And if it does work, I assume that I'm on the right track. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way, but I'm not going to backtrack if everything fits but I don't have the full context. I'm just going to guess. Because I'm logically assuming that if I guess wrong, I'll just arrive at a solution that doesn't work in some fashion.
This logic does rely on the assumption that there is either only one solution available, or any correct solution will be accepted. An assumption that pretty much every player would have. So the situation is indeed not ideal.
It's a cool game though!
Yeah I am in agreement, but sadly the genie is out of the bottle. With how many downloads the game received I would be hesitant to release any patch for a non-critical error since most people will not manually update.
This is definitely something for me to consider should I ever make a sequel or large scale expansion. In my mind it feels I have a few options.
1) Create flowcharts like yours to ensure every puzzle has no forked solution tree. Which is fair amount of work, but doable.
2) Design additional levels like this and have Miku explicitly mention "A bomb squad member never guesses, the correct solution will always have full context" however I doubt most people will read what she says.
3) Add checks for multiple orientations of symbols for puzzles like this, which is again a fair amount of work, but doable.
The later challenges were definitely a headscratcher at times. I really enjoyed the chiptune renditions of some songs!
Glad you enjoyed it! The music wouldn't have been possible without some cool folks who posted various midi charts of Miku's songs online, so I really gotta give them my eternal gratitude.