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[protonion]

It's not a flaw.

Spoiler

The propeller-looking symbol must cancel out exactly one mistake in the region it is surrounded by.

In the first image, there are no mistakes -- two stars are paired together.

In the bottom image, there are three red stars grouped together -- one extra. That one is incorrect, thus it gets cancelled out and the puzzle is solved.

But the first image IS a mistake (it is not a solution)

Spoiler

Two shapes plus same colour propeller= error
But that is not the case with the second image. There are two errors in there. One orange and one purple shape. The game flashes red only the orange and delets one. The purple should flash red too like in the first image.

 

[Alastor3]

I feel so stupid playing that game...always got stuck in the middle or just after some tutorial parts... especially that little three-white-line puzzle, can't figure out the mecanic or that shadow tree branch

can anyone hint me with the little three-white-line puzzle tutorial? im at the end of the tutorial but still dont know the mecanic

 

[Plinko]

Holy shit I hated the later tree shadow puzzles, I eventually said fuck it and looked the last ones up. Only time I've cheated so far.

Amazing how differently everyone's brain works. I nailed all of those immediately. Yet, for some reason, I STILL can't figure out the desert and why I got the first one to work and it took me forever to figure out the three-point sawmill ones.

 

[toythatkills]

But the first image IS a mistake (it is not a solution)

Spoiler

Your mistake isn't in the same area as the icon which will cancel the mistake.

 

[onken]

It's doable. Took me ages though.

Thank you.

 

[Bright-Light]

can anyone hint me with the little three-white-line puzzle tutorial? im at the end of the tutorial but still dont know the mecanic

You talking about the three white lines that are ina kind of triangle shape?

 

[protonion]

Spoiler

Your mistake isn't in the same area as the icon which will cancel the mistake.

But the game tells me it is! This line in the first picture results in all three flowers flashing!

 

[toythatkills]

But the game tells me it is! This line in the first picture results in all three flowers flashing!

Spoiler

That's because in the region with the elimination icon, there's no mistake, and there has to be for the solution to be valid.

 

[RageWaffles]

Currently working my way through the tree house area, and I came across one that I have no idea how to solve. I even resorted to just trying various solutions, but no luck.

The puzzle in question: http://i.imgur.com/lg7bQdJ.jpg

I don't want a solution or a hint, I just want to know if I should know what to do with

Spoiler

a single 8-point star

. Am I missing a rule, a hint, something obvious, or what?

 

[jett]

But the first image IS a mistake (it is not a solution)

Spoiler

Two shapes plus same colour propeller= error
But that is not the case with the second image. There are two errors in there. One orange and one purple shape. The game flashes red only the orange and delets one. The purple should flash red too like in the first image.

Spoiler

The helix is deleting a red star along with itself, leaving two purple stars and two red stars. The game is showing you where the mistake is and where the helix is acting, and the mistake is in having three red stars together.

 

[Menome]

I have to ashamedly admit I cheated my way through the entire Jungle section. Although for good reason:

Spoiler

The puzzles there are all based on sounds. I have a hearing difficulty which makes it hard for me to pick out tiny individual sounds like it's asking me to.

Completed the Greenhouse in twenty minutes though, that was far easier than I'd been led to believe.

 

[MegaSackman]

OK... I don't want a hint... just tell me... is this puzzle actually possible "as is" or is it some bullshit where I have to throw another switch somewhere that changes the game board...

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/cdFR4H1.jpg

You can do it, open your mind, I bet you're closed to something specific... happened to me haha.

 

[Bowlie]

Spoiler

Two shapes plus same colour propeller= error
But that is not the case with the second image. There are two errors in there. One orange and one purple shape. The game flashes red only the orange and delets one. The purple should flash red too like in the first image.

Spoiler

Before the three-pointed figure acts as a "purple shape", it acts as an eliminator. It sees the additional orange shape in its area and eliminates it and itself, leaving you with two "purple shapes" and two "orange shapes", which is correct.

 

[StaSeb]

Currently working my way through the tree house area, and I came across one that I have no idea how to solve. I even resorted to just trying various solutions, but no luck.

The puzzle in question: http://i.imgur.com/lg7bQdJ.jpg

I don't want a solution or a hint, I just want to know if I should know what to do with

Spoiler

a single 8-point star

. Am I missing a rule, a hint, something obvious, or what?

If I recall it correctly, you should know it or at least have an idea that you can test out without too much of a problem.

 

[giapel]

Currently working my way through the tree house area, and I came across one that I have no idea how to solve. I even resorted to just trying various solutions, but no luck.

The puzzle in question: http://i.imgur.com/lg7bQdJ.jpg

I don't want a solution or a hint, I just want to know if I should know what to do with

Spoiler

a single 8-point star

. Am I missing a rule, a hint, something obvious, or what?

Do you think you know the exact rule for that particular shape? Maybe go back to the tutorial panels.

 

[Bydobob]

OK... I don't want a hint... just tell me... is this puzzle actually possible "as is" or is it some bullshit where I have to throw another switch somewhere that changes the game board...

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/cdFR4H1.jpg

These pictures make me want to throw in the towel, the ones I'm stuck on are frightfully simple in comparison. Do people stay in the same area until they've solved the puzzle? I think I'm paying for all my wandering around, by the time I return to a puzzle I've forgotten what I've already tried. It's a terribly inefficient way to play this game but the only way to keep my sanity.

 

[MegaSackman]

These pictures make me want to throw in the towel, the ones I'm stuck on are frightfully simple in comparison. Do people stay in the same area until they've solved the puzzle? I think I'm paying for all my wandering around, by the time I return to a puzzle I've forgotten what I've already tried. It's a terribly inefficient way to play this game but the only way to keep my sanity.

When I got stuck in a puzzle for more than a couple of minutes, either I left somewhere else or just stopped playing for five or ten minutes.

 

[protonion]

Spoiler

Before the three-pointed figure acts as a "purple shape", it acts as an eliminator. It sees the additional orange shape in its area and eliminates it and itself, leaving you with two "purple shapes" and two "orange shapes", which is correct.

OK that solves the issue I'm having. Thanks! That's a difficult rule to get...

 

[Noray]

I'm at the endgame but my will to keep going is being eroded with each of these obnoxious puzzles here... someone tell me it's worth it (or not)

 

[Bowlie]

OK that solves the issue I'm having. Thanks! That's a difficult rule to get...

No problem! Puzzles that mix rules were (and still are, since I haven't 100% it) hard for me too.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

Sometimes I will run into apparent deadlocks, e.g. the bay area where you do two-color double line puzzles. I can't reach the highest plateau. Should I just treat this as a metroid-vaniai~iish temporary lock, move on and expect shit to figure itself out later on? Or is my mind failing me ONCE AGAIN aaaaaaaaaaagh

 

[RageWaffles]

Do you think you know the exact rule for that particular shape? Maybe go back to the tutorial panels.

In every other puzzle I've seen, there's been an even number of that symbol on the board. I just went back at looked at every puzzle I've seen with it (all in the treehouse area). What I know so far [mostly typing this out for my benefit]:

Spoiler

They must be in groups of two of the same color. It's okay for them to be in the same section as a differently colored pair. They cannot be in the same area as a same-colored rounded-square symbols (which means it is fine for white stars to be with black squares).

If I recall it correctly, you should know it or at least have an idea that you can test out without too much of a problem.

hm, thanks. I guess I'll just have to leave it for now. I tried out everything thought had even the slightest change of working.

 

[Barry Burton]

Question on the challenge, just to get a sense of how close I am:

Spoiler

How many puzzles do I need to do in the final maze? I know there's at least two, but that's as far as I got last night. I'm guessing three?

 

[*Splinter]

Question on the challenge, just to get a sense of how close I am:

Spoiler

How many puzzles do I need to do in the final maze? I know there's at least two, but that's as far as I got last night. I'm guessing three?

Answer:

Spoiler

2

Bonus hint:

Spoiler

The maze is randomised each time, but look for a hint to its layout earlier in your run

 

[StrawberryJam]

These pictures make me want to throw in the towel, the ones I'm stuck on are frightfully simple in comparison. Do people stay in the same area until they've solved the puzzle? I think I'm paying for all my wandering around, by the time I return to a puzzle I've forgotten what I've already tried. It's a terribly inefficient way to play this game but the only way to keep my sanity.

I've been exploring pretty close to the ones I'm stuck on. I've found that giving it a couple of minutes rest really helps with solving some of the harder ones.

 

[Barry Burton]

Answer:

Spoiler

2

Bonus hint:

Spoiler

The maze is randomised each time, but look for a hint to its layout earlier in your run

Ooohhh...OOOOH! Okay, I think I know what you're talking about. I'll try that tonight, thanks!

 

[Alastor3]

You talking about the three white lines that are ina kind of triangle shape?

yes, near the dam.

I feel kind of silly asking for a hint since one of my friend already finish the game

 

[shiba5]

Question on the challenge, just to get a sense of how close I am:

Spoiler

How many puzzles do I need to do in the final maze? I know there's at least two, but that's as far as I got last night. I'm guessing three?

Spoiler

The 3rd puzzle is a map of the maze - so two.

 

[Gozer the Gozerian]

I'm at the endgame but my will to keep going is being eroded with each of these obnoxious puzzles here... someone tell me it's worth it (or not)

Yeah I reaaaally didn't like a lot of the endgame puzzles. So much of it is just taking puzzles mechanics I already know and making them obnoxious to complete. It was like the video game equivalent of trying to draw a line through a maze while someone is physically shaking you.

 

[thecosmicfly]

This is this game/Jonathan Blow in a nutshell.

 

[Bydobob]

When I got stuck in a puzzle for more than a couple of minutes, either I left somewhere else or just stopped playing for five or ten minutes.

I've been exploring pretty close to the ones I'm stuck on. I've found that giving it a couple of minutes rest really helps with solving some of the harder ones.

Thanks, will try and take on board the advice. At the moment my frequent excursions in the boat probably stretch the "exploring pretty close" part.

 

[Blizzard]

These pictures make me want to throw in the towel, the ones I'm stuck on are frightfully simple in comparison. Do people stay in the same area until they've solved the puzzle? I think I'm paying for all my wandering around, by the time I return to a puzzle I've forgotten what I've already tried. It's a terribly inefficient way to play this game but the only way to keep my sanity.

From the audio logs and game design, it definitely seems Blow intended people to wander around. If you get stuck on a puzzle, doing other areas is the best way to keep learning and not become frustrated, and can be more rewarding than getting hints / solutions and grinding each area one by one.

In my opinion, of course!

 

[Blizzard]

Yeah I reaaaally didn't like a lot of the endgame puzzles. So much of it is just taking puzzles mechanics I already know and making them obnoxious to complete. It was like the video game equivalent of trying to draw a line through a maze while someone is physically shaking you.

One of the later areas did have some clever mechanics on some puzzles, but I disliked the ones you mentioned. They were difficult not because of the puzzles themselves, but because the puzzles were intentionally made hard even to see. It felt like a bit of unnecessary padding that marred otherwise good design.

*edit* Double post of shaaaaame.

 

[Crispy]

In every other puzzle I've seen, there's been an even number of that symbol on the board. I just went back at looked at every puzzle I've seen with it (all in the treehouse area). What I know so far [mostly typing this out for my benefit]:

Spoiler

They must be in groups of two of the same color. It's okay for them to be in the same section as a differently colored pair. They cannot be in the same area as a same-colored rounded-square symbols (which means it is fine for white stars to be with black squares).

hm, thanks. I guess I'll just have to leave it for now. I tried out everything thought had even the slightest change of working.

I found those were really difficult puzzles, there is one puzzle later on in that sequence, which for me didn't make any sense. I just drew the line 'for the lulz' and ended up completing it. When I look back at that one, I still don't fully understand it, as in my understanding of the rules, it contradicts them.

 

[Tsosie]

11 of 11 zones and endgame done. At about +5 when I stopped last night. I have to ask, what is this

Spoiler

challenge

that I see some people talking about? Am I close based on what I have completed?

 

[Remembrance]

11 of 11 zones and endgame done. At about +5 when I stopped last night. I have to ask, what is this

Spoiler

challenge

that I see some people talking about? Am I close based on what I have completed?

Spoiler

You can unlock it right now.

 

[mclem]

In every other puzzle I've seen, there's been an even number of that symbol on the board. I just went back at looked at every puzzle I've seen with it (all in the treehouse area). What I know so far [mostly typing this out for my benefit]:

Spoiler

They must be in groups of two of the same color. It's okay for them to be in the same section as a differently colored pair. They cannot be in the same area as a same-colored rounded-square symbols (which means it is fine for white stars to be with black squares).

If I'm understanding you correctly, one of your believed rules for the symbol is incorrect.

In general, if you've got that many factors and aspects listed, you've probably got the wrong end of the stick; all the rules are very simple at heart.

 

[Tsosie]

Spoiler

You can unlock it right now.

Thanks, now time to figure that out. No need to tell me more, I will (hopefully) get there by myself.

 

[Kazuma Kiryu]

Ok, so I've finished

Spoiler

symmetry, keep and desert ruin. After noticing that the desert ruin wasn't aimed at the mountain (and before I went to the small town and changed the mirror so it's pointing at the mountain), I went back to the underground ruins and noticed orange lines underneath the elevator. I traced it (successfully, I believe), and it started glowing, and some sort of orange aura went outside. Any idea what this is? Also, is this in the other lasers?

 

[Sulik2]

I'm finding it very annoying once I understand a puzzle concept having to bash out the solution. I've done this three or four times, why are there eight more puzzles that are simply difficult to figure out?

Spoiler

The tetris puzzles, I know what to do, its just not fun to solve so I am looking them up.

 

[Wok]

Ok, so I've finished

Spoiler

symmetry, keep and desert ruin. After noticing that the desert ruin wasn't aimed at the mountain (and before I went to the small town and changed the mirror so it's pointing at the mountain), I went back to the underground ruins and noticed orange lines underneath the elevator. I traced it (successfully, I believe), and it started glowing, and some sort of orange aura went outside. Any idea what this is? Also, is this in the other lasers?

You have discovered a secret. Now go on playing an do not ask question... until...

 

[toythatkills]

I'm finding it very annoying once I understand a puzzle concept having to bash out the solution. I've done this three or four times, why are there eight more puzzles that are simply difficult to figure out?

Spoiler

The tetris puzzles, I know what to do, its just not fun to solve so I am looking them up.

Why does a computer game get harder the further you progress?

 

[RoadHazard]

That room in a basement in the town, where you have to

Spoiler

solve two panels correctly lit by red, green and blue light simultaneously, is killing me. Well, I did the "easy" one with just black and white squares, but the one with pair symbols, maaan. I sort of cheated by photographing the boards in all colors so I could at least see them simultaneously, but it's still SO HARD. I don't know, am I thinking about it wrong? Should I somehow be trying to see it as one solution instead of three that have to work with a single line?

 

[Tobinishi]

Just a quick question, as I don't want to spoil me by reading guides, etc but where can I find the

Spoiler

Tetris puzzle "tutorials"?

 

[RoadHazard]

Just a quick question, as I don't want to spoil me by reading guides, etc but where can I find the

Spoiler

Tetris puzzle "tutorials"?

Spoiler

Treehouses?

I think. Have you found

Spoiler

the boat? The map has hints for what is taught where.

Edit: Actually, it's not there I think. Can't remember!

 

[Exuro]

That room in a basement in the town, where you have to

Spoiler

solve two panels correctly lit by red, green and blue light simultaneously, is killing me. Well, I did the "easy" one with just black and white squares, but the one with pair symbols, maaan. I sort of cheated by photographing the boards in all colors so I could at least see them simultaneously, but it's still SO HARD. I don't know, am I thinking about it wrong? Should I somehow be trying to see it as one solution instead of three that have to work with a single line?

Spoiler

That's not cheating. I did the same thing. Once you have each rgb image you should be able to determine which tiles have the same square/star color and which don't and then solve it like a regular puzzle.

Just a quick question, as I don't want to spoil me by reading guides, etc but where can I find the

Spoiler

Tetris puzzle "tutorials"?

Spoiler

Swamp, which is the place with pools of different colored water.

 

[LegendofLex]

Just a quick question, as I don't want to spoil me by reading guides, etc but where can I find the

Spoiler

Tetris puzzle "tutorials"?

Spoiler

Look for a swamp. You'll know you're getting close when you start to see boardwalks, then red foliage.

 

[cyba89]

I'm finding it very annoying once I understand a puzzle concept having to bash out the solution. I've done this three or four times, why are there eight more puzzles that are simply difficult to figure out?

Spoiler

The tetris puzzles, I know what to do, its just not fun to solve so I am looking them up.

You know not what to do when you need to trial and error the solution. You might know the rules, but not how to solve these puzzles efficiently. And you will never learn when you just look up solutions.

 

[gazele]

In every other puzzle I've seen, there's been an even number of that symbol on the board. I just went back at looked at every puzzle I've seen with it (all in the treehouse area). What I know so far [mostly typing this out for my benefit]:

Spoiler

They must be in groups of two of the same color. It's okay for them to be in the same section as a differently colored pair. They cannot be in the same area as a same-colored rounded-square symbols (which means it is fine for white stars to be with black squares).

hm, thanks. I guess I'll just have to leave it for now. I tried out everything thought had even the slightest change of working.

I'm stuck on the same puzzle, can't seem to figure it out, I guess we're both misinterpreting the rules

 

[RoadHazard]

Spoiler

That's not cheating. I did the same thing. Once you have each rgb image you should be able to determine which tiles have the same square/star color and which don't and then solve it like a regular puzzle.

Spoiler

Swamp, which is the place with pools of different colored water.

But

Spoiler

different squares are "wrong" in different colors.