My 5 map version 2. I changed some things in the map after watching the game play video

File Name: sp_chander_test_05_v2.rar
File Size: 1.87 MiB
Click here to download Chander Test 5 (ver.2)

Wow, this was nice! The blind run took me almost 25 minutes. I like the complexity of the puzzle and that you do not need every portal surface like in most other maps. This way the player has to think what elements and objects he could really need and which may be just distraction. This is what I dislike about the original maps, they are too linear, it's too obvious what to do and not challenging enough. This map on the other hand is just great at this!

I'll repost when the video is rendered and uploaded (I guess tomorrow)

Chander, you too? Altogether with jonatan, you are my favourite puzzlemakers!

This is going to be one of those complex weeks!

AWESOME! I will play it this evening and upload my playthrough

Thanks for your maps!

That first vote is mine: 5/5

I will only say this: PLEASE DO NOT EVER, EVER, STOP MAKING THIS KIND OF PUZZLES

Well let me say something more: I think this map is absolutely amazing. I like it from the ambient created with those strange metal textures and the smell of rusty, to the unreacheable levels beyond the river and the original way you have forced us to use to pass through. Same as Djinndrache, I really liked the multiple options you offer to the player with some portalable walls here and there, or for example the prop_floor_button that deactivates the horizontal fizzler where the fliing room is: unless I didn't do in the intended way, that button is not necessary... I like those elements because I think they offer an unreal feelinig of multiple options, while actually there is no such multiple possibilities, just one solution....

Thank you Chander. More than maps, these are genuine puzzles, and I really enjoy TONS with your work!

Playthrough:

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(LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6z3hoxN1Uw)

Told you I'd upload my blind playthrough today, so there we go:

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(Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjCARxrAhRY)

Amazing map, really difficult. Loved the muliple uses of each test element and even portal surfaces, lots of back and forth.

Got really stuck on how to do the very last part. I've watched both videos that have been posted, and I did it differently from both of them! I tried to do it the way Djinndrache but couldn't. I assume that josepezdj has the right solution, which is pretty damn hard, don't think I'd have worked that out.

I basically used game-exploits by jumping backwards through my portal while placing another one. Kinda like portal-standing.

The only negative thing I can say about this map is the textures. So many misaligned and cut-off textures. Not a big deal, but it bothered me a little. Also, you need to up the damage on your trigger_hurt for the toxic slime, as you can fall in a jump out (see Djinndrache's video).

Overall, excellent map - 5/5! Well done.

@shawy89:

Quote:
I tried to do it the way Djinndrache but couldn't. I assume that josepezdj has the right solution

Well, for sure I tried before Djinndrache's final step solution, but I couldnd't either reach the ledge standing on top of the cube... even placing the portal right in the same upper-right part of the white panel (out of the scope of the info_placement_helper for that panel)... that's why I searched for alternate ways... and I thought of the way I just did... I also think my solution is more intended than his. And I'm not sure if Chander maybe posted 2 different versions in a short time and he played to a different one then you and me...

This map was amazing. I spent about 15 minutes in the control room with the buttons until I finally got the idea to try to reach the lightbridge. I then spent about 15 minutes trying to figure out what to do next when I came up with the idea to use the cube to get over the fizzler. Despite that, this map never felt like it was flawed or too difficult and it was really fun to play. MY only complaint was the part at the very end when trying to reach the door

Whooh, what a doozy that was! I was afraid I'd never make it through the pointy-shooty bits with a controller, but with plenty of quick loads, I did. The tricks I used to get through this might have been exploits in other maps.

Why is it that Djinn was able to make the final jump onto the platform, and I can't? I ended doing what Josep did (plus about 20 deaths along the way).

Congratulations on doing a dimly lit map without leaving black holes in all the nooks and crannies. I didn't have to turn up my brightness at all to see this map.

Now, to see if I can get through the map without dying! 4/5 from me.

A challenging map! This is a good puzzle which definitely made me think. But I do have a complaint: I was not able to reach the final ledge in the way Djinndrache did, so I had to do a rather sloppy backward jump through the portal, just as I shot another portal on the higher wall I did get there, though, but thank goodness for Save.

Yeah, great map. I was surprised to solve it in my first sitting cause Chander maps usually gave me problems. I too did the backward jump, dunno if that was the proper solution but thats the first thing i thought to do and it worked.

Does anyone have an idea about the purpose of the timed button that disables the frizzler in the entrance (that you jump up through) to the button room? No body seemed to make use of it, i guess it's a red herring?

After a lot of work I managed a least portal run of this with 18 portals. I'll put up a video of it tomorrow. Awesome map by the way. My only complaint is that the AFP doesn't always boost you to it's max height (especially when you come at it from the front). That gave me some issues when trying to solve this the first time.

@Saturn:

Quote:
Does anyone have an idea about the purpose of the timed button that disables the frizzler in the entrance (that you jump up through) to the button room? No body seemed to make use of it, i guess it's a red herring?

After reading your post I'm not so sure about what solution you made (for not using that fizzler's function)... Also if at the end you did a jump from the bridge put on the below panel, well you're luckly, seems that only you and Djinndrache at the forum were able to reach the ledge this way!

I would kindly ask you to check out my walkthrough, you'll know this fizzler function: it is needed to bring the bridge or the catapult from the entrance part to the opposite part of the map where the buttons are and use them there in order to get the cube safely!...

John11 wrote:
the AFP doesn't always boost you to it's max height (especially when you come at it from the front)

I had this issue as well, but even the secondary, not as high height worked for the first launch. Instead of using it the second time, I jumped from the high hallway into the deep hole to get out of the elevator shaft in the back - thought it was cool that the height works out really well both ways.

I also had an issue with the cube dropper: The cube was coming out a little crooked, since it was sitting on the spiral door beforehand, and then rolling off into the E-Grille. I had to noclip to figure that out, and then move the light bridge AFTER the box hit the bridge the first time to catch it.

I also did the vertical fling room a different, much less graceful way: I got up to the middle height platform, then jumped off that into the ground to get standing on the wall. That just BARELY doesn't give you enough height to get into the ceiling... Then off that into the ground to get on top of the E-Grille projector, which looked just slightly higher, and that little bit of extra height got me into the ceiling.

The aesthetics feel a little unfinished to me, but that might be because they are...? The lighting just feels a little sterile, but I'm just coming out of my map that's kind of a rainbow, so take that with a grain of salt. I also wish there was an indication as to what the floor button did, because I couldn't remember after all those aerial acrobatics. Maybe it could be wrapped around in a different position, overlooking that corridor through glass?

I'm really curious what your intended solution for the end is, because all of the ones I've read and watched seem a lot less clean than the rest of the test.

Overall, a lot of cool stuff, requiring some mental and "physical" gymnastics. The layout was simple enough (without compromising the complexity of the puzzle), so it wasn't a big deal to have the player wandering all through closed corridors. I've pretty much enumerated every gripe I have, so if I didn't mention something I probably really liked it. Nice work!

josepezdj: I think Saturn means the push button that greets you when you come up through the ceiling, I believe you ran right by it in your walkthrough. It disables the fizzler right next to it, not the one lower that disables the tall fizzler next to the "fence".

Yeah, that button.

Also, my solution wasn't like djinndrache's. I did the same thing that shawy89 and Marise did.

Hardest least portal run I've done yet:
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Any idea how long that took you, John? I am thoroughly entertained by these videos.

KillerBeeGees wrote:
Any idea how long that took you, John? I am thoroughly entertained by these videos.

I'm glad you're enjoying them. The uncut vid was a bit over 22 minutes. The part that took the longest was the portal standing at the end. I'm not sure how long I spent figuring out the route. Maybe an hour? Probably a bit less.

Playing it now.
In Djinndrache's walkthrough . . how did he jump short to the stairs, land in the water, and then come back up out of the water and climb up the stairs ? I tried this repeatedly and always died. It does not appear to be that special "forgiving" water that lets you live for a few seconds. Instant death every time I tried it. WTF ???

I think this bit was fixed PCdoc. It's possible to clear the water with correct portal placement and forward running while in flight.

PCdoc wrote:
Playing it now.
In Djinndrache's walkthrough . . how did he jump short to the stairs, land in the water, and then come back up out of the water and climb up the stairs ? I tried this repeatedly and always died. It does not appear to be that special "forgiving" water that lets you live for a few seconds. Instant death every time I tried it. WTF ???

I just re-downloaded the latest version. The toxic water was made more deadly as it seems.
I'll make a new video of the latest version.

PCdoc wrote:
In Djinndrache's walkthrough . . how did he jump short to the stairs, land in the water, and then come back up out of the water and climb up the stairs ? I tried this repeatedly and always died. It does not appear to be that special "forgiving" water that lets you live for a few seconds. Instant death every time I tried it. WTF ???

Djinndrache wrote:
I just re-downloaded the latest version. The toxic water was made more deadly as it seems.
I'll make a new video of the latest version.

Here we go:
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(Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc4wF5rZ65Q)

Wow Chander, another amazing map! It took me at least 4 hours, but I got there in the end. Every time I got frustrated at your unforgiving design, I realized it was my unforgiving brain that was the problem. Your map making skills are impeccable. I reflect the words of josepezdj: Please don't ever stop making these kinds of puzzles.

Is that jump in the end seen in many walkthroughs really the intended solution? I mean the jump from lightbridge on the lower right surface, portal to upper left surface, stand on the edge between the portals to make a strafe jump to the cube receiver. I can't believe that's the intended way as the rest of the map is perfectly doable without such ninja techniques.