Groundhog Day All Over Again
(Published on 2. February 2021, 22:06 by Big Tiger)
Standard Sudoku Rules apply to the final numerical layout.
Phil Connors is trapped in Punxatawny, Pennsylvania, on February 2nd, doomed to repeat the day until he gets it right. And so everything in this puzzle is about things happening twice.
Little Killer Arrows indicate the sum of the digits along the given diagonal up to but not including the first repeated digit in that diagonal. For example, a diagonal of 1-3-6-2-6-5 would have an arrow summing to 12, not 23. 1+3+6+2, then the other 6 stops the sum.
Digits in White Circles must appear twice in the surrounding four cells. All possible circles and digits are given.
The grey line creating a "2" in the middle of the grid is, first, a Palindrome, reading the same from either end. Second, it is a Clone of a second hidden "2" somewhere on the grid. But since this is Groundhog Day, one of the two clones is a mere shadow of the other: All of its digits are exactly one less than the digits of its clone. Additionally, the clones may touch or even overlap.
*****
Setter's Notes :: February 2, 2021 :: I was hoping to post this one promptly at 6:00 a.m. while singing "I Got You, Babe" but I fell behind. Please don't slap me again and again and again and again and again and again.
Solution code: Row 1 then Column 6
Comments
on 4. February 2021, 09:51 by GremlinSA
Very nice puzzle, excellent twist on the little killer clues.
*** Glad you enjoyed it!
on 3. February 2021, 02:24 by bigger
That negative constraint is really strong. I feel I miss the point of the clone. I was trying to use it at one point, then I thought maybe later, and I solve it. So when should I actually should be looking for the clone 2
*** Whenever it's helpful. If you solved it without using the clone, then that's just my weakness as a setter. :-) I used it to great help about halfway through my test.
Oh, halfway, I'll solve it again and try to use it, I don't want to miss the fun.
** Ha ha, well, go for it. I keep trying to create puzzles that are designed to follow one flow, step by step, but Undar Beyond or Phistomofel I will never be - Inevitably someone finds a workaround, or finds a clue to be completely unnecessary anyway. Ah, well.
on 2. February 2021, 23:32 by panthchesh
Thanks for the puzzle! This was a LOT of fun!! Even after I figured out where the shadow goes, it was fun to do the diagonals with a new twist!! :)
*** Glad you enjoyed it. :-) About how long would you say it took you?
** sorry I don't remember.
-- No worries - obviously it was less than 1.5 hours lol.
