Skyscraper Slingshot Sudoku
(Published on 2. February 2023, 21:43 by Piatato)
I got this idea after solving this puzzle by mnasti2, which combines sandwich clues and Stephane Bura's brilliant slingshot constraint. I thought, why not use slingshot arrows as skyscraper clues? Certainly this is a combination that very few knew that they were asking for, and I can tell you that the puzzle didn't at all ask to be made. In the end, though, I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. :-)
Rules:
1) Normal Sudoku rules apply. Every row, column, and box must contain the digits 1-9 with no repeats.
2) Standard skyscraper rules apply.
Imagine the digits in the grid as skyscrapers with heights corresponding to their values. Numbers outside the grid show how many digits that can be seen in the corresponding row/column. Taller buildings hide shorter buildings.
None of the actual numbers are given. They must be deduced by the solver.
3) Standard slingshot rules apply. If a cell contains an arrow, the digit in the cell(s) that the arrow comes from must appear in the grid N steps away, in the direction of the arrow. N is the digit in the arrow cell.
For further clarifications, study the example, or feel free to ask me.
Example:
Links to the example:
Solve on Penpa+ here
Solve in Sudokupad here.
Links to the main puzzle:
Solve on Penpa+ here
Solve in Sudokupad here.
Big thanks to mnasti2 for the inspiration, for showing me how to convert penpa links into Sudokupad, and for solving most of my catalogue over the last few weeks. Thanks to Stephane as well, of course, for all the amazing constraints and puzzles over the years!
Solution code: Row 4 and column 7
Comments
on 10. July 2024, 00:49 by Agent
Very clever!
on 14. October 2023, 20:51 by karlmortenlunna
Fantastic puzzle. It is amazing that this solves so smoothly.
—Thanks! Happy to see you enjoy it!
on 17. June 2023, 13:55 by marcmees
Choose this one from a pile of puzzles "to do" and glad I did. Deserves its perfect score. thanks
on 2. June 2023, 17:29 by Kafkapharnaum
Oof, solving this I was reminded of a certain scene involving an expensive car and skycrapers in a certain movie of a certain franchise reknown for its excesses -- the amount of breakage I did in this one, my goodness... XD
And yet, unlike said movies of said franchise, this puzzle here is just so pure and elegant, still almost the end I was in total bewilderment that this could have a unique solution, how in the world did you come up with this! Hats off! :O
on 8. February 2023, 02:53 by Samish
This one really messed with my mind and gave me logic blindness for embarrassingly long, but the logic was great once I could finally see it!
An amazing and very intricate puzzle!
on 7. February 2023, 20:08 by PrimeWeasel
Sorry, but that's always been fun filuta.
on 7. February 2023, 19:51 by filuta
Hitting skyscrapers with slingshots has never been that fun!
— :-)
on 5. February 2023, 12:13 by madhupt
What an absolutely fabulous puzzle! Very hard but extremely delicious. Got stuck at many places but there were always nibbles of logic to show the way forward. Thanks a lot for sharing.
—Thanks for the lovely comment! I'm very happy that you enjoyed the puzzle :)
on 3. February 2023, 17:45 by Jesper
Great return of the slingshot :)
— Thanks for the solve and the comment! :)
on 3. February 2023, 14:27 by stephane.bura
And thanks to you for pushing the envelope with this ruleset so expertly and creatively! :)
— :-)
on 3. February 2023, 06:33 by polar
I love a good slingshot puzzle.. This was no exception! Thanks Piatato :)
—Thanks for the solve and the kind words!
on 3. February 2023, 05:33 by henrypijames
This is definitely one of those miraculous constructions. You start out thinking, "All but one column has a top clue - the break-in is gonna be a write-in." But nooo, it's much more complicated than that - and it gets more complicated as it goes ...
—Thanks for the solve and the comment! Indeed it's quite intricate, I was very happy when I finally managed to make this whole thing come together - I had it break in so many ways before getting there :)
on 3. February 2023, 01:44 by mnasti2
Took me a bit to wrap my head around, but once it gets started there were so many fun realizations and cool interactions! Beautifully crafted, thanks!
—Thanks a lot, for the inspiration, help, solve and comment. :-)
