Across the Lines
(Published on 26. March 2024, 05:33 by juggler)
Normal Sudoku rules apply.
KROPKI DOTS - Whites live between digits with consecutive values. Blacks live between digits in a 2:1 ratio. Not all possible dots are given.
REDLINING - Connect the $ symbols with a single meandering Redline, which moves along cell edges and splits the grid into regions. It cannot intersect itself, Kropki dots, or the train tracks. The regions created by the Redline never contain both high values (6789) and low values (1234).
The words in the grid can be ignored.
(Example)
Request: if you're using coloring to solve this puzzle, I ask that you do so as you naturally would, and not ctrl-A select the entire grid and color it from the start. You'll understand why once you've solved it.
Solution code: Row 9
Comments
on 9. September 2024, 18:23 by wuc
I agree to all the comments saying this beeing a special puzzle. Truly outstanding. Im feel so lucky not having solved most of your puzzles. Keep on creating this awesome puzzles thx.
on 1. April 2024, 12:47 by Suxamethonium
Everything about this is genuinely perfect. An interesting, fresh ruleset that is perfectly approachable with an absolutely perfect match with the theme.
This puzzle is the essence of where logic meets art.
on 30. March 2024, 18:35 by ChinStrap
A puzzle this poignant would be one thing. A puzzle with this good of a solve and ruleset would be one thing. How one can meld the two together perfectly is truly impressive.
on 30. March 2024, 14:25 by madhupt
Beautiful puzzle with a powerful message!
on 29. March 2024, 16:04 by LuanMerlin
This is the definition of what I believe is a perfect sudoku. It features an interesting ruleset that's not too difficult too understand, it's perfectly doable for not-so-advanced solvers but in a way that I think doesn't make it any less interesting for experienced solvers, and the clues as well as the digits in the final solution are carefully placed and convey a message that I didn't know could be conveyed by a logic puzzle.
I usually forget to rate puzzles I'm introduced to via CTC on LMD, so even the fact that I'm here to leave this comment speaks a lot for the quality of this piece of art.
on 29. March 2024, 11:21 by giladooshlon
I loved that! And the fact that it's relatively accessible definitely supports the powerful statement.
on 29. March 2024, 02:04 by Ragna
Spitzfindig, oder?
on 28. March 2024, 21:00 by Puzzle Weasel
This puzzle genuinely deserves to called art. You enjoy the logic on the surface, and as it draws you in you gradually realise it is about more than it appeared. I've never experienced a puzzle like it. I am awestruck.
on 28. March 2024, 04:48 by yttrio
I can only echo the comments of the other solvers, fantastic puzzle!
on 28. March 2024, 03:43 by Nordy
Wow, a truly emotional solve! Exceptionally beautiful all around
on 28. March 2024, 00:29 by Florian Wortmann
This might be the best implementation of a theme I've seen in a puzzle so far.
on 27. March 2024, 22:07 by heliopolix
Powerful puzzle!
on 27. March 2024, 15:18 by Myxo
Beautiful puzzle, truly a work of art :)
on 27. March 2024, 12:18 by marty_sears
Wow. First let's talk about the puzzle... this is not monstrously difficult, but is so fun and the logic feels completely fresh. Haven't seen another puzzle with anything like that rule.
That would have been good enough. But the artistic choices that Michael has made on top of that have elevated this to something truly special.
The puzzle itself had a fantastic and satisfying ending, and this happened in unison with the hardhitting thematic ending as something which is mysterious throughout the puzzle suddenly becomes clear. Upon closer inspection of the grid at the end, the careful placement of certain things is actually genius.
This has surpassed Heatstroke as my favourite Juggler puzzle. In fact, it's one of my favourite puzzles, period.
on 27. March 2024, 04:36 by SamuPiano
Wow, very powerful message and very well-crafted puzzle. This was a wonderful experience the whole way through!
on 27. March 2024, 00:49 by ThePedallingPianist
Every now and then comes a sudoku that feels more like a work of art than a number puzzle. This is beyond even that: it's a powerful political message, presented as a work of art, presented as a number puzzle. Without wanting to give away any spoilers, I would strongly encourage solvers to take a moment to look at their completed grid and think deeply about the meaning of certain digits and clues.
The fact that this is also just a downright brilliant puzzle - I initially found it so hard to believe that such a line could ever work, so it was immensely satisfying to be led by the puzzle so clearly in discovering its path - is just extraordinary! Michael is right up there as one of the most innovative and exciting constructors in the world of sudoku right now.
