Impossible Quest

Impossible Quest

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Get 14th shadow ending
By +SG+ Schladde
Full explanation and strategy to solve the last game in the game
   
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Game mechanics
  • basically the game consists of 55 fields aranged in 5 rows and 11 columns
  • each field can have one of 2 states (black=inactive / white=active)
  • clicking on a field changes its state and also changes the state of up to 2 adjacent fields
  • the changed fields are always in the same row or column

  • the goal of the game is to activate all fields
  • the whole game can be solved on a sheet of paper
  • for the solution a single field is clicked once or never
Preparation
first step:
  • draw the grid with at least 0.5'' or 15mm edge length per field
  • click each field in the game and mark the direction of changing cells on the sheet

my preference: vertical or horizontal line in the cell



second step:
  • mark on each active field that it's active (remember that the state will change)

my preference: a tally on the bottom right corner of the field
(empty = inactive; | = active; || = inactive; ||| = active)



third step:
  • a field could be switched by 5 fields (self + 4 adjacent)
  • it's not neccessary but comfortable to mark how many fields still can switch a field
  • because the switches decrease during the solution, better mark how many adjacent fields can not switch a field; it's easier to add a stroke on a drawing than remove it
  • fields on the grid edge have at least 1 irrelevant switch (no field outside of the grid)
  • fields in the grid corners already have 2 irrelevant switches
  • any adjacent field with a (green) line not pointing to the current field is also irrelevant
  • a field that is already set as pressed or not pressed is also irrelevant

my preference: a tally on the top left corner of the field
Solution
General Rules:
  • in each step choose one field to click or not to click (set click indicator = CL)
  • the chosen field and the adjacent fields (in direction) get 1 to switch indicator = SW
  • if a field is set as clicked, this field and the adjacent fields (in direction) get 1 to activity = AC

Here is a small example to explain the rules



Rule 1:

  • a field with SW4 that is not active must be clicked (field 1 in initial image)
  • a field with SW4 that is active must not be clicked (field 2 in step 1)

changes drawn in bold black


Rule 2:

  • 2 fields pointing each other with SW3 each must have the same activity state
  • if 2 fields pointing each other with SW2 and SW3; the field with SW2 can be raised from another field
    step 2 to 3:
    - field 4 & 5 pointing each other
    - field 7 can raise field 4
    - field 7 must be clicked to set state of field 4 & 5 equal
    step 3 to 4:
    - field 8 & 9 pointing each other
    - field 6 can raise field 9
    - field 7 must not be clicked to keep state of field 8 & 9 equal

changes drawn in bold black


Rule 3:
  • a field with SW4 that has a CL forces one adjacent cell to get a CL
    step 4 to 5:
    - field 7 has SW4 and CL but is not acive (AC2)
    - field 8 is pointing at field 7 and must be clicked

changes drawn in bold black; in this small example all fields are solved directly


Final

  • the 3 rules above usually can solve at least the half game
  • possibly there will be some fields that can not be solved with the rules
  • every field without CL now should have SW3
  • set one random CL and solve further with the rules
    - start with clicked or not clicked does not matter; the result just flips

At this point chose any field with random CL


Thats it... After identifying all fields to click, do it in the game.


Thanks for reading and have fun!
2 Comments
ascend. Aug 4, 2022 @ 10:38am 
Very nice guide, after a bit of fiddling around I managed to solve the puzzle. Thanks!
trappcore Jul 25, 2022 @ 4:28pm 
Very hard) and not my language, but thanks btw