Slitherlink (Sudoku) by Carl Worth
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s and a number entry mode.)
Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic (inspired by an earlier contest submission from Scott Handelman)
Author/Opus: This is the 9th puzzle from guest contributor Carl Worth.
Rules: Standard Slitherlink rules. Also, enter a number from 0 to 3 into each gray cell as additional Slitherlink clues. Numbers in the gray cells cannot repeat in any row, column, or 2×2 group of gray cells.
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the internal loop segments following the arrows for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Slitherlink variations and this link for classic Slitherlink. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Slitherlink puzzles to get started on.
This was surprisingly hard.
25:45.Had to guess through this one.
Very cool puzzle. It took me longer than it should to find the break-in for the “sudoku” cells, and even after they quickly filled in it was a somewhat tricky puzzle to close out.
Thanks for the comments. I’m glad you enjoyed this one.
As to difficulty, the real challenge in constructing this one was making it anything but trivial. A 2×2 sudoku can’t help but fall fast once you get a few digits in. Then, you get a lot of extra information for the Slitherlink from the 16 resulting digits.
So I was pushing for some tricks to remain in both parts. I’m pleased to see that that seems to have worked.
Like Jack, it took me longer than it should have to find the break-in for the “sudoku” cells, But once I did the rest fell into place for me fairly quickly.
-Neelix