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Archive Part A - Assassins 1-50, variants & other killers

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enxio27

Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:33 pm

Grand Master

Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:27 pm
Posts: 791

Quick!! The Sudocue forums are back up! If you haven't already, I suggest you grab the V2 Assassins (and anything else you want from the forums) now!

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:43 pm

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Old SSv3.2 scores:

Killer rating table      
Rounded Score from SSv3.2  
pg# on this thread
(E) = Easy  (H) = Hard
======================================================================
|A ##       Rate  Score|A ##       Rate  Score|A ##       Rate  Score|
|----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
|A.45              1.00|A.46Lite          0.95|A.48Hevvie 2.50   3.75|
|A.45EEggsv2  1.75 1.90|A.47              1.20|                      |
|A.45EEggsv3       1.65|A.47v1.5          0.85|                      |
|A.46              1.10|A.48              1.05|                      |
|====================================================================|
                              page #7

Old scores SSv3.3.30:

Killer rating table      
Rounded Score from SSv3.3.0
! = 0.10 change from previous version of score  
pg# on this thread
(E) = Easy  (H) = Hard
======================================================================
|A ##       Rate  Score|A ##       Rate  Score|A ##       Rate  Score|
|----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
|A.45              0.95|A.46Lite          0.95|A.48Hevvie 2.50  !2.95|
|A.45EEggsv2 1.75 !2.05|A.47             !0.90|                      |
|A.45EEggsv3 H1.25!1.95|A.47v1.5          0.85|                      |
|A.46        1.25 !1.20|A.48             !1.20|                      |
|====================================================================|
                               page #7

Killer rating table
SudokuSolver Target range v3.6.3

Rating.....Score
0.50   =   0.85
0.75   =   0.90-0.95
1.00   =   1.00-1.20
1.25   =   1.25-1.45
1.50   =   1.50-1.70   (E) = Easy  (H) = Hard

===========================================================================================
|A ##     by     Rate    Score|A ##     by     Rate    Score|A ##     by     Rate    Score|
|-----------------------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------|
|A.45    Ruud             1.15|A46Lite Ruud             1.05|A48Hev  Ruud    2.50     3.75|
|EEggsv2 Ruud    1.75     1.90|A.47    Ruud             0.95|                             |
|EEggsv3 Ruud   H1.25     1.75|A.47v15 Ruud             1.00|                             |
|A.46    Ruud    1.25     1.20|A.48    Ruud             1.15|                             |
|=========================================================================================|
                                         page #7

Assassin 45 by Ruud (April 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 6 8 | 2 9 5 | 3 1 4 |
| 2 4 5 | 1 6 3 | 9 8 7 |
| 9 3 1 | 7 8 4 | 5 2 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 1 9 | 6 5 8 | 2 7 3 |
| 3 8 7 | 9 4 2 | 6 5 1 |
| 5 2 6 | 3 7 1 | 4 9 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 7 4 | 8 2 9 | 1 3 5 |
| 1 5 2 | 4 3 7 | 8 6 9 |
| 8 9 3 | 5 1 6 | 7 4 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

frank: Tough one to get started...contradiction...Be interested to see if there is a cleaner start than this
Para: Frank, i think the step you are looking for is my steps 13 and 17. It looked to get stuck very shortly but then it was mostly big leaps till the end
Andrew: I was pleased to be able to use the "odd number trick" in step 41, something I've only done once or twice before on this forum; don't think I've seen anyone else use it.

Walkthrough by Para:

Walkthrough by Andrew including odd number trick:

Discussion/application of odd numbers by Andrew & rcbroughton:

Last edited by Ed on Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:45 pm

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 45v2 (aka Easter Eggs V2) by Ruud (April 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 3 4 2 | 6 8 5 | 7 1 9 |
| 6 5 9 | 7 1 2 | 4 3 8 |
| 8 7 1 | 3 9 4 | 2 6 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 5 6 4 | 1 3 7 | 8 9 2 |
| 9 2 8 | 5 4 6 | 3 7 1 |
| 7 1 3 | 9 2 8 | 5 4 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 9 6 | 4 5 3 | 1 8 7 |
| 1 3 5 | 8 7 9 | 6 2 4 |
| 4 8 7 | 2 6 1 | 9 5 3 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

sudokued: V2 looks like a real toughie. .. help needed now
Tag solution: sudokuEd, mhparker & PsyMar
Andrew in 2012: This was a hard variant, so I'm not surprised that there was a "tag" to solve it. I've only tried it now. There are differences in our solving paths but the key breakthrough areas are the same. I'll rate my walkthrough at 1.75.
Forum 2021 Revisit here

Tag Walkthrough:

2012 Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:47 pm

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 45v3 (aka Easter Eggs V3) by Ruud (Apr 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 8 3 | 9 6 1 | 4 2 5 |
| 1 4 6 | 2 5 3 | 7 9 8 |
| 9 2 5 | 8 7 4 | 3 6 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 1 2 | 6 3 9 | 5 8 7 |
| 8 5 9 | 1 2 7 | 6 3 4 |
| 6 3 7 | 5 4 8 | 2 1 9 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 6 8 | 4 9 5 | 1 7 3 |
| 3 9 4 | 7 1 2 | 8 5 6 |
| 5 7 1 | 3 8 6 | 9 4 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

mhparker: (no twist in the tail in this one)
Andrew in 2012: Much easier than the V2. This was an enjoyable variant.

I'll rate my walkthrough at Hard(?) 1.25.

Walkthrough by mhparker:

2012 Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:57 pm

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 46 by Ruud (Apr 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 5 7 3 | 8 4 6 | 9 1 2 |
| 1 8 9 | 2 7 3 | 6 4 5 |
| 6 4 2 | 5 1 9 | 8 3 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 8 2 6 | 3 5 7 | 4 9 1 |
| 4 9 5 | 6 8 1 | 7 2 3 |
| 7 3 1 | 4 9 2 | 5 6 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 3 5 4 | 9 2 8 | 1 7 6 |
| 2 1 8 | 7 6 4 | 3 5 9 |
| 9 6 7 | 1 3 5 | 2 8 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

Ruud, in lead-in: This Assassin is at the upper boundary of my “acceptable” difficulty range. It requires several advanced moves
Andrew: It certainly was! At least a V1.5 in my opinion. After doing Assassin 47V1.5, I'll reassess Assassin 46 as a V2
PsyMar in A47 thread: I never was able to finish (I think a lot of other people couldn't either judging by the lack of forum activity!)
Andrew (in 2012): Ed suggested to me that a new walkthrough was needed for Assassin 46 because both of the walkthroughs posted in 2007 were too hard for the SSscore. Neither of the original walkthroughs used the interactions between two overlapping hidden cages in N8.
Rating 1.25.

Walkthrough by mhparker including Nice Loop(x-cycle) & Nishio:

Hard-work Walkthrough by Andrew:

Andrew's 2012 walkthrough:

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:15 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 46v2 Lite by Ruud (April 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 1 2 7 | 3 5 6 | 9 4 8 |
| 8 6 9 | 4 2 7 | 1 5 3 |
| 3 4 5 | 1 8 9 | 2 6 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 3 2 | 7 1 5 | 8 9 4 |
| 7 1 8 | 9 4 2 | 5 3 6 |
| 5 9 4 | 6 3 8 | 7 1 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 8 3 | 5 6 1 | 4 7 9 |
| 4 7 1 | 8 9 3 | 6 2 5 |
| 9 5 6 | 2 7 4 | 3 8 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

Ruud, lead-in: this time I have a V2 for Assassin 46 which is slightly easier than V1. It does not require detection of conflicting combinations...Still a very enjoyable puzzle... I think. :roll:

mhparker: One should never underestimate any of Ruud's killers, particularly when he posts comments on them with the rolling eyes emoticon!
Ruud, lead-in: Being accused several times of posting V2's which are way too difficult
Para: Generally you open with the message that your V2 was too difficult to put one the site. We never complain

(we wouldn't dare to :evil:

). We are usually just stunned for a moment. But we never refused a challenge, don't think we ever will..Just messing around.

mhparker: this particular killer one of the most interesting I have ever seen

Walkthrough by mhparker without conflicting combinations:

Spectacular.. Unique Rectangles (UR) and deadly patterns by mhparker:

UR Type 2 & 3 by mhparker:

Walk-through by Andrew with some conflicting combinations:

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:39 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 47 by Ruud (Apr 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 3 4 | 2 5 7 | 1 8 9 |
| 2 8 7 | 1 6 9 | 5 4 3 |
| 1 5 9 | 8 4 3 | 7 2 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 6 2 | 5 9 1 | 3 7 8 |
| 3 9 8 | 6 7 4 | 2 5 1 |
| 7 1 5 | 3 2 8 | 6 9 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 8 7 6 | 9 1 2 | 4 3 5 |
| 9 2 1 | 4 3 5 | 8 6 7 |
| 5 4 3 | 7 8 6 | 9 1 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

CathyW: I managed to solve it Very Happy - took about 30 minutes after using a few higher level standard sudoku techniques
PsyMar: I used a couple fancy techniques, but not many
Andrew: About the same level as Assassin 46 Light..I managed to solve it by standard killer techniques although it did need a bit more thought at one stage
mhparker: (this) Assassin (is a) One-Trick Ponie
Andrew: I felt that (it was) still (an) Assassin but at the easy end of the difficulty range...must have taken me at least two hours

Walkthrough by PsyMar:

Here's a walkthrough for version 1. I used a couple fancy techniques, but not many. I'll tackle 1.5 in a bit.

Note: This walkthrough should work without any preliminary steps.
Note 2: Numbers between {} are unordered; numbers between [] are left to right first, then top to bottom.
i.e. theoretically a cage shaped

Code:

   9
7 563
824 5

would be [975638245].
(There's been some confusion on that at least once in the past, so I just thought I should make it part of a standard walkthrough header.)
Note 3: () surround my comments, | means or, ! means not (most commonly != means not equal)
Note 4. .. indicates a range of values
Everything else is pretty standard.

1. sole combination for 3/2 in n9 = {12} pair -> elim 1|2 from rest of n9 & r9
2. sole combination for 8/2 in n9 = {35} pair (not 17 or 26 due to step 0a) -> elim 3|5 from rest of n9 & r7
3. sole permutation for 4/2 in n8 = [13]
4. sole permutation 11/3 in r34 = [245]
5. sole combination for 21/3 in n9 = {678} triple -> elim 6|7|8 from rest of r8 and n9
6. combinations for 12/3 in n7 = {129} triple -> elim 1|2|9 from rest of n7 and r8 -> r8c4 = 4 (naked single)
7. r7c4 = 9 (hidden single) -> r7c3 = 6
8. sole combination for 9/2 in n7 = {45} pair -> elim 4|5 from rest of n7/r9
9. r9c3 = 3 and r9c7 = 9 (hidden singles)
10. sole combination for 23/3 in r6 = {689} triple -> elim 6|8|9 from rest of r6
11. sole combination for 19/3 in c4 = {568} triple -> elim 5|6|8 from rest of c4 -> r9c4 = 7 (naked single)
12. innies of r1234 = r2c4 = 1
13. combinations for 15/3 in n7 = {258|357} (cannot be 168 or 267 due to r68c7; these would cause four of {678} in the column, which can't happen) -> no 1 or 6; elim 5 from rest of c7; forms killer triple on {678} with r68c7 -> elim 6|7|8 from r15c7
14. r1269c6 = naked quad {6789} in c6 -> elim from rest of c6
15. 7 of c6 locked in n2 -> elim from rest of n2
16. combinations for 9/3 in r1 = {126|135|234} -> no 7..9; forms killer triple {123} with r1c7 -> no 1|2|3 in r1c15689
17. combinations for 9/3 in r6 = {135|234} (not 126 due to 23/3 in r6 eliming 6) -> no 6..9; elim 3 from rest of r6
18. combinations for 18/3 in c3 = {189|279} (cannot be 459 as then r168c3 all set to {12} -- can't have 3 choices from two values in one column) -> no 4|5; elim 9 from rest of c3; forms killer pair {12} with r8c3 -> elim 1|2 from r156c3
19. combinations for 27/4 in n4 = {3789|4689|5679} -> no 1|2; elim 9 from rest of n4
20. 9 of c3 locked in n1 -> elim from rest of n1
21. outies-innies of c89 = r7c58-r8c16 = -7; r7c58 >= 7 -> r8c16 >= 14 && r8c6 <= 9 -> r8c1 >= 5 -> r8c1 != 4
22. 12/4 in n6 = {1236|1245} -> no 7..9; elim 1|2 from rest of n6
23. r16c3 = {45} naked pair -> elim 4|5 from r5c3
24. By combinations, only one of {456} in 9/3 in r1; this is in r1c3; thus no 4|5|6 in r1c2
25. By combinations, only one of {456} in 9/3 in r6; this is in r6c3; thus no 4|5|6 in r6c2
26. combinations for 21/3 in r34 = {489|579|678} -> no 1..3
27. outies of n36 = r16c6 = 15/2 = [69|78|96]
28. Outies-innies of n6 = r3c9+r6c6-r4c7 = 11; r6c6+r3c9 <= 17 -> r4c7 <= 6 -> r4c7 = {35} -> r6c6+r3c9 = 14|16 - r3c9+r6c6 = [59|68|79|86] -> r3c9 = {5678}
29. innies of c6789 = r29c6 = 15/2 = [78|96]
30. combinations for 21/4 in n2 = {1479|1569|1578} -> no 2
31. combinations for 9/3 in r1 = {135|234} -> elim 3 from rest of r1
32. r16c24 = x-wing on 3 -> elim from rest of c2
33. 4 of n3 locked in 18/4 in n3 -> 18/4 in n3 = {1458|1467|2349|3456} (cannot be 2457 as this shares two digits with all combinations for 15/3 in c7, and can see all but one digit of said cage)
34. 12/4 in n6 forms killer pair {35} with r4c7 -> elim 5 from r4c89
35. 7 of n6 locked in r4; elim from rest of r4
36. 7 of n6 locked in 21/3 of r34; elim from r3c9; 21/3 of r34 must be {579|678} -> no 4
37. 4 of n6 locked in 12/4 -> 12/4 in n6 = {1245} quad -> elim from rest of n6 -> r4c7 = 3 (naked single)
38. sole combination for 15/3 in c7 = {357} -> elim 5|7 from rest of c7 and n3
39. sole combination for 18/3 in n3 = {2349} quad -> elim {2349} from rest of n3 -> r1c7 = 1 -> r5c7 = 2 (naked singles)
40. sole combination for 21/3 in r34 = {678} -> no 9
41. r6c8 = 9 (hidden single)
42. r4c5 = 9 (hidden single)
43. r3c3 = 9 (hidden single)
44. r16c24 = Unique Rectangle {23} -> r6c2 = 1 -> a jillion naked singles and last-digit-in-cage moves
45. r1c6 = 7 (hidden single) -> about a dozen naked singles and LDIC moves
46. r5c5 = 7 (hidden single) -> naked singles and last digits solve it.
634257189
287169543
159843726
462591378
398674251
715328694
876912435
921435867
543786912

Much easier than last week's, which I never was able to finish (I think a lot of other people couldn't either judging by the lack of forum activity!)

Walkthrough by Andrew:

Walkthrough by CathyW w- multi-colouring:

One-trick pony Walkthrough by mhparker:

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:46 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 47 v1.5 by Ruud (April 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 3 8 9 | 5 6 7 | 4 2 1 |
| 5 6 7 | 4 2 1 | 9 3 8 |
| 2 4 1 | 9 3 8 | 5 6 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 9 3 | 6 8 5 | 2 1 4 |
| 8 2 4 | 7 1 9 | 3 5 6 |
| 1 5 6 | 3 4 2 | 7 8 9 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 9 3 5 | 8 7 6 | 1 4 2 |
| 6 7 2 | 1 5 4 | 8 9 3 |
| 4 1 8 | 2 9 3 | 6 7 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

CathyW: Managed to do 1.5 as well - amazing!!
mhparker:once it was in motion there was no stopping it... This is in contrast to the most difficult Assassins, where one has to be thankful for small mercies in being able to find any way at all of shaving off the next candidate
Jean-Christophe: The difficulty was to spot the starting place, then all the rest flows quite easilly
Andrew: It was no harder than Assassin 47, in fact probably slightly easier because there wasn't a difficult key move
mhparker: it shows that the observation that Andrew made about the V1.5 being no harder than the V1 (and possibly even easier) is correct. It also tells us - as we suspected - that both of these Assassins were One-Trick Ponies
Andrew: "One-Trick Ponies" wasn't a suggestion that these puzzles were too easy to be Assassins. I felt that they were still Assassins but at the easy end of the difficulty range. Each of them must have taken me at least two hours

Walkthrough by mhparker:

Walkthrough by Jean-Christophe:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:48 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 48 by Ruud (Apr 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 4 5 | 7 2 8 | 1 3 9 |
| 2 7 8 | 9 1 3 | 5 4 6 |
| 1 9 3 | 5 6 4 | 7 2 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 5 2 | 3 7 9 | 8 6 1 |
| 3 6 9 | 1 8 5 | 4 7 2 |
| 8 1 7 | 6 4 2 | 3 9 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 5 8 4 | 2 9 7 | 6 1 3 |
| 7 2 1 | 8 3 6 | 9 5 4 |
| 9 3 6 | 4 5 1 | 2 8 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

CathyW: It's certainly harder than 47! Still working on it - currently up to step 49 and counting ..Finally managed no. 48. The Lite version more enjoyable for me.
Psymar: all fairly standard killer stuff until step 49, which involves Medusa Coloring of a sort, with a bit of a twist at the end
Andrew: 3 walkthroughs for the original Assassin 48 and all had different breakthroughs from the way that I finished it

Walkthrough by Para:

Walkthrough by Jean-Christophe:

Walkthrough by PsyMar:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Post subject: Re: Assassin Archive & Ratings Update

Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:50 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:16 am
Posts: 1044
Location: Sydney, Australia

Assassin 48-Hevvie by Ruud (April 07)

Puzzle pic:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 1 6 5 | 7 2 8 | 3 4 9 |
| 2 3 7 | 9 6 4 | 8 1 5 |
| 4 8 9 | 5 1 3 | 2 7 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 4 2 | 6 9 5 | 1 3 8 |
| 9 5 3 | 8 7 1 | 4 6 2 |
| 8 1 6 | 4 3 2 | 9 5 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 5 7 4 | 1 8 9 | 6 2 3 |
| 3 9 1 | 2 5 6 | 7 8 4 |
| 6 2 8 | 3 4 7 | 5 9 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

sudokuEd: Very
mhparker: (Rating of) 2.5: Requires a team effort and several short to medium length hypotheticals. The TJK18 and A48-Hevvie would probably fall into this category.
rcbroughton: not an easy one by any means
Tag solution: sudokuEd, mhparker, rcbroughton & Glyn
sudokuEd: still in shock from Richard's 8 outtie's move to get a placement (step 102). Another world record for Richard. Too r-rated for a simplified walk-through though.
sudokuEd: Any puzzle raters out there who can give this puzzle a rating?
Andrew (in 2014): Another puzzle I've just tried for the first time. A tough one; it took me four days, but I was making progress each day. Unfortunately the original Tag solution isn't available, so I don't know how long that took.

In the condensed/simplified Tag walkthrough sudokuEd wrote:

Now that its easier to digest, can any one find a shortcut?

Yes, my step 35 can be used after step 53 of the condensed/simplified version.

edit: infamous step 102:

Condensed/simplified walkthrough, though STALE, by sudokuEd:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

Rating Comment:

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