Knossos Games

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solution

Use the buttons below the diagram to see a step-by-step walkthrough of the solution.



detailed solution

One technique to solve cell wall transport system puzzles is to consider how objects flow through the puzzle. This puzzle is basically a collection of loops.

Cell Wall Tansport System 1 Loops Diagram

Another solving technique is to think of the puzzle as consisting of different regions. This puzzle has a left region (containing one loop) and a right region (containing two loops), with a central region that constrains how you can move back and forth between the left and right regions.

Cell Wall Tansport System 1 LR Diagram Cell Wall Tansport System 1 Center Diagram

If we attempt to solve the left region first, we can place objects 1, 2, and 3 in receptors. But there is no way to get back to the right region to move object 4.


If we attempt to solve the right region first, moving object 2 to the upper-right receptor traps us in the upper half of the puzzle, with no way to get back to object 4.


If we instead go through the lower loop first, this moves object 4 into a position that is helpful later. We can then move through the upper loop to move object 2 to a receptor, and return through the antiport to move object 4 into a receptor. However, as when we focused solely on the left region, here we are again unable to move to the other half of the puzzle.


This suggests that we need to move back and forth between the left and right regions of the puzzle. If we start with the left region and attempt to move through the center, we get stuck again.


But if we start with the right region, we can go around the lower loop to set up object 4 in useful position (as we saw earlier). Once we go back to the left region after this set-up step, now we can move through the center region and continue moving. Object 4 is moved to the upper left receptor, we move back through the center region, and complete the left region.


Notice that Object 2's purpose in the puzzle is to facilitate this back-and-forth movement through the center. The receptor it starts in is the same receptor it's in at the end of the puzzle.

(Note: The cell wall transport system detailed solutions do not explore all possible moves within each puzzle. Instead, they attempt show the most relevant moves to explore how each puzzle is constructed.)