15 years ago, I gave up on that level after having tried again and again to solve my 2 off in vain. Today, on first try, I was back to my 2 off and it was clear it can't be optimized.
So, I redid my route, slowly, searching for different possibilities. I then saw that there is one free-to-move block I had not used up to now. I checked what I can do with it and won two tries later!
WOW! That level was such fun! I really enjoyed first finding a way to reach both sides of main lock, what was like solving a puzzle, and from there, searching for cuts, and once 4 off, optimizing... Pure fun from beginning to the end!
I have needed 16 years to beat that level... It definitely deserves 5 stars, however, I can't help it, I hate it... ROFL
Two hints for those still stuck on it:
1. Two targets can be disqualified easily.
2. The winning route isn't of the straight type: if what you try is just pushing forward, you're wrong.
(sometime in April, 2023) What a level!
I have three completely different two offs, and can't see how to optimize (or find another path). I hope to discover it, one day. Magnificent structure! Rarely do I encounter such well thought levels, with SO MANY possibilities. GREAT piece of work, here.
EDIT 14th June, 2023
Seeing yokosooo's comment, I came back to this one, again and this time I found the right path, quite fast (probably because just before that I was trying three other levels from this series, and solved two of them).
A really magnificent series!
I have two more to clear, left.
Really great aha moment for this one! The way to approach this correctly is the last thing that I would have considered.
I was stuck in a brilliant 2 off the day before, this made me appreciate again the vast amount of serious effort that was put into the level series. 7th DEM done.
