Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle

Ah, that makes sense. But why would it matter if the viewers could not see where the numbers on the map lit up until they got back to the map? They would not have had enough information to solve the puzzle before that point. Anyway, there was enough background information that you could have placed them on the map yourself. The map only had one bridge, one set of gazebos, etc. and the numbers showed up at those points.

Though I don't see why the viewers have to be able to solve every puzzle before the characters do. Especially the Sage puzzles (they are meant to be nearly impossible). My main issue with the second episode was that—with the possible exception of the number/shape one—the puzzles really were "too easy" for the show. I see the fact that the average person could not solve these puzzles to be a plus.

I'm pretty sure the creators intend that you freeze-frame when you come across a shot with a properly presented puzzle. So far every puzzle that could be solved by the viewer has an obvious freeze-frame moment. It just takes too long for most people to think without pausing; there's not enough time to present a reasonable number of puzzles, have some semblance of plot, and still give enough thinking time to mere mortals.

There was definitely enough information to at least strongly hint at magic squares.. cause it was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the shape of the park, and that numbers were encoded into the park.

It kinda looks like the difficulty of the puzzles are targeted to different age groups by episode. This is put on by NHK-educational, so it might be that a teacher to 10-12 year olds would show the rather simple puzzles in ep 2 and a teacher of 13-15 year olds would show the more complicated puzzles in ep 3.

edited 23rd Oct '11 6:52:06 AM by tuxdev

Hint: remove the "s" from spoilers

Really? Huh. Like I said, I guess I have not done enough puzzles w/ magic squares (I did not even know they were called that) to recognize it. So you would agree that the only "impossible" part is the amount of time they were given?

edited 22nd Oct '11 10:33:59 PM by Belian

Episode 4 is up and boy did they go out of the way to apply the Stupid Sexy Fladers trope.

Anyway, the sole puzzle this time is quite good. Still impossible without a certain piece of information, but completely solvable if you do know it.

edited 23rd Oct '11 8:33:43 PM by Belian

Episode 4 was probably the best episode so far, at least in terms of the sage puzzle being non-lethal this time, if nothing else.

Also Ana Gram has to be one of the stupidest names I have heard, especially because the character in question isn't a literary genius, but an artistic one. But as a Cloudcuckoolander, she's awesome anyway. ...wait. What do you mean she's a dude?

edited 25th Oct '11 2:11:11 AM by flygon250

Forgot about that (spoilered) trope... Fits PERFECTLY

edited 25th Oct '11 6:55:57 AM by Belian

I certainly enjoyed this episode's non-psycho giver. I was seriously beginning to wonder what was wrong with people in this world.

Also, I was practically screaming at the screen during the Roman numeral part. I mean, what kind of person would know enough about roman numerals to have memorized what letter corresponds to what, but and yet isn't familiar enough with them to consider them instantly when you get 'MDCLV' and need to convert it into a number?

Yeah, that's puzzling. Heck, I thought this was definitely a roman-encoded number before even seeing the number-only touchpad. Why this took more than two seconds for Kaito to guess, I have no clue.

Like I said, these guys aren't really very smart at all.

And wait, Anna's a guy? I GOT TRAPPED

EDIT: Re: new episode Narm. So very much.

edited 8th Nov '11 6:51:15 AM by fillerdude

Episode 15: Lol at Rook's nightmare puzzle compilation.

Also, Anna proves that he's a better solver than Kaito by solving puzzles before he even gets told they're there.

I agree, though I would qualify that statement with "on certain types of puzzles."

Episode 16 actually had a decent puzzle and a decent solution. And I wanna see what Gyamon's gonna do next.

If by "decent" you mean "normally completely impossible to solve while doing it," then yes it was. I know that there have been puzzles that I could not have solved in the time limit/as fast (not including the Rush Hour one without the cheating), but this might be the first one I can say I would probably never figure out. (Though I'm not so sure I could figure out the "hidden path" on that peaceful/nature one and I wouldn't have the right knowledge for a number of others—like the paining one)

I meant 'decent' in the sense that it was actually an interesting puzzle, as opposed to a bunch of numbers on a grid which you have to pause in order to analyze and therefore solve. And I'd say it was better than the Rush Hour one, at least this one's solution made more sense.

I'm okay with the puzzle being "impossible" to solve, the protagonists are supposed to be geniuses. It's hell of a lot better than in earlier episodes, where Kaito doesn't immediately figure out to use Roman numerals and stuff.

edited 23rd Jan '12 7:17:36 AM by fillerdude

Anyone else watch the whole thing?

Well, it looks like season 2 is going to focus on the one plot point of the first season that was not explained at all: the origins of the Orpheus armlets. Considering how they were a stepping stone to getting the God scroll, I expect we will learn a bit more about that as well.

Yep, I watched the whole thing. Oddly enough.

I was wondering what the second season would be about, and hell yes evil secret organization. Perfect for an anime as cheesy as this.

Well that was an interesting episode... I know they like to use stereotypes, but that girl was just ridiculous.

Also, how did I know that Nanoha was not in there?

'Cause they didn't explicitly show her in the doll? They're usually quite direct with that sort of thing.

And I just knew that those action figures will end up being important because they've never been shown before.

Ah, conservation of detail... what a wonderful thing

edited 23rd Apr '12 5:32:27 AM by Belian

LOVED "Kaito's" take on the third puzzle. All of them were just increasing the difficulty of the originals, but that sort of math puzzle/brain teaser I just connect with. I knew from solving the earlier one that the number of lines per shape probably equaled the numbers, but it was still solvable if you did not know that.

The rules are multiply vertically, add horizontally, and take the inside shape to the outside shape's power. The clues end up being A) 4^1=4 B) (1*3)+4=7 C) 1+3+4=8 D)3^3=27 E) 3*4=12. I didn't bother coming up with the actual answer.

I thought it was a fun/logical puzzle and can see MANY ways of making it harder.

Nice. I didn't even bother analyzing the puzzle.

Episode 7: I'm really not sure what the drama was all about.

/agree

I hope it was the translator's fault and there is more meaning to some of the stuff said, but I did not follow the reason for the leader's grudge at all.

Episode 8: Ana wins. Somehow. I'm not even sure I had to spoiler that. This Eve person will probably be important.

I tried a different fansub this week and it really does seem like the cause of the leader's grudge is, frankly, stupid. Worst start of evil ever.

Can't get over how stupid Freecell's grudge is. >_< And Kaito should be ashamed that the guy managed to rattle him.

edited 6th Jun '12 12:20:20 AM by fillerdude