1. Introduction and Overview
This project is designed as both a puzzle and an instruction manual, so that a first-time viewer can understand what the project is, how it works, and how to start playing immediately. In ShadowLock Prism, each level provides a target 3D form and several movable pieces. The player must manipulate those pieces in space until the final build matches the target exactly.
Unlike a flat tangram-style arrangement, this puzzle does not stay in a single plane. Pieces may need to stand upright, rotate around different axes, and align with support from below. This makes the experience more than a simple matching task: it becomes a problem of 3D construction and structural fit.
2. Objective
The objective of each level is to build the target shape exactly by using all provided pieces.
- Every occupied cube must match a cube in the target volume.
- No cube may overlap another cube.
- No cube may float unsupported in space.
- The level is complete only when the target is covered exactly once.
3. Setup
When a level begins, the player sees two main elements:
- A translucent target volume showing the final structure that must be built.
- A set of movable pieces placed off to the side and ready to be manipulated.
The player selects a level, examines the target shape, and then begins placing pieces into the puzzle area.
4. How the Puzzle Works
Observe
Study the target volume and notice its height changes, bends, towers, or narrow sections.
Select
Choose a piece and drag it into the build area.
Transform
Rotate or mirror the piece until it matches the intended orientation.
Check
Make sure the piece fits the target, does not overlap, and is properly supported.
5. Controls and Instructions
- Drag: move a selected piece on the horizontal plane.
- Q / E: move the selected piece down or up.
- X / Y / Z: rotate the selected piece around the X, Y, or Z axis.
- F / G / H: mirror the selected piece across the X, Y, or Z direction.
- R: apply a composite rotation.
- Space: drop the selected piece by gravity.
- Double-click: send a piece back to the tray.
- Mouse orbit: inspect the puzzle from different viewing angles.
6. Rules and Constraints
- All pieces must remain aligned to the cube grid.
- Pieces must stay within the target structure to count as valid placement.
- Overlapping cubes are invalid.
- Unsupported floating cubes are invalid.
- Each level must be solved by exact coverage rather than approximation.
- The difficulty increases across the 10 levels, so later stages require more planning and rotation.
7. Narrative / Thematic Hook
The idea behind ShadowLock Prism is that the player is reconstructing a sequence of hidden prism structures from fragmented components. Each level behaves like a locked spatial blueprint. At first, the shapes appear simple, but as the levels progress, they reveal vertical shafts, offset frames, rising spines, and narrow bridges that force the player to think beyond a flat layout.
This theme gives the puzzle a sense of discovery: each solved level feels like unlocking a concealed geometric form.
8. Why It Fits Geometry
The puzzle relies on geometric ideas such as shape composition, symmetry, rotation, reflection, layering, and spatial projection. Players must read how a 3D structure occupies space and decide how smaller units can combine to produce the required form.
9. Why It Fits Topology
The puzzle also has a topological side because adjacency and structural connectivity matter. A correct solution is not just about having the right total number of cubes; it depends on how those cubes connect and support one another in a continuous arrangement.
10. Difficulty Progression
The project includes 10 levels with increasing complexity. Early levels introduce the idea of turning pieces upright. Later levels require multi-axis rotations, more careful support decisions, and stronger mental visualization of hidden parts of the target.
11. Inspiration
Tangram
Tangram is a traditional 2D geometric puzzle where players arrange flat pieces to form specific shapes. It focuses on pattern recognition, symmetry, and spatial composition on a plane.
Kongming Lock
Kongming Lock is a 3D interlocking puzzle made of wooden pieces that fit together through precise spatial relationships, requiring understanding of structure and assembly order.
From 2D to 3D
This project extends the idea of matching silhouettes into three dimensions. Instead of forming flat shapes, players must construct a volume that matches multiple projections.
Combined Concept
By combining Tangram’s shape-matching with Kongming Lock’s interlocking structure, the puzzle creates a spatial challenge that requires both geometric intuition and 3D reasoning.
12. Author
Yuxin Liu
This project was designed and developed by Yuxin Liu as part of a creative assignment exploring geometry, spatial reasoning, and interactive digital puzzles. The work combines traditional puzzle concepts with modern web-based implementation to create an engaging 3D problem-solving experience.