52. MECHDRAGON777 - Die Zitadelle von Eis und chaotischem Wetter (6.0375/10)
castlewars: 7.8/10
This level was interesting. It started out as an ice level, but then it transitioned into a castle and then the rain is added to enhance it. The transition was executed pretty well, and the level was designed quite well, if a little on the long side - actually, the level was too long and the checkpoint is misplaced, and the player can choose which route to go at the checkpoint. However some of the gimmicks are difficult to get hold of, such as the projectile shells in section 2 - how do you get past them? Also, the screen scrolling vertically in section 15 as well is nearly impossible to get hold of because the player cannot make the jump onto the second platform. The frozen water was an interesting gimmick as well but the gravity blocks were positioned in such a way that the player is stranded if they are misplaced. The bossfight was interesting as well because the player is required to use the pillars, and finally the gimmick is explained because the idea of using POW blocks is really unique in a way.
Chad: 6.85/10
I really admire the amount of effort and creative endeavors put into this level, as well as its focus on difficult puzzles and elaborate design. It certainly has a very intricate layout and a lot to offer in terms of gameplay and innovation. It tries a lot of really cool things like antigravity blocks, building your own ice bridge, and layers attached to held items, to name just a few. I especially like the pillar linked to the blue platform, you really aligned that part well with the stationary surfaces around it. The vertical autoscroll works in an excellent fashion too, along with the carryable layer in it. That part especially is visually stunning and feels very cinematic in a way that almost goes beyond 16-bit Mario without feeling out of place for it. The boss fight is really original as well, using POW blocks in such a manner is quite unusual but interesting. However, this level tried to do too much. Don't use this many stars, don't use all 21 sections this extensively, and a lot of its gimmicks could have been utilized better. Indicate to players that they need a Fire Flower before you make them cross a really long lag-filled bridge of freezable projectile shells, not after. That part was really interesting on its own, but the level's much too large for it and the area is too long and too punishing for simply not knowing what's next. If you can actually enter that pipe, you're blocked off by hammer blocks in the next area that you didn't know you needed to prepare for, which are only removed by falling down a random undisclosed pit in Section 1. The gravity block star is tedious and you're likely to get the spin-jump timing slightly wrong at least once during the countless times you make the player do it, there's no indication that the sleet and water are painful or that the P-switches remove the sleet, there's too much reliance on falling down pits to change areas (only one is even confirmed as safe, the rest are just leap of faith), and the boss could very easily beat you just by having a POW block mess up a jump unpredictably. Again, I really like the things that this level tries to go for and the kinds of ideas it has, but it's just highly excessive, not very well handled, and too easy to get lost with no idea where to go or what to do.
Firespike33: 4/10
I went through an okay snow level and upon reaching the checkpoint was teleported to a tower area with pillars. The rain was cut off and was done very strangely. The fact that it followed you was even more odd-looking. This was pretty easy and sort of fun, but slow-paced. Going back through it because you died on the boss was immeasurably tedious (yes, I actually just said that). The boss at the end was pretty easy. Just jump over the magic and it’ll eventually hit POW blocks, killing the boss. Overall, nothing about it was that good, and it was short.
Valtteri: 5.5/10
This level starts out pretty well but then I get the checkpoint and have to deal with a very, very slow autoscroll part where I have to make precise jumps on tiny platforms that are SLIPPERY for some reason, and I still don't understand why I had to carry a weird mushroom that holds a ceiling that apparently protects me from the rain. Wouldn't it make more sense if the rain was, like, fire or something? Is Mario made of sugar? The boss is weird, I didn't even need to use the POW blocks, I was able to just jump on Lemmy like normally. The first half of the level is good but it gets goofy after the midpoint.
@Castle Wars and Chad: Thanks to Castle Wars and Chad. I know I could of done better with signifying where to go, some of my beta testers said that as well. There was original coins in the pits to show they were save, but I felt the ones after the glitched stair-well was all obvious since the under-lined floor should of given it away. I know about the boss issue, but It was meant to be a challenge. Most of the 21 sections are bonus rooms as well, so, keep that in mind! I think only sectors 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 21 are required to beat the level!
@Firespike: How was the sleet "cut off"? Where did any thing "follow" you? How is this Either Easy, or Short? If 45 minutes is short to you, then what is average? How did you miss the fact I had three checkpoints? I knew the Castle would be to much to repeat, so I put a second checkpoint before the long Vertical Scroll! I put a checkpoint right before the boss room! Tell me, how is going through one door considered Tedious? So basically, It fells like you gave me a 4/10 for every thing my level was not!
A: You said it was easy when I know both me, and my beta testers had some difficulty with it!
B: You said it was short when it took me 45 minutes to do it all in one live!
C: You said the boss was easy when It clearly was not seeing what Chad has put!
D: Nothing is wrong with slow-paced levels, but it is the only reasonable thing I can see a point reduction for!
I appreciate the fact you think it was sort of fun, but still, a 4/10 just for it being Easy/Short [Which obviously is not true] and being slow paced? How does that add up?
@Valtteri: Thank you for the comment, but which check-point did things get weird at? Like I said, I had 3. So, you asked about why every thing was slippery, It is a castle with Sleet falling every where and it is a frozen region and Is covered in snow. The reason you had to carry the Mushroom Block was to keep the Razor sharp Sleet off of Mario. Also, in one of the bonus rooms, I even mention that you do not need Pow Blocks to beat Lemmy, but I also said it was more risky! ...and what do you mean by "Goofy?" Atleast I understand where you are coming form!
So in general, may I have a bit more clarification on what @Firespike33 is coming from since I do not see one of his reasons for the low score! 4/10 just for Slow-Paced seems a little Bias to me, but oh well!