The Ultimate Stronghold - by icez - Reviewed by Kep
Does this ultimate stronghold have what it takes to be impressive or disappointing? You're about to find out.
[center]Generally...[/center]
I start off wandering the boundaries of the castle, immediately stumbling upon three question blocks, the middle one respectably containing a leaf and if you're small a mushroom, and the others including coins inside them. I jump onto the first ledge rising in and out of the lava, and then chains are holding onto it with a brutal spike in the middle. The left side has a Podoboo coming out, which is particularly challenging to avoid if you don't have a leaf as it is. From that ledge, I jump onto the second ledge rising from above the lava unlike the other which is diving down. The next platform is one that falls right when you step on it, and jumping from that gives you a Podoboo, three coins in the midair practically impossible to get, and from there you find yet another platform, and from that other falling platform you're on solid ground (halleluiah).
On ground, you see a gray pipe with a Piranha Plant coming out of it and to the right of that yet another one of them. In between there, it lies a Mecha-Koopa with spikes on the left. Above that, you collect some more coins, however there I just noticed the fact that they clash with the SMB3 palette, use the SMB3-styled version please. Anyway, I keep going, pass two spikes, and stumble upon a platform rising from in and out of the lava. Though, I see that the ending part of the lines the platform follows clashes yet again with the SMB3 palette, as you should use the one located in the SMB3 section. Regardless, I jump from that rather complex platform and spin jump on the sawblade, yet onto the next platform. Jumping off of that lies two coins (which indicatively clash), and yet a Koopatrol that are perilous to regularly jump on, as you're forced to take them out with a spin jump. I then enter the door, thinking that the first section was flawless except the minor clash. Thus far, your score is 9.75/10 which is the highest I've ever seen.
The second section was particularly complex, due to the complicated lava rising up and down and up and down. I then hit the question block left of the door which contains a fire flower, and the one on the right is a coin. I head right, trusting that pathway. I jump on top of the Bowser statue, hoping I'm safe from the lava there and thankfully I am, so as the left descends I descend, and then finding a opened corridor with three question blocks each individually containing coins. The lava falls more, and then I see a single question block I think will have a coin but mysteriously it is a yellow switch. I then go left, ignoring the coins, platforms and Roto-Disks above me. I pass approximately three Podoboos, and start going upwards as the lava goes respectable that way. Turns out, to the far left as high as you can go, there's a door you can only enter with the yellow switch. Otherwise, I do not feel like summing up the other coins/enemies/question blocks and such about that section, as I took the intentional path as far as I can tell. Due to when you first play that section and not knowing what the hell do do and where the hell to go, your score is left at 9.25. which is astonishing as it is because fortunately this level is already... finished?
The third section was by a long shot my least favorite, and very close to the words of: impossible. The ladders going in an out of the lava is a splendid gimmick, but just... cruel! I start off, stumbling upon two question mark blocks the one on the left containing a leaf and the one on the right containing a coin. I climb off the first ladder which doesn't move, but all of the others do, unfortunately. From the stationary latter, I jump on a chained ledge, navigating cautiously away from the abrupt Podoboo, to start my oh-so-joyous journey in the land of ladders. I jump off of the first one, collecting clashing coins, thinking that wasn't so bad. The additional ledge had a Mecha-Koopa who was extraordinarily out of the way, to say the least. I jump onto the next ladder, getting more coins like greedy Wario, and then the next chained ledge had a coin block. The next ladder was where things started to get difficult, because if I recall correctly you cannot spin jump off of a ladder to get onto the saw blade which is awful, I believe. I take an almost purposeful hit from the saw blade, and get onto the next chained ledge. I jump, killing the Mecha-Koopa, but then I discover a camouflaged spike on the ceiling which is ridiculous, lol. I advance onward, collecting more coins and avoiding yet the other Podoboo, which I keep committing suicide on. The next ledge has another spike on the ceiling, but thankfully I notice it now.
You are such a clever designer, you're just amazing me. You're so tricky that you put a saw blade right before getting on the near-impossible ladder. Anyway, the next ledge has three question blocks with coins. Self-explanatory to jump onto the next ladder, onto the next ladder, onto the conclusive ladder. I then jumped onto the next chained ledge, but then see yet
another ladder. Jumping from that, yay! I get onto the door with a Koopatrol guarding it.
Section four had no real gimmick, it was just secretly telling you, "Hey, get the hell out of here, this place is dangerous" so I trusted my head but initially went to the left and got a mushroom, at least. I then avoid the spike and Podoboo, and then seeing a platform coming from in and out of the lava. I jump from that, collecting two coins on the next ledge. which lies a spike, Mecha-Koopa and a boney Piranha Plant. I avoid them, going onto two doughnut blocks, avoiding the saw blade, grabbing four coins, going onto the next set of doughnut blocks, and then yet the next set and then jump off of that madness two a ledge with two Piranha Plants, many spikes, and yet another Mecha-Koopa. From that ledge, I spin jump on the saw blade to the next one. On the next ledge lies a Mecha-Koopa, two Piranha Plants guarding the way better than a Koopatrol can, and then hey; a checkpoint! However, it clashes with the SMB3 palette, if you can't find the SMB3 version of it or anything else I mentioned please private message me or post here. To the far right lies a question block with a fire flower, and then I enter the gray door.
Section five was very short, with two question blocks containing mushrooms on the left. I kind of just breeze along through it, taking a hit, but thinking it's not THAT big of a deal, and then I see why I thought that when I discovered the disappointing boss; you said it was the final castle to your canceled project, yet it's Larry? I am shocked, unless I misunderstood your post since I comprehended the words that this was the final castle of the game. Regardless, I beat off Larry grabbing a star and beating the level! What could I say else-wise? You pulled off a near-flawless level, and it's not because I'm generous or being biased, either.
Overall Score...
9/10
Approved - Moved to The Best Levels
