Dragging down the average score of my own level, but whatever.

I started Shimmer back in 2023 and made almost 80% of the deco that is in the finished level in a single week. I could've and definitely should've stayed on that grind and finished it then and there, but unfortunately I got burnt out. We don't live in the timeline where Shimmer is a 2.1 level, unfortunately, and hence I cannot treat it as such.

I don't even remember how or why I started this level. It probably had something to do with me liking the song, making some gameplay and then liking said gameplay. Also didn't hurt that I was feeling very experimental at the time and sort of just wanted a break from working on Hyperchaos. Yes, that's right. In another reality this would've released before Hyperchaos, almost two years ago.

But we don't live in that reality and Shimmer ended up taking way longer. It was a combination of lack of motivation, lack of inspiration and most of all a general unhappiness I experienced for a lot of the level's aspects. For better or for worse, I eventually did "finish" the level, and it was really well received, but I still am not satisfied with it.

To me, Shimmer feels unfinished. Riddled with issues and compromises I felt forced to make at the time. To name a few, I think the wave & mini ship before the drop is some of the laziest gameplay I've ever done. I think the transitions in the drop straight up suck. And worst of all; I cut the drop short.

This was a hard decision to make, for sure. I had tried to decorate the rest, or rather, the second half of the drop on three separate occasions, and not a single one of them felt good to me. And so, the level was left to rot for months. My friends, 7rodo and Blankb, subtly pressured me into picking the level back up, which I'm thankful for. But when I was faced with finishing the drop for a fourth time, I folded.

I decided to add a song cut which halves the duration of the drop. The ending part and the endscreen are the only things in the entire level I made in 2.2. They're... fine. The ending part is just the same as the predrop with some minor changes and I really like the gameplay. I also love the endscreen I made.

However, the highlights of the ending do not save the level in my eyes. It is unoptimised, unfinished and incredibly amateurish in my eyes. In the end though, I try to focus on the bigger picture with this level.

My goal when I made this level was to bring a completely original visual to the table. I wanted to make a level that can't be compared to another because of how unlike anything else it is. And with that, I believe I've succeeded. That aspect, I am happy about.

Even if the level is flawed and terribly out of my comfort zone, it did for me what I wanted it to. Shimmer may not be my proudest creation, but I'm glad I came around to finishing and releasing it.

And hey, like I said, the level was super well received. It is by far my demon with the most victors and from what I've heard people genuinely enjoy the gameplay. Good on me I guess :)

I'm definitely a Mercury6779 glazer, I'll admit, but That won't stop me from reviewing a level I appreciate. While the more minimalist deco isn't my cup of tea, the effects manage to carry the intensity of the level greatly, serving well as a highlight of the level.