(8.5)

Easily some of the greatest cube parts in any modern level. The rest is pretty disappointing but not bad

I don't have a ton to say about Before the Square that hasn't been said already but finally getting around to playing this level was very worth it! For the most part this level is a phenomenal revisit to older mechanics of difficulty, truly feeling like a labor of love for how levels played before waves, duals, and straightfly changed the formula. Whether it's through memory or just a gesture towards the awkward, Puueds very effectively captured the fun and unique puzzle aspects of old top demons while putting a very welcome modern sheen over the top. There's a very commendable level of frictionless towards this level, and for that I think if you do enjoy that puzzle old levels provide (such as myself) Before the Square is a must play.

I know I say this in most of my reviews at this point, but Puueds has absolutely been on an incredible run for some time now. With projects ranging from Pulse, an atmospherically moody and repetitive 2 player level, to Calm Frenzy, a manic effect level with what I can only concisely describe as deconstructed dual gameplay, Puueds levels always have something going on that really gives them that magic touch, distinct to all other levels including his own. No two of his levels are anything alike, and so playing Before the Square was as much of a visual surprise as one in gameplay. Unfortunately, the visuals happen to be both an incredible strength and easily the strongest weakness of the level. The drop of Before the Square takes a sudden switch into a colorful and unpolished effect style. While it's a great and chaotic part on its own, it's a letdown of magnitudes I haven't found words for. I absolutely love the approach to including imagery of temples and lost maps in the first half, and it synergizes perfectly with the gameplay style. I'm not even sure how you come up with the idea of exploring lost temples for forgotten relics and cultural glimpses in the context of GD, but it's so fucking genius and I wish it was developed even a little bit more. Before the Square is so close to a 10 and it's certainly a high point in Puueds's insane running catalog.