zero melanin found

Got really mixed feelings on this one. On one hand I really like the art style and urban theming the team went for. The way the lyrics synced to some of the setpieces in the level was really creative and I really wish more creators were willing to do this. However, the song confuses me so much. Everyone behind this project knows damn well that the GD community is made up of people who listen to bass music and video game OSTs, and have little respect for hip hop as an art form. The song feels more like a mockery of hip hop than a genuine attempt at it. The issue I have with this is that you're reducing a 50-year-old genre of music that's allowed people in marginalized communities to talk about their real experiences into a cheap novelty. The subject matter, the delivery (especially the way EVW pronounces "brotha"), even the title rubs me the wrong way. The beat is also really overproduced, but I guess that's expected when you tell an EDM producer to make a hip hop beat. The vinyl scratches and drums are kinda cool but besides that there's just too much going on. It's a fun playing experience if you don't think too hard about it, but this is hyperbolus and I can't help but give this anything more than a 5.

It's a great homage to the GD community, but I don't know if I'd say it's a great level. For a level over two and a half minutes long, it doesn't really feel like it's got a lot going on in terms of progression. Half of it is literally just going through the city, and there aren't any real meaningful changes in atmosphere. It just feels really samey. The second half at least is a little better, with the player actually going inside a couple buildings. The gameplay isn't all that remarkable, either; it's pretty basic throughout, and apart from that one part where you get launched up by the manhole covers, I wouldn't really say it does anything interesting. If it weren't for all the easter eggs in the deco, it'd be a rather boring level to actually play.

I do need to give the references/easter eggs a proper mention in this review, as they're pretty much the only real redeeming quality this level has. It's cool being able to look at the level and pretty much always be able to see a reference to something or someone important to the GD community, and it makes the long, boring first half a little more bearable; for that, I'll give it a higher visuals rating than I otherwise would. It kinda gives the impression, though, that this level was meant more to be watched than to be played.

This might honestly be the worst song I've ever heard in a GD level, and it's not even funny. The decoration and gameplay in GD GANGSTER RAP are fine, but any positives I might have with this level are overshadowed by just how horrible this song is; it's so bad it legitimately hurt my brain. The best verse I've heard was Colon's, but it's mid at best. The chorus is straight-up annoying and uninteresting, and I truly hope it dies out and doesn't become influential in the community. The beat is generic, and BoomKitty's verse is so bad. This is what white people think hip-hop is, and it almost feels ironic, especially with the name "gangster." I can't even take this song as a joke because joke songs are supposed to be funny, which this song isn't. If i wanted to hear a good joke song I'd listen to Yuno Miles (who is the greatest artist of all time (objectively)).

I know I haven't talked much about the gameplay or decoration at this level, but I can't focus on it when the song is so atrocious. Genuinely, BoomKitty should've just asked Yuno Miles to write and produce a song for this level, cause it would be infinitely better and funnier than whatever BoomKitty cooked here. I would give this level a zero, but honestly, this level has sorta inspired me to create a GD level again using a good rap song (mainly out of spite), so I'll give it a one, especially since I was so demotivated to even open GD before this level came out.

Somehow I one-attempted this one. It's decently fun, and pretty goofy! Complements the silly song pretty well. I can safely say that I enjoyed it :)

A level I made a part in! E to the V to the Dub that's me!

I kind of feel like the general response to this level in Hyperbolus is that the level reeks of corporatism, soullessness, and possible racial insensitivity. I am in no place to speak about the latter, but as for the others, all I can say is you take my word for it that the building process for this level was very casual, friendly, and probably the furthest from streamlined corporate workflows. It was a lot of creators (as well as BoomKitty) tossing around funny ideas and memes to make a level endearing to the GD community. I feel like a lot of reviewers here might be mixing up an "appeal to kids in the GD community" as "content slop pandering" but there is definitely a difference here. This level was made with a real earnest effort to make people happy, to make the GD community happy. Whether you think the execution works or not is your prerogative of course.

Personally, I think the level is goofy fun. It isn't the best level out there and probably on the weaker end of Arclia collabs. I was surprised it got mythic and event, they kept us in the dark about that until the level came out. I do feel like both of those are overkill but it is what it is I suppose. Very proud of the team with this one, was a great experience getting to know lots of awesome creators.

I don’t know if it’s possible to top this, pack it up guys (I’m not joking btw)