This is a pretty cool level. It looks pretty simple, but simplicity can be effective. I didn't actually notice the way Yottabye was using the level background at first, but now that I'm aware, I think it looks that much cooler. I suppose it's because you're used to the background being some distant image with a parallax effect, so you don't recognize it when it doesn't move relative to the level.

mind-boggling effects

The visual sync and bizarre theming are obviously great, I don't think I need to say much about those, nor much more about the subtler camera usage beyond "it's nice", but I do want to call particular attention to the background usage. The background is so often covered up, replaced, or foregone completely and turned black. It's a background, after all, not the focus, being ignored is the point. But that's exactly what makes its manipulation so interesting. You never stop to ask and think "what is this capable of?" or "how do I use this?" so whenever it does even some rather simple actions like it does here, it really leaves an impact. See also: Every End

I just don't get why the memory ball has to be there.

Simple and clever. This one takes a pretty standard approach to its level design, but still stands out for using masking effects in ways that haven’t really been considered before. A lot of the new pixel-based backgrounds 2.2 gave us have grown a reputation of being over-elaborate and unusable, and rightfully so, it is then a breath of fresh air to see these designs used for something serving a much better role and focus; strips of paintings that take up the full attention. The first part takes a very self evident example of this concept, there’s not much to look at except for what seems to be a large structure of metal plates, giving a very basic idea of the rough environment. The level follows up opening itself as a massive scrapyard, blocks are out of order and are smeared over by something I can only describe as some kinda graffiti, parts are constantly puzzling itself out in the mess and it keeps things fun to explore. Perhaps it’s all still a bit too improvised and standard for my liking, but there’s a neat foundation behind this little experiment