Such a hard level to review man. I. LOVE. This atmosphere. It’s so bizarre and ominous, but really minimalistic in its approach at the same time. I really like the tiny details that pull this level together. All things I’ll cover in due time, but not right this second… because first I have to talk about this god-forsaken gameplay.

Good. Lord. Considering that heatherhayes has made some real bangers in the past, I must say I am truly disheartened to see the gameplay in this level blundered so hard. The biggest flaw is the fact that there are just no real spikes in this level. Tiny squares act as the hazards in this level, and they are overwhelmingly frustrating to deal with, because it’s so hard to differentiate between platform and obstacle. Some of the jumps are so hard to judge because the things you’re avoiding don’t accurately reflect a distance you’re used to making. It’s a task that seems easy, and maybe I’m just not built for this style of gameplay, but if you ask me, it’s way harder than it needs to be. And that’s not where my frustration ends with togetherness, because after the already finicky minicube at the start, this level has the nerve to throw you into a floor-to-ceiling spider section with very little reaction time between clicks. I’ll be the first to admit that I did not realize this level had a NONG song on my first playthrough, so having that click-sync definitely would have helped, but just… why. This is NOT a good gimmick. Please don’t do this, it’s bad.

Anyway, that’s where my complaints end pretty much because this atmosphere is absolutely fantastic. I love how innocent and childlike it seems on the surface, but how it also distorts itself over time, really selling that liminal vibe. It’s the kind of imagery you would expect to see in early childhood, with the little stick people and carnival attractions and neon colors, but there are little elements in there that seem to tear the level apart at the seams. Notably, the little couple seen at the start of the level. They’re cute, right? Well, yeah. It’s a very cute theme, very cute level. And as time goes on, you’ll see the little people at the start try on some different outfits. First some new hairstyles. Then a little tuxedo and long hair. Then a nice hat and some… facial hair? Then… missing limbs? Different sizes? Multiple heads? It’s so abstract and uncomfortable, despite just being a couple of little stick people. It’s ultimately a little thing, but so interesting in how it’s executed and I really like how weird it feels. I should also note that these changes apply to the little carnival games too, but I think the lack of human character does lessen the effect in that regard. Still a neat touch though.

It’s such a shame that the gameplay absolutely murders the experience of this level, because the minimalism is really powerful in the atmospheric essence of this level. But sadly, it’s so hard to appreciate those little details because of how deeply infuriating the intricate gameplay. Real talk, this level would have greatly benefitted from having no spikes (blocks), only using ground tiles for the gameplay. Think False Horizon as an example. Otherwise, though… this level just bothers me. But, I still have to appreciate the ending of this level, since I think it does conclude nicely. Instead of an intricate, timing based section, the final stretch is just a slow flight through the city, acting as a backdrop to the ferris wheel that serves as your “obstacle” here. It isn’t a difficult part, just requiring a little focus and flight control to get through. I think it does make the ending of this level all the more special, because it’s a gorgeous conclusion to an otherwise deep and uncomfortable experience. Still a 5 overall, as I quite like the concept and feel of the level. If only the gameplay were a little better, I could have seen this much higher.