Looking at the demon list today, Shardscapes is one of the only level that i find truly captivating. The atmosphere in this level is unlike any other, to say that the music representation in this level is "on point" would be an understatement. I've seen a lot of critiques about the gameplay in this level, often judged too simple and even "lazy", i have poured well over 60,000 attempts in this level, and i can say with certainty that these comments are just a product of willful ignorance as it is some of the most fun and engaging gameplay I have ever played.

In my eyes, the long cutscene / fade in plays a big role in making Shardscapes what it is. When watching a showcase, most people dont really pay attention to it, but the fact that every single attempt sits you through 3 seconds of nothing, coupled with the first 20% being relatively easy, really turns this level into a true test of patience. The median attempt from 0 is about 15-20 seconds long, which is very unusual for a level that is only around a minute long. The predrop is very finicky, lots of small calibrated jumps that really make you feel like you're traversing somewhere you don't belong to. I adore the way orbs are scattered through the level, there are very few of them, and they're usually the hardest clicks of the level, making them so impactful. The 21 and 31% orbs are something ive always wanted to comment on, in both cases, they're preceded by some of the hardest inputs in the predrop, and some staircase like structuring acting as a sort of buildup. It's hard to say if this was intentional or not, but it never fails to make these orbs feel really ""powerful"". Once again, before the long transition between the predrop and the drop, you have 38%, which is also among the hardest inputs in the predrop, This section serves as the last obstacle before the drop, in my experience, it really built up the tension as the clicks before are fairly easy, and coupled with the song intensifying at that section, passing it genuinely makes you feel relieved.

Then comes the drop. This is the most fun gameplay i have ever played. I adore the way it flows, the way the balancing is handled, it always keeps you on edge. Its a repeating pattern of a hard click / section being thrown at you, then a few easier clicks building up to another absurdly difficult click / section, again and again. From 0, seeing yourself get further and further and passing each chokepoint is just surreal, it built up nerves that i've never felt for any other level. If you play this level, and intend on beating it, you should expect dying to 44, 48, 50 and 54 a LOT. I have a combined 253 deaths to these clicks alone from 0. Some might say that this sort of chokepoint gameplay is "bad" and "unenjoyable", but i think that it makes the experience so much more interesting. 55-66 is relatively easy, this is the part where, from 0, you build up nerves anticipating the 67 and 68 clicks. Two of some of the hardest clicks, back to back. Passing these gives you a good shot at beating the level, which in most cases, only meant more nerves. After that, its just a matter of note choking. 70-83 is pretty standard, however, the green orb triple click is definitely notable as it just goes so well with the song. And 84% is also noteworthy for being a really difficult timing. The last few clicks of this level constitutes one of the best ending to a level ever. The green orbs, previously few far and between, now present themselves as 3 brutal chokeable clicks, followed by what i consider to be the most ""powerful"" double click in the game. The sync is great, the song representation on point, the deco fades out, and you land on a set of spikes, its almost poetic, the entire level you avoid them at all cost, i don't think i really have to explain why this is an awesome ending to the level. The fadeout is pretty long, a callback to the intro of the level.

Overall, Shardscapes offered an experience unlike any other, not just in this game, but in any video game i've played. If you want a level to spend tens of thousands of attempts on, i can't recommend it enough. I do genuinely feel bad for people who were good enough to blow past everything that makes this level what it is. In my eyes, beating Shardscapes in a few days just ruins the experience. Each drop attempt doesnt feel as special, and getting to the last 1/3rd just isn't the huge deal that it would have been if you had been grinding for hours to get there once. I am glad that Shardscapes was the level i spent 2 years grinding,

Completion

Playlist, Containing my entire journey