I don't think there's another level where public sentiment has switched and changed so violently. When "WhyMe" was first released in July 2021, it was practically lauded as a masterpiece by pretty much everyone. It was actually originally featured, but people were so frustrated that it was robbed of an Epic that it ultimately got promoted to an Epic anyways. Then, it was added to the Portal Gauntlet in March 2024 and everybody started to hated it. It hadn't even been 3 years since it was released to the public and people were already turning against it.

I think I understand the hate for it being in a Gauntlet. It's an extremely long and slow story-based level where the emphasis isn't on creating stimulating gameplay and is more so on the story TMNGaming is trying to convey. It's a terrible level for a Gauntlet, but I think as a stand-alone narrative work, it's a fascinating glimpse into a tortured artist's broken psyche. It's overly pessimistic and even incredibly blunt with what it tries to communicate to the player, but it's an interesting vent level that truly really embodies the feeling of frustration and anguish. It's an emotionally raw piece and I can kind of respect it for not placing a filter or diluting itself. It's a level that some people might even relate to (reading comments from 3 years ago on videos of "WhyMe" really demonstrates why I was so blindsided by the violent change in its perception, it was so loved upon its release but it seems the community that formerly loved it seems to despite it for its very existence).

I think "WhyMe" is a level that really unmasks the current state of the GD community. Sure, it's not a good level for a Gauntlet and its placement in a Gauntlet really diminishes its image in the eyes of players (imagine if a great stand-alone work like "SAVE AS" was placed in a Gauntlet and the outrage that it would cause), but most of the hatred and vitriol its placement in a Gauntlet has inspired seems to be overly extreme or unwarranted. It seems just a little hypocritical that a community that literally gave it a "Best Story" award at the GD 2021 awards (with it winning 42.8% of the vote) now so fervently dislikes it for its very existence.

Personally, I find the existence of "WhyMe" to be necessary. Not many other levels out there truly capture an artist or a creator's frustration. And despite how melodramatic it comes off at some points, I think more honest and emotionally raw levels like "WhyMe" should be made. It's an interesting piece of art that I still think is very unique. In 2021, there wasn't really any other levels like "WhyMe" so it understandably blew people away. But even in 2025, there isn't really another level that matches "WhyMe". It's a pure anomaly in its creation and existence.