Rating Curve

Now THIS is good memory gameplay. It doesn't hide anything, it's just about figuring out the way it needs to be done. Nothing is deceptive about it but it's still hard. Awesome.

My relationship to this level is very complicated. It’s been out for about a year now, and looking back, I’m overall happy with how it turned out, but I also very much believe it wasn’t the best I could have made it.

In terms of gameplay, I’m more or less completely satisfied. There are some things here and there I might change but all around I think this is the best gameplay I’ve ever made. I found every way I could to make this gimmick work well while still being bearable to play, and I think even beyond that I didn’t rely on it so much that it was the ONLY interesting thing about the gameplay. I didn’t want this level to be a one-trick pony, and I think I succeeded at that. My favorite part in that respect is probably the first ball, with the instant slopes. That added so much depth to the part and made it interesting well beyond the gimmick.

What I’m much less satisfied with is the decoration and theming. I built this level slowly over several years, and I think it really shows with just how outdated some parts look. My creating skill and style changed several times over the course of my time building this, and so it ended up being somewhat hard to make it all coherent. And that’s not even addressing the elephant in the room which is the last few parts. They look unfinished because they are. I did not have it in me to do more decoration on them, and no one wanted to take up the mantle for me, so I just released it. I don’t really regret that decision, because at least the level is out, but I can recognize it as a major shortcoming.

I’m proud of this level. I wouldn’t change any of the gameplay, and even though the decoration is below what I expect of myself, I can’t say I’m unhappy with the best decorated parts (the shadow lighthouse part, the tube ship, the fade-out effects, etc). I think it deserves an 8. Hopefully one day I can make a level that I truly think is one of my favorites.

It took me a while but I really came around on this level.

I used to not like this level as much, but I’ve come to appreciate the interesting mix of strict representationalism and more abstract imagery. Devin usually errs toward the former, so I can appreciate the more liberal use of the latter in making this level stand out.

I think this has my favorite use of 2.2 features in effects so far. It isn’t intrusive but it’s still obvious that it would have been impossible in 2.1 (or at least extremely arduous). Plus it’s got some great line designs and that classic Flash color palette. Phenomenal work.