Rating Curve

Nerfed ver. of Delete File by euuiiii

Revelations 13:2-8

Even with the joke endscreen this still remains probably the best level of this genre I have ever seen

It has to be seen to be believed.

SimilarAMZ is a woefully underrated creator active during early 2.1, with most of their work being obscured by the sands of time other than their most popular: Game Time. While I do still really like Game Time for its radically effective integration of Flash games into Geometry Dash (by simply having all of them have physics relatively similar to GD's own), I personally still find it the weakest of SimilarAMZ's most recognised levels mainly due to it being a compilation of snapshots into other, full-length games that should be experienced on their own.

SimilarAMZ’s most polished, and what I consider his main body of work are mostly minigames, and most of the others are either relatively underdeveloped or inconsistent in quality. Hence, leaving only two levels truly core to Geometry Dash’s gameplay: ABLAZE and Cyber Planet. ABLAZE is a fantastic level. It is, frankly, incoherent, but it brandishes its own brand of incoherency that no other level I’ve seen has matched thus far. ABLAZE is not the sort of level that roams free or unfurls into utter chaos; it’s almost theatrical in nature in the way it presents itself and the gameplay having this really stunning introductory sequence followed by a long, drawn out title card, ending in a manic and unrelenting climax both in visuals and the extremely challenging and rather unintuitive gameplay. It also has a nice overarching colour progression from cold to warm to rainbow vomit. For a long time, this was the only level of theirs that I knew. I was content with this level; I thought this would be their peak for that span of time.

Cyber Planet is much more controlled and methodical in its environment, but one can immediately point out the similarities in structuring to ABLAZE. SimilarAMZ’s structuring is extremely grounded with little to no unbounded structures excluding sawblades and the like. Admittedly doesn’t do much in ABLAZE but it does strengthen a level with a name like “Cyber Planet”. It’s in the name. It’s a planet that’s highly technologically advanced — already a pretty interesting theme that arose in this time period of early 2.1 before the oversaturation of “”realism”” art in GD. Here already very strong foundations have been built for any sort of progression.

Even then it’s hard to really overstate the iron grip this level has on its vision for the majority of its runtime, and speaking of, I’d say Cyber Planet has the single greatest beginning section in the entirety of Geometry Dash. The first and sole thing you hear are these acid synths in The Kriotube cut through the darkness of the setting so cleanly they need no additional help; in fact this void is a vessel for them to reverberate in your skull like a frying pan over your head. And then it erupts triumphantly, defiantly, into a burst of colour. The monochrome palette blares deafening; nearly incomprehensible, patterns fly  Though it eventually fades there’s this sense of escalation pervading the atmosphere of the level throughout but composure through its maintaining of the mono-colour palette. The final act is emblematic of the first with light flying around again, only now we see a city in the backdrop that nearly bursts with energy, with an equally piercing navy blue that colours the entire screen.

I see this level as an abstract depiction of a birth, or perhaps some sort of rebirth, of a sort. Face-value-wise, it’s about the birth of life, inferring further the hypnotic visuals are nearly symbolic of induction into some sort of cult. It’s climactic, and even over the top at some points that really sells the power that flows through this world and into the flourishing society we see by the end of the level… but it all feels so distant: we never actually see any aliens. It remains impersonal and still cold before the reset back to the complete minimalism at the end that reflects the beginning of the level. Even that, eventually fades into white nothing.

As for my complaints: the extent of the minimalism is basically my only nitpick here, maybe making stuff more alive would’ve worked a tad better. And there’s also one annoying spider input that I don’t like.

Yeah I don’t know what to say; it’s just surreal and almost a fluke that this level was ever conceived this early into the update. Cannot praise this enough

11.0

Under the guise of looking somewhat playable, lezicuv is anything but. Incredulous icon paths and extremely deceiving gaps are scattered across every nook and cranny, each with the equivalent impact on your psyche like a bomb. It's choice of predominant colour -- white is a biting contrast in the designs, really eccentuating their rigidity and unfeelingness. It's a strange setting; this tonal juxtaposition primes an uncomfortable dissonance in you as you play. Some primal fear is uncovered, like that of a snake brandishing it's stripes at a potential threat

Seemingly built to torment

Every part is incredible in its own unique way

10.0

Unfathomably clean presentation in 2.0 no less

Very little to criticise here. Usually not a fan of hazy visuals but I think they're generally done well here. Not even the best part of this level though, that goes to how well the end is considering there is this enormous buildup across the entire level that only releases at the last 10%. Very risky but huge payoff

Manic