Rating Curve

Features a variety of impressive color schemes and simple designs/backgrounds that highlight incredible details like the vivid cloud background and genius effect of the birds folding into fish. Backed up by a lovely song, this level uses little to make the most of its crescendos and decrescendos to cradle you gently throughout.

Feels like home

Not only is this level insanely pretty with an amazing song (in my favorite key of Bmaj also!!) but its so BRIGHT!! IT'S SO BRIGHT AND IT DOESN'T WANNA BACK DOWN AND IT MAKES IT SO FULL OF LIFE!!!!!!

At risk of sounding dim, this level reeks of a sort of insanity that I adore. The largely lightly shaded and monochromatic background serves as the perfect backdrop for colorful gimmicks and bizarre effects. Like a car crash, but instead of into something solid, perhaps into an infinitely stretchy material, plunging further and further into it with no sign of tearing.

If not for this level, I would question the success one could even have within GD with such directly self-referential work. But to see all these little scraps of his past work blended so well into this spellbinding syrup of ideas really makes this level feel like a dazed trip into the recesses of Flash's mind. The song perfectly compliments this atmosphere, depicting confusion verging on helpless sadness in a sorrow that comes out almost sweet.

Every part in this level is so well thought out and gorgeous, with its poor optimization making it feel as though love is brimming out from its seams. But I struggle to muster meaningful words for each part, so I must note the perfection that is the last section, an open fly in a lush landscape slowly descending into a gentle and peaceful night. It tugs on my heartstrings with the gentle affection of a child wanting attention, looking up to you with beaming eyes.

Core is such a seldom well-executed style that even just the concept of a level's core design getting denser as it continues ends up being as unique as good core itself. Absolute masterpiece of the style and for all the clickbaiting made of it, the last stretch is intensely beautiful, with each pretty little stroke of detail contributing to a glorious and dense landscape of color and design.

Of course on my profile the vast majority of my ratings are 10s and I have many many favorite levels, but this one is truly special. Beyond inspiring to see such honesty from a creator, and for it to be channeled in such a well-done buildup and explosive climax makes for the best emotional release I've ever seen in a level. For a long time, I thought I should aim to make something like this, and while my focus isn't quite there anymore, I would love to make something this impactful on someone.

An unfortunately overlooked entry to the NCS contest that holds a candle to the best. Simple yet bold design style complimented by explosive rainbow effects that create an experience that feels almost proud to be within a GD level as opposed to anywhere else. Levels don't often hit like how this one does anymore, and I hope to see more levels like this where its understood you can be bold with relatively little.

Immensely beautiful level taking full advantage of its two paths to represent natural beauty and what happens to it when deprived of care within its human cradle. So effective in such a short duration.