Rating Curve

This level has always stood out to me for its outdated yet strangely alluring theming. The color palette is incredibly basic and doesn’t change anywhere throughout, but despite that manages to give the level this warm, gloomy feel. The whole setting just feels unapologetically lifeless, exactly like a real cave! But with all its elaborate structures and a pleasant song to listen to, playing this level will feel more like an exploration than a drag to sit through. Overall I cant act as if this level is better than im trying to like it for, but it'll have its special place in my heart.

For being a speedbuild this level manages to be of pretty high quality, my first experience with this level was quite strange but I think it's part of what made the level so memorable to me. It's one of the easiest demons on the servers, only held back by having some incredibly confusing paths for a level thats technically not memory based. The designs are also really weird, but I believe it accompanies the gp really well if anything, overall the whole level feels like a yendis level on steroids and I kinda adore it for that. It does lack the refinement and cohesiveness for me to regard it any higher, but I still think it's a unique and fun little level that deserves to be given a chance.

Fairly overhyped entry. I’ll acknowledge the standalone designs have a ton of detail and care put into them, it’s no wonder why it made such a massive name for itself during the contest, it’s a gorgeous looking level that doesn’t come short on its range of clever ideas and techniques. So why then is it so difficult for me to appreciate this level any further? Part of the issue is that I find the level progression to feel very uninspired, I can see some of these ideas making for an amazing aesthetic but ultimately it didnt quite hit for me due to how weirdly everything ties into the story the level tries to set up. It’s also the combination of mediocre poetry and constant vague intentions that makes it impossible for me to immerse in its storyline, it’s fake deep similar to these motivational quotes from YouTube shorts where all its flare tries to hide the lack of substance that’s really being said. I don’t mind a level keeping its philosophy simple if the creator wants to reflect on their own existential wonder, but what’s supposed to be so introspective about these bland impersonal phrases exactly? No matter how I put my mind around it, the visuals seem to be the only thing holding the level up. Which is fine, but with its theming appearing hollow, most my interest fades away with it.