Rating Curve

(written on 6/21/24)

Out of all the levels that were released in 2023, Fake A Moment is definitely one of my favorites. It's also one of the most enjoyable extreme demons I have ever beaten. I originally had no plans to beat this, but I thought it would be funny to just grind it out. It took me less than two days to learn and beat this level, and while there are some inconsistent spots in this level, it was so much fun to figure out all of the silly ways it tricks the player. I find it so impressive that LunarSimg made this entire level, the song, and verified it all by himself. That makes this the hardest "fully solo" level by far, and I wish more people recognized it for that. Despite Lunar having not touched GD for many years, he did not lose any of his skill in creating or playing. This level feels very much like it was made right after 2.1 released, while also using many design tropes from 1.9 and before. This gives the level a very unique look that I, personally, find a lot more appealing than most people do. My favorite part visually is probably the 4x speed cube at 86% because it executes this unique style very well. I would probably place this level at Insane tier on the NLW spreadsheet. It ended up being way harder than I expected because Floofle told me it was a very low-end extreme (shoutout to him for helping me learn the level by the way)! If you use a video for reference on how to learn the parts, it isn't too hard to figure out all the fakes. I would definitely recommend this level to anyone who enjoys memory levels, especially if you have beaten either Fake A Doom or Fake A Might. I haven't actually beaten either of these, but I plan on doing so in the future. I really hope this level gets rated someday, as I think it should be way more appreciated than it is.

(written on 1/29/25)

Sky by QuazeryIceCube is an XL memory-focused Hard Demon that truly feels like a Geometry Dash level at its core. Throughout all four parts, so many optional routes are given, making the level feel like an expansive world designed for the player to explore. The level uses the full potential of a fantastic song, Darling Sky by Cacola, with every part perfectly matching its energy. A part I would like to highlight is the robot section at the drop, which is around halfway through. It’s such a huge contrast from the ball part that precedes it, with the claustrophobic eight-block-tall screen switching to free mode, allowing the player to move freely around the environment. The bright visuals here make this a great climax, and it gives me an overwhelming feeling of joy to play. While the decoration stays consistent throughout the entire part, the gameplay is constantly throwing new ideas into the mix, which keeps it interesting at all times. Something I really love about this part, which applies to the whole level, is that no details feel unnecessary. Each part brings enough to the table to immerse the player, while not going beyond what is needed. Sky closes with a soothing free-fly part that gradually darkens as the song slowly fades out. The player has to avoid the stars that revolve around the moon at the center, making this a unique playing experience. I do wish that the stars were not pulsing to the song though, as it makes their hitboxes very ambiguous, and giving them a more defined size would make this ending more fair. With this small flaw being the only real complaint I have, I hope to see this level receive an Epic rating in the near future.

(written on 7/7/24)

AMELANCHIER is hhxa23’s first level of 2.2, and it really did not disappoint. I first discovered hhxa23’s works about 2 years ago, when a friend showed me his unrated level “seismic”. While that level was weakly executed, I saw a ton of potential in his creating style. It seems that I was right to have this thought, as AMELANCHIER is a masterfully executed five minute level that takes you on a journey through many unknown factory environments. While a level with this theme sounds like it would be unsettling, the song, Adrift by Cursedsnake, gives the whole experience a very soothing feel. The gameplay is also super well made, and is very relaxing to play. This vibe carries on until around the halfway point, where the level picks up and becomes much more chaotic, with tons of debris flying across the screen. I love the UFO part here with all of the road signs scattered around the screen in particular, as it makes for a great tonal shift while still retaining the style of the previous sections. The level eventually winds down and ends with everything fading away. Due to its length and overall learny nature, I would probably say that this is a low-end Insane Demon. The level also contains a complex coin route that requires you to explore many different areas to destroy assorted fuse boxes. It was a really fun experience finding all of these spots, and I recommend doing so if you have the patience. Overall, AMELANCHIER is a level with fantastic progression, and I would honestly say it’s one of my favorites to release in 2.2 so far. I think this level deserves a Legendary Insane Demon rating. I hope to see hhxa23 soon receive the recognition he deserves for this masterpiece!

(written on 7/4/24)

I first saw Big Bass Bounce about two weeks ago, and I was massively intrigued by its overall creativity and the unpredictable nature of every part. I hadn’t heard of SM69animations until seeing this level, so I was very impressed by its stylistic versatility. While Big Bass Bounce starts off with some basic design parts, it starts to incorporate many different styles as the level goes on. Each section integrates many fishing-related ideas, tying each of them together in a way. The level also contains a fishing minigame, which appears around halfway in, and then returns at the very end. Switching from normal Geometry Dash gameplay to a minigame in the middle of the level is a hilarious concept, and it makes the level a lot more memorable. While I have a lot of praise for Big Bass Bounce’s decoration, I think its gameplay unfortunately drags it down a decent amount. There are many unfair timings randomly scattered around the level, and many sections can be quite inconsistent. I feel that having more straightforward gameplay would’ve been very beneficial for this level. Nonetheless, I hope to see the level soon receive a Featured Insane Demon rating, and I am looking forward to seeing more creations from SM69animations in the future!