Rating Curve

Really cool Patapon-inspired level that's never quite gotten out from underneath the bus. Lots of really cool backgrounds here, especially the ones at 24% which alternate alongside the song. It turns from a deep blue to an almost pinkish purple as it progresses and grows more intense, and while it's not exactly gradual or anything the change feels very seamless and natural. Gameplay is a bit unintuitive, and apparently worse with the coins, but I didn't really have any major issues with it - just worth noting regardless. Would definitely recommend giving this a look, could certainly use more attention.

Written in February 2025, taken from YouTube description:

Subwoofer’s first demon, and definitely a bit of a grower from my experience. I hardly cared about this way back when I first beat it, but over time it’s grown into one of my favorites of his. Compared to his later demons it’s somewhat of a black sheep, but I think that adds to the charm. Even back then Subwoofer has always had very clear and effective visions and ideas for his levels.

Written in January 2025, taken from YouTube description:

It’s definitely aged a bit, and sometimes the colors and textures kind of blend together, but you can’t really beat such strong commitment to the theme. All the inhabitants, especially the villain with his immediate introduction as a petty jackass and his subsequent reappearances and boss battle, really do wonders to make the level’s world feel truly lived in. I totally forgot to grab the coin he stole and then I felt bad about it, which is a serious feat in worldbuilding for a GD level from seven years ago. All in all I really don’t know how this one continues to be so unknown. Castle Dedede, Pl4sma’s other demon, has enjoyed a small resurgence after a now-defunct stint on the HDL, but nobody really talks about Fiesta. Even if it stays a bit niche due to its age, I think it deserves some more eyes on it.

If I may toot my own horn for a bit, I’m still really proud of this. Twig & Cabaret definitely carried me here, but still. Perhaps the only one of my projects that feels like it turned out exactly as I wanted it (bar the placeholder title, I suppose).

Sure, it's stellar, but its reputation as somewhat of a sacred cow nowadays kind of irks me. Really don't like how "objective" discussion on it tends to feel a decade down the line.