Rating Curve

pretty conflicted on how to score this one. of course if you have eyes and have seen my profile picture you'll know this level really appeals to me specifically, but even beyond that it sits alongside aperture as one of very few levels in its style i actually like visually. most levels in this style i'll be dubbing "stylized realism" struggle to look half decent even in comparison to other levels, let alone in the context of art outside geometry dash, but i think the visual style is where eta carnis excels the most.

like most other levels in its style though, after talking about the visuals, there is always a but, and that but is always the playing experience. the gameplay is ostensibly 2* (perhaps 3* in today's climate) were it decorated differently, split between two 20-second cutscenes, and it really kills any tension the level tries to create. it makes the playing experience completely forgettable and rids this level of any staying power it might've had. of course, those who merely watched a showcase may argue otherwise, but in my mind watching a nexus upload is a far cry from experiencing it yourself.

i'm reminded of an ancient video by gd colon titled "What NOT to put in your custom level," and one of the things he lists is to avoid random auto parts. what colon failed to realize is that playing levels is a dated concept: we all just watch completions of it on youtube, and when watching a video every part may as well be auto.

quite decent as far as modern top 1s go but that is Not a high bar and i don't think a level should get undeserved credit simply because the levels that preceded it are so terrible. flamewall is a red/orange 1.9 hell-styled megacollab (wonder where i've heard of that before) with a song that is far too grandiose given it's attached to a decoration style that has been the status quo for top 1s since 2015. i do appreciate how this is the first top 1 to truly push its runtime, even if it ends up feeling very samey and forgettable throughout

i do agree with wless that there are a lot of worthless, uninteresting levels that clog up the featured tab. but the first step in subverting this is making an experience that's actually interesting, which in the radiator fails to accomplish. i can appreciate what wless is going for here, but his other levels do a much better job at being "a huge 'fuck you' to current creating standards" by being creative and unique while still working within the confines of what makes gd levels enjoyable