Junior Member
as i've broadened my horizons these past few years and learned to appreciate other artforms outside of just geometry dash, a quality i've come to value a lot in levels is that they play to gd's strengths. after the rise of creators like culuc and bli around 2023, we've seen hundreds of "realistic" levels that willingly discard everything that makes gd special in service of an aesthetic outdone by paintings, photographs, and movies from over a century ago.
mimosa is vast in its imagination yet still contained within the restraints of the gd editor; no detail is ever too complex to where it can't be deconstructed into its individual objects, all clearly built from the same building blocks used by the many great creators who have come before. it carries that tradition forward with a distinctly unique style that feels anything but derivative, despite its deep roots. mimosa feels truly alive in a way few other levels are able to capture, because 64x hasn't merely replicated reality—he's created his own.
you hear a girl singing in the darkness. her voice is beautiful, though she speaks a foreign language you don't understand. looking around, you realize it's not just her words that feel foreign—everything around you has been engulfed in darkness. your only anchor is the sound of her voice, darting between your ears like a distant radio signal. something so surreal should be terrifying, but there's nothing to be afraid of here.
as your eyes adjust, you notice a faint candlelight in the distance. as you approach it, the singing sharpens—she's right in front of you now, her silhouette barely visible. her hand is outstretched towards you, beckoning you to join her. there's no need to hesitate. you take her hand, and suddenly the darkness comes alive. the two of you begin to dance, your steps perfectly synced to the pulse of the music. the candles blow out one by one as you dance around, but it doesn't matter. streaks of color ignite where your hands meet. the darkness, once oppressive, is now your canvas.
the silence between notes, the pause between heartbeats, the darkness between lights; a celebration of everything unseen.
the hypnotic, rotating overlays; the chilling atmosphere; the simplistic yet elegant structures; so much about this level is truly stunning. it's honestly quite incredible how palpable an atmosphere this level creates despite its simplicity. the first parts feel so cold and desolate which makes for such an incredible payoff when this atmosphere is subverted at the climax, which is one of the most gorgeous parts i've seen in any level. and the flowers sprouting at the end is just the cherry on top. but despite the massive tonal shift, the level maintains its elegance throughout. it feels very hopeful in that regard, as it shows there's beauty to be found even in the most desolate of environments. it's some of the best progression i've seen in any level.
so it's a shame the playing experience brings it down a bit. the random dual ship is really finnicky for no good reason, and the climax is so bright it's basically a memory part. i'm normally not a fan of click sync gameplay, but i think it would've fit this part well by de-emphasizing the gameplay and putting all the focus on the visual spectacle; i've done this in my own levels to great effect.
realistically i should probably dock more points for the gameplay, but i just can't bring myself to do that in my heart of hearts given how much i adore this level
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sorry about this gang