Rating Curve

For as long as I have played this game, I have NEVER liked boss fights. I feel this is a pretty common opinion to have, but I think I can still say with confidence that this level is the absolute epitome of why I feel this way. The gameplay is sincerely just so poorly made. It would be a god damn easy demon if it actually functioned correctly.

For the first part of the boss fight, the indicators for where to go and what do are pretty difficult to react to sometimes and lots of the inputs you DO actually have to do feel generally awkward. At the very least, it is possible to form a semi-consistent strategy for the part, which makes it at least tolerable when going for a completion. The same CANNOT be said for the second part of the boss fight, where most of the indicators actually just straight up lie to you. It would be at least somewhat better if you consistently had to click earlier or later than the indicators, but the timing differs for each one, so you genuinely just have to learn what to actually do for each indicator, which is AWFUL design when not indicated correctly as is what has happened here. And even then, sometimes, it's just incredibly hard to telegraph when to click, hold or release to avoid a laser beam and you'll die for what feels like no reason at all. It just feels so random. The robot part right before the second part of the boss fight has the same issues, but to a lesser extent. At least you can get consistent with that part.

Thankfully, it's not all bad. The ship and wave sections in between the first part of the boss and the robot are genuinely decent, and the overall decoration is actually pretty good and thematic. Unfortunately, it doesn't excuse how annoying, poorly executed and unfair most of the gameplay is. What a shame that the doom gauntlet ends with this.

Deception Dive. Oh boy.

Let me not beat around the bush here, this is in contention for being my least favorite level in the whole damn game. First of all, most obviously, the overall difficulty balancing of the level is ABYSMAL. There's something to be said about balancing where the difficulty of the level progresses as you get further, but this simply takes that idea WAY too far. The first quarter of the level is quite literally unqualified to be a demon at all. It's 9 star gameplay at the absolute hardest. Then, out of nowhere, you get hit with platnuu's ship, which isn't very difficult for me since I'm incredibly ship carried but will be a HUGE chokepoint for most players. Then the level goes back to being easy again, around a medium demon difficulty, up until about 70 percent or so. Out of nowhere, it turns into a proper extreme as soon as you clear Mazl's part. You play an extreme demon for about 30 percent, and then it's over. hooray!

Now, you may be thinking - balancing aside, is the gameplay at least good in isolation? The answer is a resounding NO. The gameplay is equivalent to god damn sleep medication until you get to the drop. Once you arrive at the drop, in all fairness, you get gameplay that is actually pretty fun for a while. But then the 70 difficulty spike happens, and the fun is over. You are thrust into perhaps some of the WORST extreme demon gameplay I've ever had the misfortune of playing. It is sincerely so unfun and annoying, I can't stand it. It just sucks.

What about the deco Dan? Is it at least pretty to look at? NOPE! It is a 5/10 nothing burger at best and a 2/10 eyesore at worst.

DO NOT PLAY THIS. IT IS BAD.