Rating Curve

I really like this level! I think this was my favorite level for the Event Levels before levels started coming out after Button Masher. It's got a silly theme with some really fun gameplay, and it has ducks, which is a nice bonus. Duckstep does a lot of little things that add up to be a great experience, like using jump orbs to spell quack, using spider pads in a way I hadn't seen, and having small details that show a good effort was made, and I think it paid off! I don't have many gripes with Duckstep, apart from the gameplay being a bit standard at times and not too interesting, but that's a pretty minor complaint all things considered. Also I like the ducks. Who doesn't like ducks?

This was another event level I admittedly didn't remember much about before replaying it. I think Backstreet Boy really lives up to the hype, and in spite of some jank it's really cool and energetic level! The song and decoration create such a sleek atmosphere with some cool ideas like the rails you grind on with your head..? Not sure exactly what to call them but they're neat. I think the vertical spider isn't the most interesting visually with some pretty forgettable gameplay, and the last 20% feels a lot harder than the rest of the level (though that might be a skill issue on my end), but I think this is really strong level with a stellar theme and execution in spite of a couple problems.

Despite some weak and questionable decisions with it's gameplay at times, Cheat Codes soars in it's execution of it's apocalyptic theme and I really like the clean style of the level, and the way the easy demon creatures look. I expected parts like the sideways spider to be pretty annoying, but honestly it's not bad at all because of the simplicity of it. Vertical parts are very hard to nail so I'm not going to hold it against the level for keeping it simple there. I don't really like the first UFO and like it, some minor sections of the level have the problem of not making it clear what is and isn't an obstacle, but it's pretty sparse so it's easy to overlook. The buildup before the drop and the bossfight was very weak gameplay-wise, but nothing that actively felt poor in quality, just kind of there. I had fun revisiting Cheat Codes, and I'm glad I did because it's a lot better and cooler than I remember.

A nice simple level that uses Back on Track a motif in a tasteful and new way. I overall love the details in the earlier and middle parts, especially the miniature level foreground element. I do think the end clashes a bit too much with the other parts of the level, but it's not bad by any means. A really nice start to Event Levels!