SM63 LDC Topic

[Supershroom]

If anything, it would only fit at places where it doesn't hinder the layering. Or it could be a horizontal interconnection between vertical rows of other background tiles. Preferably two horizontal tiles and the vertical rows are each three tiles away from each other. And randomly one horizontal group or two, at random heights ... that's what I would probably do. (Only one wire tile between vertical rows would look a little shabby)

[Jumbo101]

Well I'll try and think of something :p

EDIT: To be honest, I think I'll keep the scenery guys. Sorry but I just think it looks good.

[MessengerOfDreams]

Might try my own entrant. Thinking about a 40x100 piece where each room is the other upside-down. But then there's time.

might make it anyway

and check out Jumbo's

[Jumbo101]

Just to let you guys know. I'm near completion on my level.
So there will be a few things for me to do.

[MessengerOfDreams]

I like the version I played. I agree that it could use more wow factor but the room at the end was really cool with a clever usage of stars. I think your simplicity could work for you. I would make sure the stars provide more of a challenge- when you have one at the beginning you can be invisible for a perpetual amount of time, giving you no consequences for not being fast enough or careful enough, and a green platform that lasts forever also makes it too easy. My advice for a challenge is to make the stars and platforms finite, to give a timed challenge.

As far as graphics, I actually think the muted tones and the black and white scheme. The graphics are predominantly winter, the time of death, but the lack of snow is really great as well because it lets the tile scheme sing. I'd say that maybe the room that's all bright and stuff throws me the ♥♥♥♥ off- it no longer feels like a castle of death. I'd also say that your decoration can use some more path clarification- I had trouble seeing some doors and enemies.

I'd give this a 16.5-17 as it is right now, up a point if you fixed the bugs. Nice simple level and usage of space. I'll find you a good alt music.

[MessengerOfDreams]

Jumbo, got some ♥♥♥♥♥' alt music from the lab of my favorite movie composers!

Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross- The Way He Looks At Me

if I'm not allowed to give you direct music let it be known I highly yet casually recommend Aphelion by Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross as a backup choice.

Edit: Also, on second thought, no way am I making any serious level in three days

♥♥♥♥ this ♥♥♥♥ I'm out

Edit again: ♥♥♥♥ only now saw the new version- love the boo spouts

[Jumbo101]

Thanks man. But I already got some music. So no worries.
And yes, like I said on my last comment. I will need to improve
a few things. Don't worry.

[Supershroom]

You could still take a look at it (if you didn't already) and if it pleases you, you can also offer both tracks. I estimate them as approximately par. They're both nice and creepy.

And if you didn't know, alternate musics are one of MoD's biggest excellences.

he's gonna find alt musics for all of us, yeah

EDIT: About the scenery. Of course you should mainly stick to your style. But still, don't you think a pipe being overdrawn with wire mesh just doesn't look good?

EDIT2: Though I'm kind of being a parrot with this, I just summarize the remaining steps on the road to a Top Tier level for you as a checklist. There's enough time left.

Spoiler: show

making the first paths more interesting than just going forward
removing / replacing the wire at places where it's annoying
TIMED power caps
making doors more visible by arrows or such
recolouring the penguin room, let the flames shoot quickly through the room so it doesn't look like floating items

[Jumbo101]

I was going to do that so don't worry. But I'll just stick to one music track for my level.

[Supershroom]

Shroom looks at the newest version.

Graphics are phenomenal now, I would give a 4.75 or a perfect 5. Music and the "boo rocks" at the end should also deliver bonuses for Other.

About Gameplay, what I'd really love to see would be a cool boss room at the place where the flames are. Right now, this segment is just very easy to pass, but tedious to wait for the slow flames, and the Invincibility cap at the end undoes every damage. It would be an improvement to switch the order of the caps, getting invisibility in the boss room and getting invincibility afterwards.