Final 5 time. We are about to reveal the winner of WITBLO13. We're also one vote away from the winner of the peer vote. Two have 9 votes, two have 8. If we subtract the vote from Chaos Yoshi for Dragon Valley the lead is 9-8-8-8.
Anyways, here's the final 5 in order.
We start off with...
#5 Timpani and Blumiere: The Untold Story by SuperMICWritten by MessengerOfDreams
Ticket to Fame: A very, very narrow 2nd place in the 20th LDC (All Things Mario), falling behind Buffooner by just .6 points (only one judge’s quarter point would have made the difference.) Regardless, it is still the 8th Highest Scoring Level in LDC history, gaining 17.63 points.
Type: Story, Lake, Grass, Castle
Most Memorable Moment: The trial by fire in the very beginning of the first level as Blumiere transforms into Mario.
As time goes by, it becomes easier to incorporate stories into levels. However, it is still very difficult to make the level fun while still telling an amazing story. As a veteran of such designing, I tip my fedora to SuperMIC for creating one of the best story-based series of all time.
The Untold Story serves as a prequel to Super Paper Mario, focusing around the memorable romance within the center of the game. Romance is a very tricky subject to pull off in a SM63 level, and perhaps the only one who has ever pulled it off with the utmost success is in fact the man who designed this series.
The gameplay matches up the big talk, with awe-inspiring puzzles, tribute bosses, classic platforming and plenty of secrets around to keep one on their toes following the twists and turns of the story. Graphically, it is a master achievement, with some truly remarkable set pieces all throughout the series. And of course, the story itself is masterfully done, but you could expect no less from a guy who’s won a Runouw Votes or two for his writing.
The Untold Story has earned its way into the top 5 as one of the best examples of storytelling in a level. If you want to learn how to perfectly balance the two, this is who you want to learn from.
Prepare your torches.
#4- Dragon Valley - by Star kingWritten by: "♥♥♥♥" Volcove
Ticket to Fame: The widely acclaimed second level in his Super Mario Countdown series
Level Type: Exotic, City, Pure Platformer, Speedrun
Most Memorable Moment: Witnessing all the large-scale Chinese settlements
I was skeptical when I first went through this, despite all the hype, but I was pleasantly surprised by what it turned out to be. True to its name and description, it offers something rather unique, and probably stands at the best pure platformer of this year. The atmosphere is splendid, the structures are very authentic and original, and it plays very well on top of it all. Even the background theme reinforces both the theme and the speed involved. Although there are a few hiccups in the platforming in a few areas, it is easy to get back on track, and it makes great use of the turbo Fludd as well, something which few levels achieve. The multiple pathways and different, despite remaining linear at its essence, adds extra flavor to the experience overall, and it is definitely worth playing more than once.
(MoDNote: I want to add that, again, this was the debate winner with the top 3 being satisfied beforehand, and I don't recall the last independent level to ever garner such hype. This is definitely an all-star level.)
#3 Tearing Paper by MP3 AmplifierWritten by: Blackyoshi
Ticket to Fame: Gaining some hype before the release; won the duel against Volcove; can get found in several subforums on the site.
Level Type: Story-driven, Dream, City
Most Memorable Part: The flying cap challenge in China's Dream Pt1 when you fly through the city.
It's one of those very few level series you need to take your time while playing. Of course there are enough reasons to do so. Examples for this would be the awesome graphical work which deserves to get noticed. May it be some well thought out patterns, a whale watching you beneath your feet or simply the amount of decoration and colours overall. The story, one of the best I've read through a level series, fitted perfect with the dream like atmosphere you can simply feel while playing. If spending enough time into reading all those signs and trying to understand the whole scenes, one can feel a great variety of emotions while playing.
While the gameplay in the first level of the series could have been a bit better, the other three levels had nearly flawless and surprisingly creative platforming elements in common. It's been a great challenge to get past those obstacles and gave a quite satisfying feel once you've passed another transition. The smaller loading time issues could nearly get ignored most of the time because the whole experience was worth the waiting time. Also the music choice added to the unique feel this level series provides.
Well, this is it. This is the deciding moment. Either Volcove or I are going to win the best level of 2012. It's funny, his level was made in a duel against me, and mine beat out his for the 18th LDC. They're both considered our best work, and I'm glad to see them both up here as the top 2. So which one's going to win?
...god, running WITBLO12 is boring, yet incriminating.
#2 Into the Depths by VolkoveWritten by: MessengerOfDreams
#2 Into the Depths by Volcove
Ticket to Fame: Winning a much-hyped duel between himself and MessengerOfDreams, scoring over 18 points in the process and being lauded as the best work of a master class designer.
Type: Sewer, Pipe
Most Memorable Moment: The encounter with the first custom-made block entry.
Volcove has topped the tier list for over a year, with no one able to match him. He has been the pinnacle of the game for the longest time, hitting a revival after topping WITBLO10 when it was separated from the original WITBLOAT and scoring an accidental 1st Place in the 15th LDC. He hasn’t stopped since, scoring very high with LDC entrants he doesn’t even have to try very hard with. During his valiant efforts to complete his full house of medals by scoring a 5th place ribbon (which he did in the 19th LDC), people have desired to see Volcove once again at his A-Game.
And boy, did he deliver.
Into the Depths throws everything you know about Mario and SM63 out the window and starts anew. With an utterly original design scheme, Volcove introduces a whole new way of designing that can never be replicated. Typical Mario enemies are scattered lightly around unique block-based enemies, intricate Touhou-inspired bullet hellions, and many ingenious water puzzles laced together with finesse and marvelous technique, creating one of the most flawless levels ever created.
The boss in particular demands reverence. A three-tiered masterpiece, the Parasite Queen troubling the depths is a boss that has caught the LDing world off guard, combining excellent construction with dynamic showmanship and magnificent gameplay. It is a unique masterpiece that can never quite be replicated, its influence affecting levels from its inception even to this day.
We have always known Volcove was at the top of the tiers for a reason. We know he is capable of greatness, but with Into the Depths he has shown that he hasn’t mellowed out yet. ITD is a balls-to-the-wall, one-of-a-kind, impeccable masterpiece that feels like none before it yet still bears a style easily linked to the legend of its creator.
So, we know how it ends, don't we? I always find it awkward to announce my own victory, but I don't need to talk. Volkove knows exactly how to make me cry, apparently.
#1 Dark by MessengerOfDreamsWritten by: Volkove, damn you...
Ticket to Fame: The distant winner of the extremely competitive 18th LDC, theme being Freestyle
Level Type: Story, Dream, Darkness, Fortress, Bullet-heavy
Most Memorable Moment: Probably the final journey / finale
There's quite a lot of deja vu with this announcement, I must say. Where to begin with this?
I suppose the story is a good place to start. Such a style of level designing is usually viewed skeptically at best, and for good reason. However, this one proves not only to be the exception to the rule, but to go well beyond what anyone could have expected in an already heated contest. Without going into too much detail, it is powerful, heartfelt, philosophical and inspiration with its overall message. The storytelling itself is well paced and properly structured, scattered throughout the level at different intervals, yet never being intrusive or a burden. Meanwhile, the actual content is superbly crafted, expertly written and, most of all, actually believable (something most story levels fail to achieve). The chosen soundtrack further emphasizes this, imbuing further life with the right feel to resonate with one's undertakings.
The ending in particular is breathtaking, for it offers an ending that isn't so easy to foresee or predict. Without spoiling the final outcome too much, it catches you off guard in a good way, ensuring that the finale has the greatest impact of all, regardless of how you choose to end it. It is quite monumental, yet touching, no matter how you go about it.
The gameplay is great as well, offering a surprisingly interesting platforming experience and a good variety of challenges and obstacles to overcome. It isn't flawless, of course, for it can often become too chaotic and/or laggy at times, but even that feels like it has an intended purpose / meaning for what one's objectives are. In addition, the overall boss offers something unusual in its design, and despite the simplicity, it plays out better than one might have expected from a first glance. The level overall, from a gameplay perspective, is full of unexpected surprises.
It has single handedly sparked a wave of other story-oriented series and projects, and has a clear backing / fanbase to back it up, and it is the sort of legendary handiwork that will likely remain relevant for a long time to come. You would have to go through it to truly understand its impact, and it is not something that you would soon forget.
So, here's the final list.
33# Xero- Done by Amp
32- Sandy Soil in the Skylands- Done by MoD
31- MAYA Temple- Done by YB118
30- Paradise Escape- Done by Amp
29- Eternal Caves- Done by Volkove
28- Quicksand Cave- Done by SuperMIC
27- Sliverfall Cove- Done by Amp
26- Yoshi Mania- Done by MoD
25- Realm of Provodeum- Done by Amp
24- Twin Towers- Done by KT
23- Northern Temple- Done by Amp
22- Beyond- Done by MoD
21- The Escapists- Done by YB118
20- Deserted Hell- Done by MoD
19- TTOMTC- Done by MoD
18- Asphodel- Done by Amp
17- You Can't Escape Death- Done by SuperMIC
16- Infernal Tower- Done By Amp
15- Big Boo's Rainbow Road- Done my MoD
14- Underwhere- Done by Volkove.
13- The Blind Experiment- Done by YB118
12- MMMMMMM- Done by MoD
11- Temple of Heart- Done by YB118
10- Shyguy Island- Done by Amp
9- An Act of Antichesm- Done by MoD
8- Omniquet- Done by MoD
7- Savage Labyrinth- Done by Amp
6- Mirror Island- Done by MoD
5- Timpani and Blumiere- Done by MoD
4- Dragon Valley- Done by Volkove
3- Tearing Paper- Done by KT
2- Into The Depths- Done by MoD
1. Dark- Done by Volkove
Well. Another year, another winner, another step forward. It seems every year, we seem to progress further before, but what I think the most shining quality I've seen this year is people truly owning their styles. This was a year of fearless designs. They were saying that 2012 was the year the world ends, so maybe that was it. Maybe it was the dooming apocalypse, maybe it was the growth of Last Legacy that threatened to make 2012 the last legacy of Super Mario 63. Regardless, I have never been prouder of my fellow designers. I feel like Tim Gunn in the midst of all stars.
Winning feels improbable, impossible ans amazing.
Much love,
MessengerOfDreams