~The Third 25quared Contest~

[*Emelia K. Fletcher]

Judging period is over! Expect the results very soon. (Sorry, LP)

[~MP3 Amplifier~]

This post by ~MP3 Amplifier~ was thumbed up by:

Asterocrat (April 28th, 2014, 7:51 am)

[*Emelia K. Fletcher]

Righty-ho! One week for judging has passed, and it's time to award the results. Let's not dilly-dally!


















In sixth place:
MessengerOfDreams, with Switchblade Station!






In fifth place:
~MP3 Amplifier~, with Easter!






In fourth place:
Raiyuuni, with Downfall!

















In third place:
NanTheDark, with Urban Climb!


















In second place:
Star king, with Bullet Bill Factory!





























In first place:
Yurimaster, with Exploring the Unknown!

---

That was an exciting one! Sixteen entrants (nearly on par with the previous seventeen :3) and all of you turned out a good piece of work! Here are the overall results.

Name - Entry Name - Overall Score (Judges' Scores: MK, Amp, SK, Yuri)

1st) Yurimaster - Exploring the Unknown - 16.6 (16.55, 16.25, 17, ----)
2nd) Star king - Bullet Bill Factory - 16.33 (16.25, 17, ----, 15.75)
3rd) NanTheDark - Urban Climb - 15.98 (16.4, 16, 16.5, 15)
4th) Raiyuuni - Downfall - 14.99 (12.7, 16.75, 16, 14.5)
5th) ~MP3 Amplifier~ - Easter - 14.95 (14.1, ----, 15.75, 15)
6th) MessengerOfDreams - Switchblade Station - 14.9 (15.35, 13.75, 15.25, 15.25)
7th) *Emelia Kaylee - Unorthodox Cube - 14.83 (----, 15.75, 14, 14.75)
8th) Volkove - Counter-Clock - 14.76 (12.4, 16.25, 15.5, 14.9)
9th) MegaR - Horizon Heights Zone: Act 3 - 13.93 (13.95, 15, 13.25, 13.5)
9th) Nwolf - Cross-shadow Heat - 13.93 (11.45, 14.5, 10.5, 13)
11th) Venexis - Pain and Suffering - 13.63 (12.3, 15.25, 12.5, 14.5)
12th) Triple J - Radial Runner - 12.4 (12.35, 14.5 ,11, 11.75)
13th) 1018peter - The Sinking Sand Tower - 12.06 (12.75, 11.25, 10.25, 14)
14th) Harmless - World 1337-Kaizo - 11.63 (9.5, 15.25, 12, 9.75)
15th) Oranjuice - Pen - 10.44 (9.5, 12.5, 9.25, 10.5)
16th) RedLink - doorz - 9.67 (8, 11, 10, ----)

*Emelia Kaylee's Judgings: show

1018peter - The Sinking Sand Tower
Fun: 7/10
I'm a person who enjoys sadistic platformers, and I can tell you that SM63 was not built to be one. The respawn mechanics take too long and are too infuriating - Mario screams loudly every time he dies - and the jump mechanics are erratic and sometimes fail you for no good reason.
However, once you memorize the path of this level, you can easily just backspace every time you mess up a jump, walk too far, or take too long. This level really does require split-second timing, and I like that.
Graphics: 2.5/5
Nothing to hoot about, nothing to really criticize either considering how you achieve a falling tower.
Other: 3/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
-0.5: I am going to stress this so much: SM63's jumping is horrendous. At the start, you need a double-jump height to reach the first platform, then maintain that double jump over to the second, then turn that double jump into a triple jump for the third platform. It really is horrifically erratic and will not play nice, but I suppose learning your way around that system is half of the fun.
Overall: 12.75/20

Yurimaster - Exploring The Unknown
Fun: 8.75/10
This level had some great design - I've played it a few times, and its puzzle-like format allows for having to figure out the correct route or to get trapped. Some issues with a bit of squashing - Mario can sometimes get trapped and die in tight spots where you've passed through before, but otherwise good. I like the FLUDD propelling you through a gap, took me a moment to figure out
Graphics: 4.25/5
Very lush design, full of life. Underground areas are suitably knobbly - you really have given thought to the atmosphere. I can get past the black backgrounds.
Other: 3.45/5
+0.35: Momentary loading time, no lag.
+0.2: Good choice of atmospheric music, although the powerup music does disrupt it quite badly.
Overall: 16.55/20

Triple J - Radial Runner
Fun: 5/10
Well, uh... I really don't understand this. The layout's kinda chaotic, unintuitive, and I can't make it more than three quarters of the way around the first loop. Chalk it down to me sucking or whatever, but I genuinely am puzzled - I've died several times around the Parakoopas due to being knocked about, into the flames or somewhere up top. It's decent, I just really can't pass this level.
Graphics: 4/5
Nice and fleshed out, flame surrounding the inner ring threw me off for a moment, Parakoopas were placed a little erratically. Not much else to say; you're a damn good whizz at graphics.
Other: 3.35/5
+0.35: Momentary loading time, no lag.
Overall: 12.35/20

~MP3 Amplifier~ - Easter
Fun: 7/10
Yeah, yeah, joke level aside, this had some fairly decent design! Personally of the opinion that the way to unblock the tree trunk would be a little obtuse to figure out if you didn't just look in the LD, and the loud alarm clock was indeed very loud (SM63 already being a loud game), but good job.
Graphics: 4/5
Good-looking, although quite cluttered up there in the top of the tree. Bunny was a nice touch.
Other: 3.1/5
+0.35: Momentary loading time, no lag.
-0.25: seriously SM63 is such a loud game whyyyyy ;A;
Overall: 14.1/20

Dtroid - The Freezing Cave's Ruins
It's a shame ya didn't get to finish.

RedLink - doorz
Fun: 3/10
I hate you I hate the logs I hate that one ♥♥♥♥ tiny rotating block I hate the lava jumping thingy I hate this level
Graphics: 1.5/5
True masterpiece. Couldn't be more beautiful if even Leonardo da Picasso tried.
Other: 3.5/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
Overall: 8/20

MessengerOfDreams - Switchblade Station
Fun: 8/10
Good level design - signs were humorous, platforming was all great, but the cannon had a bit too much oomph, star at the beginning needed perfect control in order to cross the gap and that reset switch messed me up twice - lucky you didn't make that deadly. Good call.
Graphics: 3.75/5
Looks as good as you can make it, especially considering that switch blocks are inherently ugly as hell. Thumbs up on that.
Other: 3.5/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
+0.1: That background music certainly was... interesting
Overall: 15.35/20

Oranjuice - Pen
Fun: 2/10
Bare/no gameplay, minimal platforming.
Graphics: 4/5
Looks relatively dystopian, goes for what you wanted to achieve.
Other: 3.5/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time.
+0: Hey, I knew blathering on about absolutely ♥♥♥♥ in English would pay off someday! My "imaginary meaning" interpretation of this is a trudge to work, with a few obstacles in the way, sewers open, dead birds about - and once you've gotten in, you've reached the goal, but also very much have become more heavy. Like a sigh. Any more ♥♥♥♥ far-removed analysis and I'm going to cry
Overall: 9.5/20

Harmless - World 1337-Kaizo
Fun: 3/10
Really, the level design looks great and all, but a Kaizo-themed level does not adapt well to the control scheme and doubtable physics that is Super Mario 63. There is no way to avoid damage in the starting area, whether you actually hit the fire tower is up to pure luck, and the finnicky part with the flying Shy Guy is infuriating to control.
Graphics: 2.5/5
Does look like you've put in effort, although a little more decor would not be remiss at all.
Other: 3.5/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time.
Overall: 9.5/20

Raiyuuni - Downfall
Fun: 5/10
Even posting a walkthrough, this level was quite obtuse - where do you go? What do you do? Can't go down here, can't get out, what do I do with this, etc. A level needs to be intuitive to be fun. That said, the level design was pretty smart (although prone to the RNG: that shell kept landing left to where it was supposed to be), but overall this was still a confusing level to try and navigate.
Graphics: 4/5
The place looked nice! Decor was not overly used, but that's fine; were those tiles by the Koopa Troopa area meant to mesh together?
Other: 3.7
+0.5: No lag or loading time
+0.2: Good choice of background music
Overall: 12.7/20

Star king - Bullet Bill Factory
Fun: 8.75/10
I love this one - good non-linear layout, makes you consider the level properly. I didn't actually know about defeated Bullet Bills breaking blocks before I played the level, so I learned something from this. A bug report, though: if you're in the area where you need the Bullet Bill defeated, it won't actually spawn - you have to go a little bit to the left so that the screen scrolls before it shows up. Minor, but an annoyance.
Graphics: 4.25/5
Real polished on this account, I can see a lot of detail everywhere! Layout of objects was neat and orderly.
Other: 3.25/5
+0.35: Momentary loading time, no lag.
-0.1: Just a tiny niggle, but collecting coins en masse does make the audio clip, so that didn't sound too well. (fix volume balancing pls runouw)
Overall: 16.25/20

MegaR - Horizon Heights Zone: Act 3
Fun: 6.5/10
To be honest? A little too short and linear for my tastes, and a more open level doesn't really fit into that 25x25 space, but I commend you on this.
Graphics: 3.75/5
However, opened-up levels really are pretty, and I do like how the whole thing looks. Very clean and simplistic.
Other: 3.7/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
+0.2: Good choice of background music
Overall: 13.95/20

Nwolf - Cross-shadow Heat
Fun: 6/10
Required a bit of route planning, and a little bit of invincibility frame trickery - technically not forced damage! - to get all of them, but completable and somewhat intuitive this level is.
Graphics: 2/5
Deducting points for the ugliness of the disabled transitions (bad Nwurl!). Layout is somewhat cohesive otherwise, but nothing to crow about.
Other: 3.45/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
+0.2: Good choice of background music
-0.25: If you collect the Silver Star at the bottom last, the flames are timed so that when you regain control, you get hit. This was a cause of one of my five deaths!
Overall: 11.45/20

Venexis - Pain and Suffering
Fun: 7/10
Yes, I like sadistic platformers - this one lets you stay safe but holds the candy juuuuuust out of reach. The layout was nice and mechanical, easily predictable, and let you really feel comfortable as you held middle fingers up to the screen. Shame that the fun managed to get marred by the fact this level is perfectly symmetrical and a bit boring in decor. (Just for the record, I have completed this level.)
Graphics: 2/5
Nothin' to really say or see, which is a shame. I guess you sort of banged this entry out as a non-serious thing, though.
Other: 3.3/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
-0.2: If you get crushed horizontally, you either get forced out below the blocks or zip outside the level boundaries and unavoidably die. Pissed me off a few times. More middle fingers held up to the screen.
Overall: 12.3/5

NanTheDark - Urban Climb
Fun: 8.5/10
Yo. This is a good thing you've got goin' here - a nice clean level design, a few gimmicks (doors surprised me!), and a good speedrunning edge, as well as those achievements - I've only gotten one so far. Nice level design!
Graphics: 4.25/5
Very nice! Looks how an urban environment should, and the only niggle I have is those weird vines.
Other: 3.65/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
+0.2: Good choice of background music
-0.05: The tiniest of complaints; the Goomba by the top door can sometimes hit you as soon as you come out, which is kind of cheap, but matters little to none.
Overall: 16.4/20

Volkove - Counter-Clock
Fun: 6.5/10
Another moving block level? But seriously, nice concept going on here. The gameplay is relatively enjoyable, although trying to get those last few coins in the edges really pushes you over that time limit (and it's annoying coupled with SM63's jumping).
Graphics: 2.5/5
Seeing as you couldn't really do much with this kind of level, I sympathize - it is quite unintuitive at first sight, but only takes one or two cycles for the layout to be remembered, so it's largely irrelevant. (Still using horrifically upscaled sprites thoooooough)
Other: 3.4/5
+0.5: No lag or loading time
-0.1: Once again, the audio does clip while collecting masses of coins, which sounds real bad, but it only lasts for a few moments.
+0: Nice try with Luna Dial, but doesn't fit that well. Not inappropriate enough to penalise, though
Overall: 12.4/20


1st: Yurimaster (16.55)
2nd: NanTheDark (16.4)
3rd: Star king (16.25)
4th: MessengerOfDreams (15.35)
5th: ~MP3 Amplifier~ (14.1)
6th: MegaR (13.95)
7th: 1018peter (12.75)
8th: Raiyuuni (12.7)
9th: Volkove (12.4)
10th: Triple J (12.35)
11th: Venexis (12.3)
12th: Nwolf (11.45)
13th: Harmless (9.5)
13th: Oranjuice (9.5)
15th: RedLink (8)
___: *Emelia Kaylee (own level)

[NanTheDark]

1st) Star king - Bullet Bill Factory - 16.33 (16.25, 17, ----, 15.75)
2nd) Yurimaster - Exploring the Unknown - 16.6 (16.55, 16.25, 17, ----)

Wat

Also, at least I broke the 4th place barrier... My collab with Xero doesn't count, that was a collab

Also, at least I'm better than 13 other designers. :3 *gets shot by LDers*

[*Emelia K. Fletcher]

you never saw anything :3

[MessengerOfDreams]

Holy ♥♥♥♥ good game Yuri

also 6th place!!!!!!!

[~Yuri]

Whoa... I... I have no words...

I'll post my judgings later...

[*Emelia K. Fletcher]

I scored above #10

[Asterocrat]

♥♥♥♥
SILVER
TROPHY

about ♥♥♥♥ time

also what how did i even place second oh well I'm happy \o/

will post my judging later

[Nwolf]

yay I am not 4th

enjoy the curse, LF :>