runouw.com

Fun: 8/10

I certainly had fun with the level. Although simple and a little slow in the beginning, the level does build up speed as you approach the giant tree, and the platforming becomes very solid, especially towards the end when you shoot up towards the shine sprite. I'm also incredibly surprised that you made a level where the Hover FLUDD did not make the level too easy (even if the level was not intended to be hard). There was still some challenge, and I had a good time playing the level. Nothing was really frustrating, at least from when I played through it.

Though I will say you should probably remove the bullies. They don't really provide any challenge or remove health, and they do get very annoying even after you acquire the FLUDD.

Graphics: 4/5

Okay, you went very overboard here with the butterflies. I really can't say I enjoy you placing a mess of butterflies early in the level, and I feel you should've distributed them throughout the level as opposed to massing them in one spot, then leaving a few here and there later. The Goonies were not too bad as they moved more often and moved with you, but the butterflies being concentrated so heavily in one spot is a little weird.

The tree looks fantastic though, and somehow, even with all of those branches I was still able to see what I was doing. Having the graphics you put in there meld with the gameplay really speaks to me solid design... mostly. I will admit the trees around the clock almost got me had I not gotten FLUDD to keep me from falling.

But other than that, graphics were good. Everything was placed well, and gave a good color palette to the level. You should probably put a few bushes or something around the alternate shine though, that place is very bare compared to the rest of the level.

Other: 4.25/5

Good:
+ Speaking of alternate pathways, that was a very cleverly hidden alternate pathway. And it was a fun one too, though you could've expanded it more with all of the empty space you had. (+1)
+ Enemy placement was, for the most part, well executed and didn't provide any unfair positioning when climbing the tree. I was able to react to everything, and that is something I admire a lot about this level. (+1)
+ You used a lot more of the level designer than I thought you would in constructing this level. And all of the variety for just a level starring one giant tree? Wow, I'm impressed. (+0.75)
+ I know this is unintentional, so I'm not giving you points for this, but having that water reservoir near the second challenge just in case if the player ran out of water was a lifesaver. Saves the player a lot of time going back to the FLUDD box to replenish water. Maybe you should fix the water in the designer, but remove a platform so players can replenish water if necessary. (+0)

Bad:
- The alternate pathway really looked unfinished. Lack of decor at the end and no enemies along it speaks that you either rushed its design or overlooked a lot of things on it. The Sling Star did not have enough power to have Mario reach the ledge, and the spinning platforms at the end were too fast. (-0.75)
- You have a lot, and I mean a LOT of empty space in the level. I know you needed that vertical height for the tree, but... eehh, you really could've done something like made the alternate pathway longer or made the tree wider. That large amount of negative space is unimpressive, and serves no purpose to the level. (-0.5)
- Wow, that fall from collecting the Shine Sprite was really, really long. Almost too long, honestly. Thankfully I landed on a Goonie to shorten the time, but I don't feel like it should've been that long of a fall. (-0.25)
- I'm not reducing points for this because a lot of people tend to nit-pick judges for deducting points for coins. But... where are the coins? This level really could've used a few, either for decoration or for the feel that it's a Mario level. (-0)

Total: 16.25/20

Good job, really. It's a solid level, though I felt with a little more time spent looking over the end result you could've fixed some errors.