blackyoshi vs Volcove

[Nwolf]

Who gets my judgings?


BY suggested I could announce the results. If you have nothing against it Volcove.

[~MP3 Amplifier~]

Interesting. I'll start judging tonight. :p

Also I think that Nwolf should announce, because he didn't get to announce the 22nd LDC.

[Nwolf]

Just wanna go to sleep so please open spoiler for winner

it's...: show

Volcove!



congratulations and that stuff :3

Name {Star king; Fluffy; MP3} Overall
blackyoshi {15.5; 13.25; 16.75} 15.167
Volcove {17.5; 17.5; 16.5} 17.167


Both levels were great, gonna post judgings tomorrow

[~MP3 Amplifier~]

I've got mah judgings right here:

Spoiler: show

Volcove:
with The Vast Unknown

Fun – 8.5/10. I actually found this rather fun and gripping, the gameplay was excellent as always. I love the ‘blosstacles’ and the whole journey of the level. Literally, it sent us everywhere. The structure was awesome, and the switch trick halfway through was a really awesome feature. It then makes the level twice as long as you’d expected, and since this was a great level in general, that certainly worked for the best. However, there were some things I didn’t like- like, the green platforms row. I know it sounds to be tricky to balance on, but I couldn’t help but get really frustrated whenever they kind of forced me off the edge when they were still moving. Some obstacles for the Hover FLUDD were frustrating too, because some gaps or climbs were very large, and usually you’d only make it by the tiniest margin. But other than that, this was great.

Graphics – 3.5/5. I do think the graphics could have been improved, like sometimes there was a need for cave plants or twisted branches etc. It doesn’t necessarily have to look beautiful or breathtaking considering the atmosphere of this level, but it may have been a bit more effective in the emptier areas, e.g. the cave/pipe parts.

Other – 4.5/5.

+1.25 – The platform monsters, the awesome blosses and the incredible bullet bill tricks just make up this point and a quarter.
+0.5 – Excellent concept of the whole level; who cares if it was simple, it rocked.
Note – Maybe a platform of some sort would have worked better underneath the shine sprite. Standing on a tiny cave block made Mario a bit unsteady, and also if you shoot upwards with the Rocket FLUDD from directly underneath it, it does actually block you from getting it. But this is only a suggestion.
-0.25 – At one point, one of the flames from the red block hit me even though I was standing a bit away from it, not even directly on it.

Overall – 16.5/20.

---

blackyoshi:
with Derelict Factory

Fun – 9.5/10. This was not just any level, this was a BY level. (get reference, get cookie) In all seriousness though, this level was truly and utterly epic. I mean, the platforming techniques were just so innovative, even if some had been used before, they had been adapted to your style very well (e.g. the puzzle room where you float through small gaps, platform to platform) and some were just completely new or had been used only in your levels previously (e.g. the whole room dedicated to harmful spikes). It was so entertaining, and every transition contained a new surprise, which also really suited the atmosphere very well. My favourite challenge personally was the wing cap flame challenge, but you know me, I’m a fan of wing caps. But I have to say that is probably the most fun I’ve had in a wing cap challenge; such a shame it ended so quickly. Some parts were very tricky, and some rooms weren’t executed as greatly as the others (mainly the last two rooms). But overall, as much as I adore Volcove’s level, fun-wise? I think you are ahead.

Graphics – 4.25/5. As much as you wanted to create the perfect atmosphere for this level using interesting tiling, I still felt there was a lack of décor. Some plants or rocks even just work incredibly well in these kinds of locations. But for what you did do with the tiling, I agree, it was very fitting.

Other – 3/5.

+0.25 – I love that new pattern with the flipping platforms.
-0.5 – I do think there was a lack of checkpoints throughout the level though, especially that some parts even near the beginning were pretty tricky.
-0.25 – It would be much appreciated if you added the metal cap after you take the warp pipe to the next room (the one that removes your metal cap after passing the lava). This is because it is easy to fall backwards a bit in that section and sometimes I do not have enough health after those spikes and bullet bills to survive after touching a flame.
+0.75 – However, in the next room, I do find it fascinating that you managed to stop that well-known glitch in some way, where when you usually dive downwards after floating off a platform, you actually stay in that position forever.
-0.5 – It was bad that you needed metal cap to return down from the top of the second to last room too, otherwise you’d just be stuck.
+0.25 – The skull mushroom at the end was a nice touch though.

Overall – 16.75/20.

I do have to say that this is probably your best level yet, even if some flaws were still visible. Overall the brilliant quality just made up for it all. Congratulations.

---

1st – blackyoshi. (16.75)
2nd – Volcove. (16.5)

[-BY]

Congratulation Volcove.
It was an interesting duel until the end. Quite glad I was at least a good competition. (I hope.)
If you have nothing against it, we may do one in some future again. I learned quite a lot and had much fun in this one.

...13.25 seems a bit harsh. But I will see that tomorrow then.

[Volkove]

But... how? -_-
I'm rather surprised you didn't win BY.

To address some of MP3's comments,

... the green platforms row. I know it sounds to be tricky to balance on, but I couldn’t help but get really frustrated whenever they kind of forced me off the edge when they were still moving.

You were supposed to wait until they stopped moving, if that makes a difference. Multiple moving platforms stacked atop each other has that effect.

Graphics

I'll probably re-do it to spruce it up in this manner, since I fully agree in that respect.

Note – Maybe a platform of some sort would have worked better underneath the shine sprite. Standing on a tiny cave block made Mario a bit unsteady, and also if you shoot upwards with the Rocket FLUDD from directly underneath it, it does actually block you from getting it. But this is only a suggestion.

I tried that, actually, but the disabled transition doesn't hide it properly, and it really breaks the reverie if there's a platform sticking out like a sore thumb. The cave block was the only one that blended in enough to be practically invisible, and it had to be small enough to minimize the chance of blocking the player from reaching said shine. I don't believe the unsteady footing matters since it signifies the end of the level anyways.

-0.25 – At one point, one of the flames from the red block hit me even though I was standing a bit away from it, not even directly on it.

By any chance, do you remember which one?

[Asterocrat]

Here.

Spoiler: show

Derelict Factory by blackyoshi

OVERALL SCORE: 15.5/20
=+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+=

Rating details:

--- Layout: 7/10
As usual, BY's levels give us a huge panel of challenges in one little meaningless level. As usual, BY shows up things no normal human being could have thought of. But the thing is that, BY do it the hard way. Indeed, BY shows up new stuff and do it well, but in my opinion, it would end better if I didn't have to restart the level 10 times to make it through.
--- Message: 5/5
Eye-popping graphics, so much awesome it hurts. Literally. After a couple of minutes on the level, I can't make any difference between background and foreground. But the epic "other things" like rotating platforms or blocks or all that ♥♥♥♥ and the epic factory setting sure make up for it.
--- Other: 3.5/5
[-0.5] For the spike challenge being not always fair, I died a few times as I was not even touching the spikes.
[+0.5] Spinning things in the background
[+0.5] The part with the moving walls was a great challenge.

--- Overall: 15.5/20
A rather well designed level that may going straight into the greatest levels of history, if it were a bit easier.

---

---

The Vast Unknown by Volcove

OVERALL SCORE: 17.5/20
=+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+=

Rating details:

--- Layout: 8.5/10
Now this was an epic level. It was a bit long, but the two checkpoints really were nicely placed and all. The challenges were varied and I don't know why but I had this sensation of déjà-vu from Dimension Infinity (the bricks, the floating/bullet bills challenge), but this probably wasn't intended, was it ?
--- Message: 4/5
It was certainly not as nice as BY's graphics but still, but still, there was some nice references to the levels from before.
--- Other: 5/5
[+1]The Bullet Hell-like challenge. Very nice touch.
[+0.5] The Blosses/Block Monsters
[+0.5] The Green Mantas or whatever you want to call them. I L-O-V-E-D that.

--- Overall: 17.5/20
Haha, well, even if BY's graphics are better, Volcove knows the right difficulty and still have some things he has to show us. He is the Master.

[~MP3 Amplifier~]

I can't remember the exact location, but I remember that it was two red bricks and in the middle of it a blue brick.

When I fell through the blue brick in the middle I remember being burnt by some fire even though I'd managed to jump cleanly down the middle.

[Nwolf]

No special design this time because not bothered: show

Derelict Factory by blackyoshi

Fun 6.5/10: I liked the level a lot when I started. I thought "WHOA HOW DOES THIS ♥♥♥♥ ROOM LOOK LIKE" and went to the next one. Again, love on first sight. Went to the tower room. After finally figuring out I have to jump over the fire I liked this room too. That one block that seems out of sync with the others confused me though. Going in the next room where you have to stand on the platform while avoiding 2 more flame towers. Liked this one too. Then I entered the next room.
The spike part was by far the glitchiest and stupidist part of the whole level and took you away LOTS of points in Fun and Other... for me. And that metal start part was even WORSE than the spike part. I don't know why you did that but please, PLEASE never do something like this again. With that I don't mean never use spikes again btw, just not in this way.
Next room, same problem with glitches like spike room except that the glitches were used to progress further (hur hur i iz so incrdbly fanny). I disliked a lot that you had to dive to get through the top hole on the right side (yes I saw the platform and used it but without you got stuck). It was still good and challenging though.
The next two rooms were way easier than the other rooms but I liked that.
I ragequited one time and I'm pretty sure you can guess where.

Graphics 4.5/5: The graphics were almost as delicious as cake, just a bit repeatitive after some time. And that twice. The first room and the last room look very great though.

Other 2.3 --> 2.25/5: +0.2: Short loading time only and no lag.
+0.1: That usage of double-tapping :>
-0.5: Somehow the spikes sometimes hurt me while I was still a few cm away from them.
-0.1: The time switch in the spike room is the stupidist thing I have seen in your levels anyway
-0.25: Metal star duration is too short.
+0.1: Even if I hated that room, the room with the float glitch is still very well made.
-0.25: In the first room after the checkpoint the platforms in the tiles can sometimes still push you down even if you don't see them doing that.
+0.25: The metal+flying star challenge was very interesting though.
-0.25: You forgot the destroy-blocks-through-walls glitch in the 2nd to last room.

Overall 13.25/20
Yes, this level is good. It has a lot of strong points. But it just has a bit more weak points and they ruined your score a lot.


The Vast Unknown by Volcove

Fun 9.5/10: This level was pure genius. I enjoyed every single bit of it (well, everything except that strange eye boss) and having to play it a 2nd time with the Hover FLUDD and activated time switch was just awesome. The eye boss' attacks were too unpredictable for me but the awesome bullet hell room evened that out. Great job.

Graphics 4/5: The graphics were not as good as BY's but still very good. I liked the usage of disabled transitions a lot.

Other 3.9 --> 4/5: +0.35: No loading time and only a bit lag in the Bullet Hell room.
-0.05: The signs at the beginning are floating in mid-air. Sorry, had to point that out.
+0.25: Those snake platforms are ♥♥♥♥ awesome.
+0.1: The special features of the blocks were great.
+0.25: Replaying the level with FLUDD and additional challenges was a good idea.

Overall 17.5/20
A very fun level I must say. MORE LIKE THIIIIIIIS