[Review #18] "DangerZone" by DJJDK, Blathers, and TyphoonGD (Demon)
7This is going to be more of a special/feedback oriented review, since I got to playtest and give criticism on this level while it was still in production! Blathers (amazing GD player and great streamer) came to me one day and asked if I would give some feedback on this level that he had a part in, and I happily obliged. Let me say that the creators of this definitely took my advice to heart, as this looks and plays much better than the copy I was given. I highly recommend this, and I hope it gets the rating it deserves! And now, for the review.
I love the purple cave/foresty theme this level goes for. A level with a theme that is executed well is one of my favorite types of level, and I'd definitely say this falls under that category. I haven't really seen this theme done in purple before which is an intriguing take. Every part in this collab represents the theme well, and in their own unique ways. They also mesh together almost perfectly which isn't something you see very often with collabs. There is a decently consistent level of quality throughout as well which I appreciate as that keeps the player more engaged. A criticism I gave Blathers when looking over this originally was that the amount of details and indicators in the air was adequate in some parts and lacking in others which felt off to me. However, they definitely fixed that up. My favorite example of this is the floating glowy, ancient looking symbols scattered around the first part. They not only fill empty space, but also add to the mysterious atmosphere while not standing out too much. Little details like that can make or break a level for me. Another little detail that I suggested was to have some of the eyes' pupils follow the player as they go by, and I'm so glad they decided to do that because it makes the parts with them feel just that little bit more ominous. Something I especially respect about this level are the details in the ground spikes. I'm not sure why so many people nowadays leave their ground spikes completely black and empty, that just makes a level feel lazy and unfinished frankly. However, these creators went the extra mile and added things like lightning beams, creepy eyes, rustic sawblades, and cavernous openings in their ground spikes. These not only look awesome, but make the level's theme that much more apparent which leaves a more complete package. A common trope that I really enjoyed in this level is the addition of neat little pieces of art scattered around. The trees and vines in the first part are simple yet effective examples of art in here, but I especially like the more unique ones like the glowy mushrooms. I almost never see mushrooms in levels, and having completely unique subtle details like that shows that the creators care about attention to detail. I also almost never see chest art and the ones on pedestals at the end are great since they contrast nicely against the purple color scheme which makes for a great background. This level has a lot to offer. The individual assets in each section are honestly simpler than they look since there are so many different things to look at which makes it come together as a whole in a great way. I will admit that at some points the visuals are a tad messy since there is a lot going on, but I think that just adds to the charm of this fun collab. Great level, we need more like it.
As for the gameplay, it too is much more enjoyable than the copy I was given. I love the click sync in parts like the first one, and the fast rush of the wave parts is super intense to match the vibes of those parts of the song. I'll briefly mention a few ideas for the gameplay I gave to Blathers that made it in the level. I noticed a distinct lack of indicators in this level so I thought some ones at places like the 43% UFO would benefit the sightreading depratment, so I'm glad they added them! Also, I still found 75% - 79% to be a tad awkward to play in this as the orbs and portal placements are a tad inconsistent, but trust me it was much worse in the copy I was given to playtest than it is now and isn't too bad once you get the hang of it. Other than that, this is one of the more fun levels I've beaten in a minute and I think more levels should combine topsy turvy gameplay like the ship at 18% with more straight forward and skill based gameplay like the wave at the drop. Please play this!
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