Emerald Lake Zone -
3/10
If you want to step back into early versions of Mystic Realm without the hoards of enemies, this is the wad to play. First of all. the idea of having an underwater section.. Is this a first level? By the music it sounds like it.. but then why is it a difficult start hmm? And most of the underwater parts, you can escape from until far later, so you're pretty much doomed to water without checkpoints, should you happen to fall down into the depths of the seemingly long and infinite river. This should be Infinite River Zone, not Emerald Lake Zone, in my opinion. And the texturing is really bad. Although it was a nice attempt to put unobtainable scenery in the background, I was able to go right through the fence at one point, and not to mention the fact that i would hit a wall, to find out that because i didn't know of this wall, i'd head into the river of doom, filled with so many chompers it should have been a water level down there in itself. And the level is so awfully flat too. However, the badnik replacement was original, that was pretty much the only thing I liked about this wad.
Lava Reef Zone -
1/10
Who am I kidding.. Welcome to FLOATINGHUNKSOFPIPE Zone. This wad has texturing, but none else. It's just platforming, and only until in the middle of the level do you decide to start adding scenery. If you have an idea to add scenery, why not see where else it applies? And it was so dark in here for a lava level. The lava isn't even bright! When i get to the 2D part of the stage, i do wonder myself why there are item boxes in the background. I do find later that in order to get to them i have to take a yellow spring back, and then forward, get hurt by lava in sacrifice for a shield and a 1-up. I shouldn't
have to sacrifice in order to get something. I also happened to get trapped in the lava. (As shown by the screenshot) You should realize it's possible to get out of the lava you, know. Especially if you place a shield... Anyway, a DEVMODE later, and I take the other path, as I do so, i notice that the floor under starts to rise on the right path.. did the lava also rise? Why yes it did.. but the final platform always rises too high for you to jump, and eventually you get trapped as tails! =O I'll just take the left path thanks, before i lose all my lives to a poorly done gimmick. The bridge doesn't pose a challenge as you can run across it with any character without getting hit. The only real design kicks in when you are past the second section of 2D. At least the wadmaker decided to give you the option to play through the stage over again.. or let the newbies struggle through it and the oldbies, who don't even want to glimpse at the wad, complete the level.
Sonic: I thought there would be a spring here.. =(
Aqua Relic Zone -
6/10
It was alright, to be honest. There is tons of playability in this stage due to its many paths and turns. And they don't lie too, because i can go forward and not somehow get mixed up by a seemingly forward path and head back to the start. An interesting level to race, no doubt. However, it was pretty bland, with lack of enemies, and a lot of platforming, and the only way to die being to drown, it was a
large and detailed map, but it lacked scenery, as well as maybe gimmicks? There was nothing real special to the level other than bopping enemies, hopping platforms, and finding my way out of water in case i fell. Nor did I want to fall, I didn't see too many springs down there. However it was more nicely textured that the other levels, I thank you for that.
Sapphire Coast Zone -
9/10
I helped Blade test this wad, It's kinda unfair to rate it now, but ah well, here's my comments. I think the level is great, not too many ways to go, it even has a secret path that leads to that emblem in the hut at the end of the stage, which i also liked. The mini-boss was fun and original, and actually fair, with a clear direction on how to defeat it. The new versions of badniks were awesome, and you recreated a badnik that actually took skill to recreate (unlike the tyre snail) the only problem I had with this stage was the overplacement of scenery objects, it was hard to see through them, so it took time for me to find that endsign so carefully surrounded by wonderful custom scenery objects. I think this stage is a clear winner, and I'm so glad this was the last stage in the lineup, then I don't end the OLDC raging.
Well, now that i'm done with the single player maps, which took a lot longer than I thought they would (mostly because of all the flaws) I'll begin on the mutliplayer maps.