blainz

93rd: blainz Make a Good 48 Hour Mega Man Level

"The engine is stable, right guys?"

Overview Creator(s): FloraTheFlytrap Composer(s): Tatsuyuki Maeda, Eidos Statistics Scores: 31 51 37 23 Total: 35.50 / 100 Rank: 93rd Elements: 1 Box Items: Batton Kakinbatank Shield Attacker TRL Drop Platform Fuse Platform Enemies: Batton Kakinbatank Rounder Shield Attacker TRL Gimmicks: Drop Platform Fuse Platform Sub-Bosses: Doc Kumo Gamarn and Gamadayu

Theme Music Sonic 3D Blast - Diamond Dust Zone Boss: Bionicle Heroes (DS) - Piraka Battle Stage Order Location: Tier 2 Previous: Perilous Mountain Next: Oh No

blainz is the 93rd place entry in Make a Good 48 Hour Mega Man Level. Best understood as a "ha ha funni joek" level, it uses an unconventional tileset (justified in-level as Megamix Engine screw-ups) and mostly focuses on platforming on and around unstable platforms: the self-destructing Fuse Platform, and the weight-sensitive Drop Platform.

Strategy

After a pair of signs and a room of glitchy jumbled-up tiles, Mega Man is introduced to the Fuse Platform gimmick. In one screen, it blocks the way down until it detonates (with a large bolt up for the taking beforehand), while in the next, two blocks of Fuse Platforms are the only way to reach a high ledge, where a pair of bolts rest on the next screen. A trio of Kakinbatanks get in the way after this; while the second starts on a Fuse Platform and can be run past with quick sliding, the rest can be easily destroyed using the Salt Water. Following an introduction to Drop Platforms, Mega Man must then use them to cross a pit while Battons fly after him. Use either the Flame Mixer to oneshot them, or the Rush Jet to bypass jumping altogether.

One short vertical area with Shield Attacker TRLs later, and Mega Man finds himself on a long Fuse Platform that starts self-destructing. Slide as quickly as possible without stopping for anything; not only are the few Shield Attacker TRLs easy to slide under, but a pair of Rounders orbit Mega Man partway through, discouraging use of weapons. Sliding under a small nook only reachable with the Fuse Platform allows Mega Man to grab an E-Tank and avoid a Kakinbatank. Soon afterwards is a battle against a Gamarn and Gamadayu, and a few last platforming challenges. While the first Drop Platform room is easy thanks to being underwater, the last Fuse Platform room can be difficult due to how quickly the platforms destruct.

At the very end of the stage is an Energy Element blocked by an invisible wall, with an invisible teleporter to the left of it. Taking it leads to a battle against an upside down Doc Kumo in a pool of water. A set of Drop Platforms act as ground for the miniboss, and to get it within the Mega Buster's range, Mega Man must trigger a Drop Platform while the Doc Kumo is on it, causing it to fall upwards. However, destroying all its bones will cause it to jump back downwards, and if it happens to fall off the top of the screen, Mega Man will be trapped and forced to retry. As such, using the screenwide Rain Flush is highly recommended. After destroying the Doc Kumo, the spikes on the bottom vanish, and lead to a room with the real Energy Element.

Judge Comments

Judge Comments
ParmaJon  : 31 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 9 / 35 5 / 15 9 / 10 6 / 25 2 / 15 The aesthetics are a mess, but they're at least kinda funny. Actually, not just the aesthetics; the whole level is a mess. The signs add flavor, which I appreciate, and the last room before the boss door with the exploding rocks is actually kinda tense, even if it is a bit lackluster. However, most of the level is just a single enemy in front of you, or just really basic setups. The level is lacking in substance. It just feels more rushed than anything, and there isn't a lot to talk about. The cave vomit areas are what I'll remember the stage for, as most of the middle is kinda forgettable. Except one thing, the boss. In a generally basic and lacking level, this is legit a GREAT use of a devkit boss by using an asset. It feels out of place because it's just so much better than the rest of the level.
PKWeegee  : 51 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 16 / 35 7 / 15 10 / 10 13 / 25 5 / 15 I was left with many questions, and no answers. This level doesn't really do much groundbreaking stuff, and it's just downright weird and inconsistent in its visuals. The sharp contrast between the middle section and the later one is kinda harsh. The boss is a creative idea, but it's just frustrating to do buster-only. Thankfully, Rain Flush exists.
M-Jacq  : 37 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 6 / 35 5 / 15 9 / 10 15 / 25 2 / 15 Bold level, albeit incessantly nonsensical/zany. Bit lacking as it nears zenith. Boss leaves arena if not zonked. Best liked as inconsequential, novel zinger. But let's admit - it's nicely zippy.
Freems  : 23 / 100
Design Creativity Function Fun Aesthetic 16 / 35 5 / 15 7 / 10 7 / 25 7 / 15 It's not always easy to tell what's a joke and what's not. But even if the punchline is "it was a ha ha joke", making an ugly level doesn't do any level any favors. Even then, I don't know how much of this I would call well thought out design. Five whole Shadow Man platforms in a row over a pit with next to no obstacles... Just kinda jumping along. There was some idea with the exploding rock platforms chasing you across, but the rest of their appearances were more or less just testing how fast you can react... and even now I'm still not entirely sure what's up with that boss at the end. While this is one of the levels I won't understand if it's meant to be taken seriously or not, I do understand that it's not really good.

Trivia

• blainz is the only level in MaG48HMML (and so far, the only level in MaGMML as a whole) whose name is rendered in all lowercase letters.
• One of the Shield Attacker TRLs has an upside down face in the level.