[Environmental/Puzzle/Epic Length] Cosmic Meltdown {Peaceful Version}

Update:  This project has been cancelled.  See my last post for the reason.

After releasing Cosmic Meltdown earlier this month, I received numerous responses from people (and reactions from let's players) regarding the level's difficulty.  As such, I have decided that I am going to create an alternate version of the level that can be played entirely without reliance on reflexes and dodging things.

Basically I am going to rip out almost all of the hostile enemies and traps, make some of the jumps easier, and replace the secret zone challenges with puzzles.  Outside of that, all of the areas in this game will be the same, but I imagine this project will take a month at least for me to complete, due to other obligations, and time spent thinking of good puzzles.

(However, the original version's biggest secret will be removed in this version.  Too bad, so sad.)

Don't worry, I like the level as it is. It's not so hard. For me it is easier compared to for example The Dark Sea 2 or so (but I'm afraid I'm the only one).

I'm in middle of the level and the only place where I say it's hard is
you know what I'm talking about, right?

Don't worry, I like the level as it is. It's not so hard. For me it is easier compared to for example The Dark Sea 2 or so (but I'm afraid I'm the only one).

I'm in middle of the level and the only place where I say it's hard is

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

the dark place in the complex where you can change umbrella instead of hologram and go to the right with the ghostly bubble drops, laser and that red and yellow electro-shock things and you must float among them...it's so tricky when you don't have the hologram

you know what I'm talking about, right?

Aye, I understand that many people are perfectly alright with the level as is.  However, I do know quite a few people who could do with a more peaceful version.  This version will be released mainly for accessibility reasons, and the secret taken out will incentivize those who want to find it to play the normal more challenging version.

Also, assuming you haven't completed the level on the harder setting yet, you've yet to see the worst challenges in this level! 

I think its great as-is. It's really not that hard at all on "Normal" and only really gets hard once you get the Eye. I actually think that you've accomplished one of the best ways to have a level be easier/harder, by giving the player two paths.

Now, getting all the Keys... yeah, I struggled with that...

Update:  After some more thought, I decided that I am not going to make a peaceful version of this level.

Instead, I will make an entirely new level which will be somewhat more peaceful in nature.  Since I just barely decided to do this, I don't have anything to say about said level yet, but I will let you all know about it in a new thread, when I have enough work done on it.

I think this is great news. I'd much rather have a new level from you. But then, I was able to make it through this level somehow.

I think this is great news. I'd much rather have a new level from you. But then, I was able to make it through this level somehow.

It'll also please you to hear that I will be making this level with KS+.

I'd like to make my own custom character, but I'm wondering if there's a Juni template somewhere I could use for this, and templates for the other sprites as well.  If these exist anywhere, could you point me in their direction?

They come with KS+ in a folder called Templates. You wont find templates for everything yet. Making them is the biggest thing left on my to do list.

They come with KS+ in a folder called Templates. You wont find templates for everything yet. Making them is the biggest thing left on my to do list.

Lol.  Surprised I didn't see that.  Thanks for the help.

As an epitaph to this topic, I would like everyone to be aware of my new intentions regarding my new KS level idea which spawned from this initial idea.

I intend for the level I am planning out now to be the greatest KS level ever released.  As much as I am proud of Cosmic Meltdown, I know its inherent flaws, and I believe I can do much better.  For this next level, instead of challenge, I intend to focus on atmosphere, story, lore, intrigue, music, mystery, and most important of all, the grand whole that these parts will come together to make.

If you are skeptical of the paragraph I just typed, that is only natural.  However, while most people who make such claims are in it to become famous, I am fully aware that Knytt Stories is well past its heyday, and will be even more so when this level is finally released.  While I have considered waiting for a more user-friendly version of the Knytt Underground Editor to make this story, I believe that all the tools I want and need to tell this story are firmly in place, in Egomassive's KS mod, and I sincerely thank him for providing me with this augmentation to Nifflas' already potent story-telling device.

Because of my schedule, and the sheer scope of this idea, the level itself will probably take years to complete.  By then, I'm not sure how many people will still be playing Knytt Stories at all, but I can only assume it will be less than it is now, unless some retro Nifflas craze kicks in by then.  Despite all of that, I believe this project is worth doing.  In some month's time, I will likely post more details about this story, and ask you guys for help in certain areas, whether that relates to content for the level, alpha and beta testing, or simple brainstorming.  In the end, I want this level to represent all of us, as a community of creative minds.

Despite the fact that I am directing this project, I want you all to feel like it is a work not so much of my own doing, but of humanity's doing.  All of you will play a part in this level's creation, whether you realize it or not, and as such, you deserve some of the credit.  I may sound utterly crazy for saying these things, but I want to engineer a level that inspires in the player a deep hope and love for the human spirit.  I want to create something that will encourage everyone it comes into contact with to live on, and shine always.

For that reason, I will not give up on this project.  Even if it takes over a decade, I will see it to completion.  You have my word.

-Fubaka