Oh crap! I haven't been getting my e-mail notifications about this thread! You guys have been busy!
*downloading most recent version*
@StraightFlame: I think your idea for a summer area is cool, if you do it right. In the context of the level, I would think it could work if it was a kind of "land of the lost" warp action thing, so that you do something to make the player feel like they've traveled somewhere else for that brief section. Perhaps you could use the statues or one of the lab machines somehow to signify that the player is "not in Kansas anymore."
As for how difficult it is for this level to maintain a story, well, it DOES already have one, the question is if we will be able to wrap it up. I for one think we can do it! But, I guess would suggest each of us do whatever we can to move the story to a conclusion. If we don't quite end up with a strong ending... well, than that's life.
