30-Jan-2016, 12:50 AM
JoshL5 was one of my favorite sets last year, so I had some high hopes for the follow-up. I don't think this set is quite at its predecessor's level of conceptual brilliance and variety, but it comes awfully close at points, with some entries I'd love to see in CCLP4. Probably the set's poorest material comes toward the beginning, with many easy levels feeling like retreads of familiar ideas: Energetic Elements, for instance, doesn't do a whole lot differently from a design perspective than countless other "elemental quadrants" levels. But there are quite a few gems here, including the first level, the wonderfully scaled Flipper Departments. My favorite, though, is undoubtedly Keyboard Malfunction. This is a concept I can't say I've seen in many other levels, and its execution here is nothing short of incredible. If you haven't played this level, I highly recommend it for a future CCLP.
As the set continues, the levels that stood out for me tended to be the most aesthetically interesting. Escape the Hamster Tubes balances its lovely design sensibilities with reasonable and fun blue wall maze gameplay. Flooded Forest, if I remember correctly, is a rebuilt version of a level with the exact same elements, and the improved design shows. And then there are the epic campaign levels Ragged Mountain and Nectar Meadow, both of which are complemented by amazing design that never quite feels distracting. The end of the set contains some pretty epic challenges, like the Amsterdam-based World of a Thousand Flames, tempered by simpler relief levels. Finally, the set is capped off with a retooled version of Flareon: Remastered, as well as a retrospective level I really enjoyed, Revelation Mountain. This could've been cluttered and overblown, but it wasn't.
Overall, I really enjoyed this set, and I hope other players get the chance to try it out. It's also a really fun optimization challenge too.
As the set continues, the levels that stood out for me tended to be the most aesthetically interesting. Escape the Hamster Tubes balances its lovely design sensibilities with reasonable and fun blue wall maze gameplay. Flooded Forest, if I remember correctly, is a rebuilt version of a level with the exact same elements, and the improved design shows. And then there are the epic campaign levels Ragged Mountain and Nectar Meadow, both of which are complemented by amazing design that never quite feels distracting. The end of the set contains some pretty epic challenges, like the Amsterdam-based World of a Thousand Flames, tempered by simpler relief levels. Finally, the set is capped off with a retooled version of Flareon: Remastered, as well as a retrospective level I really enjoyed, Revelation Mountain. This could've been cluttered and overblown, but it wasn't.
Overall, I really enjoyed this set, and I hope other players get the chance to try it out. It's also a really fun optimization challenge too.