Crystal Caves HD level review: "Emp-57" by El mala persona
Channel: timixretroplays
Date: 20/08/2022

Click "show more" to see the level review.
0:00 - first attempt - nearly finished it first go
3:25 - second attempt with an early silly mistake
4:08 - perfect health in 2:36

I'm trying something a bit different with this series: This is my first playthrough of this level, followed by enough attempts to finish with perfect health at least once. It's not a flawless playthrough, but that's the point - you can practically see my brain grinding to a halt as I'm confronted with puzzle after puzzle. Hopefully it's of interest not just to the original author, but also anyone looking for insight into how another player goes about learning a new level.

Review: Well, this one's an interesting series of little combination puzzles. It's one of a long-running series of levels by EMP, and serves as an essay in switches, moving platforms, toggle blocks, and danger signs. I can't say I'm in love with some of the choices - making switches control both platforms and toggle blocks at the same time leads to some confusion, especially when the switches change things that are off-screen at the time. Also, using a danger sign to cover up a door switch right at the end of the level - which you're practically guaranteed not to get the first time - is an automatic recipe for a frustrated reset. It's a pretty short level, though, so you're not losing oodles of time and effort to catch up to where you left off.

While the sparseness leads to some awkward pauses where you're just waiting for a platform to come back - condensing some of the puzzles could have lead to more adventure or decoration - it does at least mean you won't feel rushed or overwhelmed, and there's almost nothing you can't recover from except mis-timing a jump and falling into the lava. The anti-gravity section is quite varied and generous with the time, and it's still possible to complete the level (albeit with reduced health) if you don't complete everything in one go. I think the first half would've made for a more rewarding experience if it was a little more condensed, leaving room for another puzzle (maybe a toggle-block bridge across the chasm?) or just some more environmental story-telling.

I do have to say I really loved the combination puzzle near the end. It's complex enough to present a reasonable challenge, yet simple enough that you could just brute-force your way past it if you couldn't be bothered. It also comes at a comfortable point in the level - you've solved some puzzles already, so you're invested in figuring it out, but you're safe in the knowledge you won't need to come back through it or re-solve it later on, so you can just focus on it and get it out of the way without worrying about future implications. It feels like a puzzle I'd have put together, and I'm jealous I hadn't thought of making something like it myself.

In conclusion - I had fun solving it, and if you're familiar enough with the game it's short enough that it shouldn't get too frustrating before you find yourself at the end. It doesn't feel quite as evil as a level you'd expect from "the bad person", and if the other EMP levels are like this one, I'll enjoy diving into them as well.

Say hi on Twitter if you've made a level and would like to see it reviewed: https://twitter.com/timixretroplays

Come chat about Crystal Caves HD and Secret Agent HD on the Emberheart Games discord: https://discord.gg/pCdc9Wh5kv