Milky Ways

**Milky Ways** is the third level of *Just Shapes & Beats*. Milky Ways has two checkpoints, is preceded by Chronos, and is followed by Logic Gatekeeper. It is one of the first "real" levels in the game, with the previous one being a sort of tutorial.

## Description

After completing Corrupted, the tutorial level of the game, the player is introduced with 3 circles which act as a method of the game's level selection. The middle circle is *Milky Ways* and selecting it will start the level.

This is the game's third level in Story Mode, to some, it may be a little harder than the previous level, Chronos. As this level has 2 checkpoints, but the level itself is relatively easier than one could think. The level's hazards are largely square-based, with a few circles, as seen in the level.

Assuming this is the player's first level after Corrupted, from then point on, Checkpoints are now unlocked by blue broken lines, the progress bar can be seen on top of the screen and the player's lives are limited. Keep that in mind from now on.

The level lasts around for 1 minutes and 42 seconds before the track fades off. After beating this level, the player can now move on to the other circles or unlock Long Live The New Fresh if they already completed them.

## Layout

The level opens with harmless faded squares that shortly become dangerous of varying sizes appearing one by one. Halfway through the segment, a wall will rise to the right of the screen, and five spiked circles which explode into rings of sixteen circles each will appear to the left of the wall.
Once the circles have exploded, the wall will descend and square lines will start appearing from the right of the screen, moving to the left. These lines can either be short and large or long and thin. At this point, small faded squares will stop appearing but the large variant will continue to appear.
Near the end of the segment, a pink wall will rise to the left of the screen and another five exploding spiked circles will appear. Once they explode, the wall will descend and square lines will start appearing from the left of the screen, moving to the right. A checkpoint appears shortly after.
The start of the level's second segment is indicated by a line of rectangles fading in on one of the screen's edges. This happens four times until all four edges have been affected. Square lines from the previous segment will still appear until all four edge lines disappear, at which point large faded squares like the ones in the first section will begin appearing more than one at a time.
After a while, another pink wall will rise to the screen and five exploding circles will appear, and long thin lines of squares will start appearing at a lower rate compared to the first segment after the circles explode. About halfway into the segment square lines and large faded squares will stop appearing, replaced by large circular outlines that fill up and become hazardous and by spiked circles that explode into rings of eight circles. These two obstacles will appear in random positions on the screen.
Near the end of the segment, a large circular outline with multiple circular outlines inside it will appear; each of these outlines will fill one by one with harmful pink, starting from the inside and moving to the outside. They fill very quickly so be quick to get to the left or right of the screen. The level will revert to the previous pattern of circular outlines and exploding circles appearing randomly until the second checkpoint.
The final segment opens with a line of circular outlines appearing on the top and the bottom of the screen. These outlines will fill from left to right as a pink wall rises to the right and five exploding circles that explode into rings of sixteen circles each will appear. When these circles explode, circular outlines will stop appearing, the pink wall will descend, and large faded squares that appear more than one at a time and both types of square lines that move from right to left will begin appearing, with the lines appearing at a somewhat faster speed than earlier.
The level ends with a line of rectangles appearing one at a time on each edge of the screen. A Triangle will finally appear; collect it to end the level.

Hardcore Mode Changes
First Checkpoint* Small squares have less warning time and attack more frequently.
* The big squares appear frequently just like the small ones.
* the wall and the 5 pulse bombs appear to be late
* The 5 pulse bombs explode into more projectiles
* Square tracks move faster, are bigger and are longer.

Second Checkpoint* The big squares attack more frequently
* Square tracks move faster, and are longer.
* The pulse bombs explode into more more projectiles
* The expanding black hole in the center appears late then being early

Third Checkpoint* Square tracks move faster, and are longer.
* The wall and 5 pulse bombs come back at the second part of the phase

## Tips And Tricks

The beginning needs no tricks, but after the Pulse Bombs, dash through its projectiles. The moving lines start in the middle, so do NOT be in the middle. Make small movements throughout, and don't dash. It isn't necessary. As soon as the circles appear just before Checkpoint 2, you need to be in the top left corner. But when you see Checkpoint 2, IMMEDIATELY get out of there. The beginning plays over again, and that is all.

## Trivia

* This level introduces the bitpop band (now solo producer) Bossfight, who is well-known for their tracks in other rhythm games.
	+ Besides Milky Ways, they composed another soundtrack that is featured in this game: Commando Steve.
* This level, Chronos and Logic Gatekeeper are the only levels in Story Mode that can be played even *before* Corrupted is completed, as they are pre-unlocked in the game's Playlist and Challenge Mode.
	+ The above three and Creatures Ov Deception are the only levels that are unlocked by default.