Wario Forums

Oh,wait. It's Lava Reef,just remembered. XD

Not spoilers for me! At least you haven't spoiled *where* you got the emeralds, though.

It's a great game, but nothing beats Sonic 2 for me in the series. That game is just fantastic all around.

I think you forgot Metropolis' level design there. =P

Metropolis has its tricks you can get around. The main reason why it's so infuriating is because it was the stage Naka wanted to experiment with endless loops. I think it also has some very cheap hits, like with the star fish guys looming in the sides of the walls while you go up the screws.

Also the enemy placement in some places (correction:almost everywhere) is bad,where you can't really see them and unless you somehow memorize the layouts you'll always get hit by them. Though the same goes for Marble Garden in Sonic 3,just dialed down a bit. =P

Marble Garden is an abomination.
I have a comparison post I want to write, just need to include it in a separate post. XD
Marble Garden Act 1 map: http://info.sonicretro.org/images/3/3c/Mg1map.PNG
Metropolis Act 1 map: http://info.sonicretro.org/images/8/8b/S2_map_MPZ1.png

._. I never realized that Metropolis Zone was more straightforward than Marble Garden....Though I usually cut it closer with Marble Garden zone with the 10 minute time limit (Or 10 minute limit,if you will).

If you look at those maps, both are very big and seem daunting. I feel like MG is the loser here because while like in Metropolis, you can find the way you need to go to get through the level, Metropolis is much more forgiving in level design...

To get around in MG, you have no stage elements that naturally guide you through the layout of the level like Metropolis does with its little transport system similar to S1 and the level loops. MG is a huge maze that's meant to take a long time and it really, really hinders the game play, even more so than in Sandopolis in S&K.

If you look at Metropolis 1, you'll see how the level cuts off a lot at the top and bottom. This is great because it not only does its job by making you think the level is bigger, it also helps put you through the level quicker.

MG gives you more opportunity to go fast, but it also pits you with more cheap hazards that are hard to avoid every single time you play. Metropolis lets you master it after a few tries, but MG never does. It's always a trap no matter how many times you play it.

Metropolis loses with enemy placement. Screw those one clawed crabs and the mantis things.

I'm so sorry, 420 characters is hard to meet. ._.

I have spent more than 2 minutes trying to get out of a single area in Metropolis Zone, MG although I'm often splitting paths multiple times,I'm still not stuck in the same,though that can also be due to the fact that the scenery is much more similar.

It's fine,I understand. =3 (About the 240 character limit. XD)

That's totally fair. MG's level design in general, graphics, hazards, etc. trip me up very bad because it all looks so similar. Metropolis always looks different and helps give me the sense that I'm progressing.

And I perfectly agree with you,though Sandopolis Sucked...I literally had an anxiety during the level while I was recording...But I understand whee your getting at,I never really thought about the level designs too much though. I should think a bit more critically. You've convinced me though. XD

I think both levels are just labyrinths that have their own strengths and weaknesses. I'm sorry if it seemed like I was coming on strong in replies, I just wanted to explain my own viewpoint.

Yup,though I still like I'm progressing in MG,but Metropolis I only really gt stuck once,and I don't get stuck often in MG,I just go onto different routes that take longer just give me more rings or something like that,and then I lose them later on...Though that's my same issue with Carnival Night Zone just waaaaay less worse. (And no cheap deaths often times)

Sandopolis 2 with Knuckles is horrible. I don't blame you, that was really the only level that freaked me out as a kid.
I think it's a balance between both level design and personal preference and talent. Example, I love arctic levels and can't stand air levels. There's people who are the opposite.

It's perfectly fine. =P I don't really mind,it was nice to talk critically about a game with somebody,because my sister just plays the levels and doesn't care about bad level design (she doesn't play games often =/) And my brother just gets mad if he gets stuck or killed. So it was nice to do that. =P