Before I discuss the level itself, I would like to thank @Hyperbola for providing me with an opportunity to verify a list demon. It's been a long-term dream of mine. I would also like to shoutout @zentr_a, who made me the amazing thumbnail and showcased the level, and @turtlgd , who made the attempt count guess closest to the actual final number. He definitely deserves it as he's a very underrated player. Напоследок хотелось бы поблагодарить Vernam, который предложил показать этот уровень модам. I hope this gets rated. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Now about the level. Honestly, I thought this would be low mainlist difficulty when I started making progress on it 10 months ago. I recall doing 33-100 in ~2 days, but this level turned out to be much, much more difficult than I had expected. In that sense, it might be similar to Hard Machine, although harder and more balanced. It's very easy to learn but doing many skill based parts in a row felt incredibly difficult.
For reference, I beat The Golden ~2 years ago in 50k attempts, and spent 25k on Firework a year ago, getting 36-100x4, 16-98, and 65. I got Eternaltheory shortly after getting 65 and decided to stop playing Firework to 'quickly' verify Et. 144k attempts later and yeah that was a blunder lol. I want to apologize to Hyperbola for telling him that it was easier than Tartarus a while ago, but the grind just wouldn't end and I was very wrong about my initial thoughts on the level. I had good progress on the current version and the playtesters liked it, so I stuck with it. I still generally enjoyed it, even after some really dumb deaths at the easy ending, and I think that's what's important.
Plus a TOE 2 remake at the top of the list would be a little funny :)
ID: 92196326 Attempts: 144,758 Difficulty: 8+ (Tier 35, much harder than Firework imo, though I could be wrong due to verifier bias + I played a bunch of different versions ranging from top 1 to top 50) Enjoyment: 8/10 when consistent, 3/10 when playing poorly Gameplay: 6/10 (Not amazing but kinda satisfying) Discord: hyperlith
Before I discuss the level itself, I would like to thank @Hyperbola for providing me with an opportunity to verify a list demon. It's been a long-term dream of mine. I would also like to shoutout @zentr_a, who made me the amazing thumbnail and showcased the level, and @turtlgd , who made the attempt count guess closest to the actual final number. He definitely deserves it as he's a very underrated player. Напоследок хотелось бы поблагодарить Vernam, который предложил показать этот уровень модам. I hope this gets rated. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Now about the level. Honestly, I thought this would be low mainlist difficulty when I started making progress on it 10 months ago. I recall doing 33-100 in ~2 days, but this level turned out to be much, much more difficult than I had expected. In that sense, it might be similar to Hard Machine, although harder and more balanced. It's very easy to learn but doing many skill based parts in a row felt incredibly difficult.
For reference, I beat The Golden ~2 years ago in 50k attempts, and spent 25k on Firework a year ago, getting 36-100x4, 16-98, and 65. I got Eternaltheory shortly after getting 65 and decided to stop playing Firework to 'quickly' verify Et. 144k attempts later and yeah that was a blunder lol. I want to apologize to Hyperbola for telling him that it was easier than Tartarus a while ago, but the grind just wouldn't end and I was very wrong about my initial thoughts on the level. I had good progress on the current version and the playtesters liked it, so I stuck with it. I still generally enjoyed it, even after some really dumb deaths at the easy ending, and I think that's what's important.
Plus a TOE 2 remake at the top of the list would be a little funny :)
ID: 92196326 Attempts: 144,758 Difficulty: 8+ (Tier 35, much harder than Firework imo, though I could be wrong due to verifier bias + I played a bunch of different versions ranging from top 1 to top 50) Enjoyment: 8/10 when consistent, 3/10 when playing poorly Gameplay: 6/10 (Not amazing but kinda satisfying) Discord: hyperlith76-100 TODAY HOPEFULLY | 81-100x3 | Stream #24Hyperlith2024-07-06 | 76-95x5 | 81-100x3 | 85-100x3 | 88-100x63 | 91-100x245 Discord: hyperlithinternet buggin lolHyperlith2024-07-05 | 76-95x5 | 81-100x3 | 85-100x3 | 88-100x63 | 91-100x245 Discord: hyperlithThinking Space II 76-95x5 | 81-100x3 | (short) Stream #23Hyperlith2024-07-05 | 76-95x5 | 81-100x3 | 85-100x3 | 88-100x60 | 91-100x235 Discord: hyperlithRebalancing TS2 | Stream #22Hyperlith2024-07-04 | 76-95x5 | 81-100x3 | 85-100x3 | 88-100x60 | 91-100x235Thinking Space II 76-95x4 | 81-100x3! | Stream #21Hyperlith2024-07-04 | 76-95x4 | 81-100x3 | 85-100x3 | 88-100x57 | 91-100x221Thinking Space II 76-95x3 | 81-100x2 | Stream #20Hyperlith2024-07-02 | 76-95x3 | 81-100x2 | 85-100x3 | 88-100x52 | 91-100x221Thinking Space II 76-95x3 | 81-100x2! | Stream #19Hyperlith2024-07-02 | 76-95x3 | 81-100x2 | 85-100x3 | 88-100x52 | 91-100x221Thinking Space II 76-95x3 | 81-100 | Stream #18Hyperlith2024-07-01 | 76-95x3 | 81-100 | 85-100x2 | 88-100x46 | 91-100x201Thinking Space II 76-95x2 | 81-100 | Stream #17Hyperlith2024-06-28 | 76-95x2 | 81-100 | 85-100 | 88-100x43 | 91-100x201Thinking Space II 76-95x2 | 81-100!! | Stream #16Hyperlith2024-06-27 | 76-95x2 | 81-100 | 85-100 | 88-100x40 | 91-100x192Thinking Space II 76-95x2 | 81-98x3 | Stream #15Hyperlith2024-06-26 | 76-95x2 | 81-98x3 | 85-100 | 88-100x33 | 91-100x170Thinking Space II 76-95x2 | 81-98x3 | Stream #14Hyperlith2024-06-25 | 76-95x2 | 81-98x3 | 85-100 | 88-100x27 | 91-100x145Thinking Space II 76-95 | 81-98 | Stream #13Hyperlith2024-06-25 | 76-95x3 | 81-98x2 | 85-100 | 88-100x24 | 91-100x130Thinking Space II 76-95 | 81-98 | Stream #12Hyperlith2024-06-23 | 76-95 | 81-98 | 85-100 | 88-100x19 | 91-100x12076-95 | 81-98 | Stream #11Hyperlith2024-06-23 | Runs (prior to this stream) 76-95 | 81-98 | 85-100 | 88-100x15 | 91-100x105Thinking Space II Stream #9 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-22 | 76-95 | 85-100 | 88-100x12 | 91-100x80Thinking Space II Stream #10 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-22 | 76-95 | 82-95x5 | 85-100 | 88-100x12 | 91-100x90Thinking Space II Stream #8 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-21 | 76-92 | 82-95 | 85-100 | 88-100x11 | 91-100x70Thinking Space II Stream #7 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-21 | 76-91 | 82-95 | 85-100 | 88-100x8 | 91-100x60Thinking Space II Stream #6 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-20 | 76-89x5 | 82-95 | 85-100 | 88-100x5 | 91-100x45Thinking Space II Stream #5 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-18 | 76-89x4 | 85-100 | 88-100x4 | 91-100x35Thinking Space II Stream #4 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-17 | 76-88 | 82-93x3 | 88-100x4 | 91-100x28Thinking Space II Stream #4 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-16 | 76-88 | 82-93x3 | 88-100x4 | 91-100x28Thinking Space II Stream #3 (Runs in description)Hyperlith2024-06-16 | Tired this evening 82-93x3 | 88-100x2 | 91-100x22Thinking Space 100% (All Collectibles Tutorial 😎)Hyperlith2024-06-16 | (Completed on 2.206 without mods) I like quite a few things about this level, but my experience with it was soured by my fails (98, 92, 91x12, 90), which I felt did not match my high consistency with the ending.
I also want to point out that I think this level is genuinely pretty good for its time (2015). This was created at the very beginning of 2.0, and used the new triggers in an unpolished but interesting way. If you use your imagination, the level depicts a 1.9esque journey through a snowy landscape with ruins and a cave. I wish more extremes were themed after a landscape or some exploration.
Attempts: 4858 (Less than Citra but this took me 18 hours while Citra took 10, so TS is harder fs)
Difficulty: 6.6 (Mid tier 33, right between Citra and Enjoy/TG)
Enjoyment: 8/10 before 98, 3/10 after
Gameplay: 8/10 (I believe the base gameplay of this level is excellent. If it was balanced or even just less chokepoint-based, it would be one of the best early extremes. I initially expected the beginning to be boringly easy but it was fun to fly through the first ship and wave every attempt. They're genuinely well-designed.)Thinking Space II Stream #2 (88-98x5 91-100x14)Hyperlith2024-06-15 | Uploading TS video laterThinking Space 98% 92 91x10 skullHyperlith2024-06-13 | Hopefully beating it this streamVERIFYING THINKING SPACE II (Stream #1!)Hyperlith2024-06-13 | I beat Thinking Space, and I'll upload it later today :)Thinking Space 98% 92 91x4 90 88x7Hyperlith2024-06-12 | Hopefully beating it this streamThinking Space 92, 91x2 88x5Hyperlith2024-06-11 | I strained my hand too much so I took a longer break, but I'm going to start grinding the game againThinking Space 91 88x4 (Day 4)Hyperlith2024-06-09 | I strained my hand too much so I took a longer break, but I'm going to start grinding the game againThinking Space 88x2 86 85 (Day 3)Hyperlith2024-05-27 | I strained my hand too much last time so I had to take a short break.Thinking Space 73x2 72x6 skull 68-100x2 (Day 2 kinda)Hyperlith2024-05-27 | I strained my hand too much last time so I had to take a short break.Thinking Space 72% 68-100 (Day 2 kinda)Hyperlith2024-05-26 | I strained my hand too much last time so I had to take a short break.Chill Thinking Space StreamHyperlith2024-05-24 | It's late so I won't stream for longLearning Thinking Space w/ GLOBEDHyperlith2024-05-24 | Day 1! Let's see if I can beat it quicklyFirework 2.2 FIX VERIFIED!Hyperlith2024-05-23 | This is unofficial at the moment, but I hope the server version receives these fixes! TLDR 2.2 added a bunch of chokepoints (which I did not nerf), so it was real rough lol
ID: 105547415 Fixes done by Diamond and I: 37%, which was a pure coinflip regardless of how you enter the blue portal (still broken on server version as of 5/22/24) 64%, teleportal bug (already fixed on server version) 78%, block (improved on the version from the server) 88%, another blue portal bug (already fixed on server version)
I beat this without cbf, but I honestly believe it should be allowed on the demonlist. If everyone uses it, RobTop won't be able to just dismiss it like he does with so many other things. I'm sure everyone reading this already knows that contacting and convincing Rob takes a lot of effort lol (e.g. Tidal Wave and other rates). Running the game at 240 with or without cbf looks good, but 480 fps makes my screen look choppy due to fps inconsistencies, which resulted in headaches. I just want to play on lower fps with low input delay.
Ok, Firework story time. I actually first played the level in 2020, when Kurumi was verifying. Vernam asked me to verify it after Kurumi and Doli dropped it, but I ended up passing it on to Trick so that I could finish The Golden (on which I had 90% back then). I sincerely regret that decision, though honestly Trick did a solid job with the level, so it might've been for the better. Unfortunately, 2.2 buffed it and ruined the previously good balancing! I'll talk about that at the bottom of the description.
Attempts: 37839 from 2-3 years ago, 5386 new attempts on 2.1 to get 98%, 26927 attempts on 2.2 😓😔 (I also had to switch from the viper mini to the sayo due to hand pains) 70152 total.
Difficulty: 8.2 (IMO 2.1 version is easier than Eternaltheory and the 2.2 version is harder, but for other people, both might be harder than Eternaltheory.)
Enjoyment: 8/10 on 2.1, 2/10 on 2.2
Gameplay: 8/10 on 2.1, 4/10 on 2.2. The level was pretty well balanced on 2.1. The hardest parts were the predrop and 64-71 imo. Both halves felt around the same difficulty. On 2.2, the hardest parts became chokepoints in the first half: 2%, 9%, 40% primarily, and other percentages also felt slightly harder.
Discord: hyperlithFirework 2.2 fix VERIFIED!Hyperlith2024-05-22 | Getting rather tired of this level now
Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix 88x3 14-100 (x2?) (98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-21 | Getting rather tired of this level now
Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix 88x3 14-100 (x2?) (98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-20 | Getting rather tired of this level now
Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix 88x3 14-100 (x2?) (98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-15 | Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix 88x3 14-100 (x2?) (98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-13 | Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix 88x2 (98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-10 | Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix 88% 87 (98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-09 | Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix 88% 87 (98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-08 | Unofficial btwVerifying Firework 2.2 fix (88%, 98% on 2.1 lol)Hyperlith2024-05-06 | ...Thinking Space II (to be verified by me)Hyperlith2024-03-04 | Balancing and gameplay will be subject to change!
Sorry for being inactive on yt recently. I've been busy with school and playtesting this over the past few months. I also came back to Firework for two days and got 98 lmao. I will finish it and begin practicing TS2 over spring break (after my midterms). I've been involved with this level for over two years now and I'm still super passionate about it :)
At the moment, I plan for this to be harder than eternaltheory.Back from vacation! | Beating R3D ROOM [2.2 Extreme Demon?]Hyperlith2024-01-07 | ...Beating I wanna be the guyHyperlith2023-12-25 | ...2.2 Extreme Demons | Beating I wanna be the guy (Deep Ocean Moon 100%)Hyperlith2023-12-24 | ...