I appreciate how much genuine design input he gave. Lots of player psychology to consider, like fires exciting players for the end and coins acting as arrows to follow. Absolutely love this.
I think my favorite thing about this level is how it feels like it could totally exist in a real Mario game. That's not something you get very often from Mario Maker stages!
This isn't an advertisement, as Polygon legally needs to disclose if it is, and there is no mention of that in the video or description (as far as I can tell).
I usually run away from indie wanne be retro platformers because I think most of them miss the point of what those old games were really about, but this video sold me Shovel Knight. Plus I can respect Herbster not only for his skills as a designer, but also for being smart enough to realize who his target audience is, what do they want and how to take advantage of this opportunity to advertise himself.
Yep. I highly respect the developers of some of my favourite games (spelunky, la mulana, castlevania), but you can see that Yacht Games knows how to make a fun 2d flatformer. Por cierto, por que merluza congelada del dia?
If only custom music was a thing, because I always love listening to the Flying Machine theme during autoscroll airship stages. If only strong wind was a thing here...
I remember coming to a remake of the airship from shovel knight on the 100 mario challenge it was really good but really long so it was really hard to complete hopefully that guy will reuload with checkpoints
oh wow, that was great, definitely my favorite so far. really well made, fair but not too easy, and as +Nick Robinson said, feels like it could exist in a proper Mario game. awesome!
That looks... like a good level, actually. Nice, fun, well paced with rising buildup and rising tension, and it feels like a genuine Mario level. I mean, it uses objects that naturall occur in Airship levels in Mario 3, and the autoscroll together with the objects gives it nice theming and elements of urgency. Level tells a story, sure, a simple one - Mario crossing from one cliff to another using Bowser's airship fleet - sure, not super complicated, but since when do Mario levels have to be complicated narratively? If someone transplanted this level directly into Mario 3 I don't think anyone would've noticed.
(insert joke about how Michael resembles Mario and it's Mario making Mario) Great Video Nick, Michael is one of the great 2D level designers at the moment and this series hasn't had a bad entry so far. keep them coming.
Interesting to see his thought process on why he made an auto scroll level, that he wanted a wall like in SMB1... Personally I can't stand auto scroll in 95% of cases, it completely prevents the player from setting their own pace for way too long, there is nothing more frustrating than dying during a slow moving auto scroll level IMHO.
This is 100% legit Mario seal of approval, the airship level from the original Mario 3 being one of best Mario levels of all. He placed too many mushrooms though. One near the start would make the level tighter.
I think the idea was a solid one, and the execution was mainly good. but providing you with a mushroom, right before the gauntlet of cannonballs, seems like a tremendous error to me. That section is, essentially, the finale, once you are past it you are pretty much done. However, due to Mario's generous invincibility after being hit, that mushroom essentially guarantees that you will complete that section. It undermines the last hurdle completely. In general, the mushrooms were too plentiful, but this last one is pretty egregious.
These sorts of talks always make me think about how the first thing to do when designing a level is to decide which level design rules you intend to break. And a lot of times, designers never break them.
I completely agree with him, almost everyone HATES water levels. Although the Treasure Knight battle was somewhat easy and really fun, with the great songs A Thousand Leagues Below and The Bounty Hunter playing in the Iron Whale level, the level has many parts that were a very, VERY obnoxious challenge. Nevertheless, it was a very well-made and difficult level.
1) I haven't gotten around to playing any of these Devs Make Mario levels, but I will! 2) It's the best segment idea. Keep it up! 3) Shovel Knight is terrific. :D
Sorry I made it on the 3ds version cos I don't have a Wii U. But still it is really good. Infact I might even do a video to showcase it. I'm very tempted!
Pretty legit stage, befitting of a solid level designer! If there's anyone else I'd want to see design a level for this series, it's probably Bryan Lee O'Malley, creator of "Scott Pilgrim."
I think this is the only really good stage that came out of this series (I haven't seen all videos, I'm just saying this with no expertise. The other levels I've seen looked stupid though).
+Harper Wilkinson He mentioned that he compared the physics of both games and decided to go with SMB3 finally. The level is also played w/SMB3 at the end
It's kind of unfair having one of shovel knights designers and putting him with people who made visual novels, rythym games and multiplayer competitive games because him (and the other platformer developers) are inevitably going to be the only people who can properly talk about level design
I get that not everyone likes an excessively challenging level, but there's no sense of accomplishment in something so easy you could do it in your first try. I feel that a good level should have some trial and error. I guess the canon section is moderately difficult but the level as a whole just seems sort of "meh" to me.
Can you guys possibly unblock me from your Facebook page? I can't imagine how a journalist based company would I want sensor someone? Especially since all I did was comment on your constant talk of Destiny.
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
Auto scroll? Water level? My love of Shovel Knight aside, this man is a monster.
snagglewolf i agree
There are no enemies in video games. Just level designers.
I agree, the iron whale level was probably the hardest with the lich yard and explodatorium being close seconds.
The Batter
Both of them were easy for me
The worst was easily the exploratorium for me
CommanderLeo
The flying machine was the bane of my existance
It's refreshing to see a Mario Maker level that employs genuine good level design instead of just being difficult for the sake of being difficult...
I appreciate how much genuine design input he gave. Lots of player psychology to consider, like fires exciting players for the end and coins acting as arrows to follow. Absolutely love this.
I think my favorite thing about this level is how it feels like it could totally exist in a real Mario game. That's not something you get very often from Mario Maker stages!
+Nick Robinson (Babylonian) I had the same thought.
Totally agree. For a game called Mario Maker, very few levels feel authentic but this one looks like it certainly could belong there.
+Nick Robinson (Babylonian) Topic is Mario Maker, music is NΣΣT, top comment is Nick Robinson. Seems about right!
+Nick Robinson (Babylonian) Yep, makes sense why he's a level designer.
+Trevan Haskell He's also the producer of the video :b
I'll have to say: this kind of advertisement for mario maker is pretty sick. I love see developers talking about how they think about making a level
I just wish these type of things were the advertisements they used on tv, they could just edit it down a bit
This isn't an advertisement, as Polygon legally needs to disclose if it is, and there is no mention of that in the video or description (as far as I can tell).
I love how professional this guy was
This dude looks like Mario already
I thought he was the real Mario 😂
Mikuru Sunny rip Bob Hoskins
I usually run away from indie wanne be retro platformers because I think most of them miss the point of what those old games were really about, but this video sold me Shovel Knight. Plus I can respect Herbster not only for his skills as a designer, but also for being smart enough to realize who his target audience is, what do they want and how to take advantage of this opportunity to advertise himself.
+Merluza Congelada Shovel Knight is a great game and is definitely like those old classic NES games.
+BonJoviFanboy it's better than most NES games
+pietari218 Well, most of the NES library was trash so... yeah.
Yep. I highly respect the developers of some of my favourite games (spelunky, la mulana, castlevania), but you can see that Yacht Games knows how to make a fun 2d flatformer. Por cierto, por que merluza congelada del dia?
jmiquelmb Porque es la superior.
unsurprisingly, this guy makes one of the best levels in the series
If only custom music was a thing, because I always love listening to the Flying Machine theme during autoscroll airship stages. If only strong wind was a thing here...
thank the god's that wind is not a feature. There is enough form's of superexpert garbage allready
Yeah, a nice, simple, fun looking level, that actually looks like it could be in a real Mario platformer for the most part.
I remember coming to a remake of the airship from shovel knight on the 100 mario challenge
it was really good but really long so it was really hard to complete
hopefully that guy will reuload with checkpoints
oh wow, that was great, definitely my favorite so far. really well made, fair but not too easy, and as +Nick Robinson said, feels like it could exist in a proper Mario game. awesome!
This guy is awesome, his level is awesome, his understanding of player psych is awesome, and his jorts are awesome.
That looks... like a good level, actually. Nice, fun, well paced with rising buildup and rising tension, and it feels like a genuine Mario level. I mean, it uses objects that naturall occur in Airship levels in Mario 3, and the autoscroll together with the objects gives it nice theming and elements of urgency.
Level tells a story, sure, a simple one - Mario crossing from one cliff to another using Bowser's airship fleet - sure, not super complicated, but since when do Mario levels have to be complicated narratively? If someone transplanted this level directly into Mario 3 I don't think anyone would've noticed.
(insert joke about how Michael resembles Mario and it's Mario making Mario)
Great Video Nick, Michael is one of the great 2D level designers at the moment and this series hasn't had a bad entry so far. keep them coming.
Fave one of this series so far. Really liked his commentary, reminds me how wonderful the level design in Shovel Knight was
“It’s hard to make a good water level.”
I mean, damn dude, you did it though. I’d be proud of myself. I’m proud of YOU!
Yacht Club Games: * Makes Airship level in Mario Maker *
Propeller Knight: **HAPPINESS NOISE**
Interesting to see his thought process on why he made an auto scroll level, that he wanted a wall like in SMB1... Personally I can't stand auto scroll in 95% of cases, it completely prevents the player from setting their own pace for way too long, there is nothing more frustrating than dying during a slow moving auto scroll level IMHO.
This is 100% legit Mario seal of approval, the airship level from the original Mario 3 being one of best Mario levels of all. He placed too many mushrooms though. One near the start would make the level tighter.
i love this devs make mario thing you guys are doing. please keep them up.
I think the idea was a solid one, and the execution was mainly good. but providing you with a mushroom, right before the gauntlet of cannonballs, seems like a tremendous error to me. That section is, essentially, the finale, once you are past it you are pretty much done. However, due to Mario's generous invincibility after being hit, that mushroom essentially guarantees that you will complete that section. It undermines the last hurdle completely. In general, the mushrooms were too plentiful, but this last one is pretty egregious.
I mean he didn't spend as long on it as he would have if it was a shovel knight level
@@TechBlade9000
What are you even trying to say?
@@geico105 It's not going to be AS well thought out as his original levels
These sorts of talks always make me think about how the first thing to do when designing a level is to decide which level design rules you intend to break. And a lot of times, designers never break them.
I hope the shovel knight amiibo will unlock a costume in Mario maker!
its actually a thing
Maybe not, more just custom knight and fairy of shovelry, not much else I know of
This is a fantastic video. Love hearing what goes on in the mind of someone working behind the scenes.
It really resembles shovel knight's level design, as expected. It's one of the best mario maker levels ever made.
Its funny going back and watching these.
Sure beats the sorry excuse of a level the last one made. I enjoyed Michael's comments on level design!
Shovel Kinght for smash!
Be careful what you wish for
Oof
Welp
ZMM sadly shovel is an assist trophy. But if you get rivals of aether you can play as shovel
Well, at least he is in at all
I still have PTSD from Propeller Knight's Stage...... *cries*
this is some super legit stuff here. Awesome, reasonably challenging stage
This dude knows his stuff in making a good level.
Now this is a level I want to play!!
Great Level! Authentic
That one actually looks like something that could have been in an actual Mario game.
Probably my least favorite part of Shovel Knight was the water level auto scroll, the fire level one was fun I thought tho
I completely agree with him, almost everyone HATES water levels. Although the Treasure Knight battle was somewhat easy and really fun, with the great songs A Thousand Leagues Below and The Bounty Hunter playing in the Iron Whale level, the level has many parts that were a very, VERY obnoxious challenge. Nevertheless, it was a very well-made and difficult level.
This level is just wow
Honestly, these one is good enough to be on SMB3 or SMW. You can see it's been designed by a Shovel Knight dev.
1) I haven't gotten around to playing any of these Devs Make Mario levels, but I will!
2) It's the best segment idea. Keep it up!
3) Shovel Knight is terrific. :D
Man this dude is an epic level designer!
i recreated the iron whale in mario maker. im super proud of it!
Level ID?
Sorry I made it on the 3ds version cos I don't have a Wii U. But still it is really good. Infact I might even do a video to showcase it. I'm very tempted!
Pretty legit stage, befitting of a solid level designer!
If there's anyone else I'd want to see design a level for this series, it's probably Bryan Lee O'Malley, creator of "Scott Pilgrim."
Behold. The only person to like auto-scrolling levels.
Totally going to play your levels, dude! #ForShovelry
me: wow shovel knight and mario maker in one video? this is awesome
me after getting to the credits and seeing who the producer was: oh nevermind
Micheal gives me life bro omg
That's a nice room.
Now THAT was a good ass level design
This guy's really good at Mario, aren't him? And the level he designed is great too!
I must got this game and its my favourite side scrolled and adventure game other than Zelda ever
For the sake of people who want to go fast, autoscrollers should let the player move the screen forwards.
I can't be the only one who doesn't think he looks like Mario at all. The only thing they have in common is the moustache.
Flame pillars?
You mean the explodatorium's gimmick?
1:20 rocky wrenches' lives matter
3:34 I guess they matter now
He is truly a pro!
"Wrench throwers" "Fire pillars"
I think this is the only really good stage that came out of this series (I haven't seen all videos, I'm just saying this with no expertise. The other levels I've seen looked stupid though).
Favorite thing about these videos is the music.
Ps. Shout out to my shitty keyboard taking 3 mins to type this.
Cool!
I want a Shovel knight maker!
TIL that you can shake that fire bar thingie
is this guy in a hotel waiting for Jared to eat him fresh?
Discovering Megaman Maker in three.. two.. one..
> "And settled with Mario 3"
> clearly displays Mario World
I believe he stated he swapped between them repeatedly as he was building. The final level ultimately goes with Mario 3.
These videos have inspired me to dust the ol' Wii U off and make some levels
Derp Fart Have you some level IDs?
Not on me right now, my Wii U is charging. Besides, my levels aren't very good anyway
Derp Fart Ok. I have almost 50 levels so I will load couple of them.
Platforms of Peril: A976-0000-020F-5564
Plains of Passenger: 44CE-0000-02E7-FD0C
Did someone from polygon play the level?
Is nobody going to comment on how he kept saying it was _Super Mario Bros. 3_ even though it was displaying _Super Mario World_ (at the time)?
+Harper Wilkinson He mentioned that he compared the physics of both games and decided to go with SMB3 finally.
The level is also played w/SMB3 at the end
***** Oh, okay.
jorts
+RZA36 jorts, jants, and japris!
Tobias Funke made Shovel Knight?
5:08
YCG uses GameGenie confirmed
Eh. I don't like auto-scrolling levels, with the sole exception being the musical stages in Rayman Legends.
It's kind of unfair having one of shovel knights designers and putting him with people who made visual novels, rythym games and multiplayer competitive games because him (and the other platformer developers) are inevitably going to be the only people who can properly talk about level design
"Mario 3"
*Shows Mario World*
He ain't a Level Designer for nothin', y'know!
make a Super Mario Bros creator makes a Mario Maker level
no offense but this guy looks like he has free candy in his airships
Well, I’m on tower of fate, I cannot beat the first level, please give some pointers
Gold d'hôtel knight
Mario...3?
Did he ask to sit in the bed? I mean, it's not exactly the most flattering view...
Maybe he couldn't actually be there in person, so he recorded himself.
I get that not everyone likes an excessively challenging level, but there's no sense of accomplishment in something so easy you could do it in your first try. I feel that a good level should have some trial and error. I guess the canon section is moderately difficult but the level as a whole just seems sort of "meh" to me.
OH!! :D
Am impress
needs a hidden block at the end to kill the player
So he loved auto scroll? No wonder I hate Clockwork tower.
JORTS
he said Mario 3. i SAW Mario World. Ummmmmmmm...
+Bmofinn A.K.A The Mega Rant Bros. He says later that he switched and decided to go with Mario 3 instead.
You may be a biased game critics, but damn if you don’t make actually good content
Can you guys possibly unblock me from your Facebook page? I can't imagine how a journalist based company would I want sensor someone? Especially since all I did was comment on your constant talk of Destiny.
He's got some nice fupa right there.
good thing it's not upwards autoscroll