Sequels SHOULDN'T be Faithful to the Original Level (Geometry Dash)

Sequels in GD are often disliked for “straying too far from the original level”. But being similar to the original isn’t the point- it’s a sequel after all, not a remake- so why is the Geometry Dash community so critical of them?
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[@rootbeerfloathaspop3301]

The comments I gathered for the purposes of this video required me to scroll through a pretty toxic comment section! Wouldn't you say that's worth a subscription and a hitting of the bell? Also, check out my video about Dark Dimension here: th-cam.com/video/fqw79Lc3iOo/w-d-xo.html

[@banderofficial]

This is definitely worth hitting that subscribe button and notification bell

[@GDGroundflower]

rootbeer may have the most gigachad opinions out of any gd player

[@MAYEROSAGD]

An explanation as simple and clear as the one in this video should be echoed in the GD community so as not to confuse the terms Sequel and Remake. Great video

[@rootbeerfloathaspop3301]

Thanks, I’m honoured that you think so.

[@JustBreadGD]

I agree that a sequel doesn't have to have the same deco and gameplay style as its predecessor to succeed. Still, it is important that the viewer is able to identify it as a sequel without being explicitly told by the creator. For example, Waterfall has so little resemblance to firework, that if it was never branded as a sequel, no one would have ever connected the two levels, and for this reason, while the quality of the level is excellent, it fails as a sequel in my opinion. Waterfall was called a sequel for the sole purpose of riding the coattails of fireworks success. Deimos (ItsHybrid) is an example of an excellent sequel where the viewer has those moments of nostalgia where they see what they loved about phobos, displayed in the fine details of the level. It doesn't have to have the same deco or gameplay style necessarily, but there needs to be something that brings the original back to life.
Great video and I love that you are challenging the popular opinion with this one

[@rootbeerfloathaspop3301]

I don’t think the connection needs to be that obvious to a casual observer for a sequel to serve its purpose. Subtle similarities like those between Firework and Waterfall work great imo.

[@JustBreadGD]

@rootbeerfloathaspop3301 at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference so I can't say your wrong

[@rainbownoob2927]

I think that a remake should be somewhat similar to the original, but not downright copying it.
I think that a sequel should be less similar to the original, but coming up with its own ideas so it's not a copy

[@ytac-ss7vz]

I like sequels that bring something new, while still being similiar to their predecessor in some ways.
Bloodbath is a perfect example: it uses some similiar designs, familiar styles and the continuation of the same song. But the color scheme shifts from Red/Orange/Black to Red & Black, to exalt the theme of Blood throughout the level; the parts have a more vertical gameplay compared to Cataclysm, to match the different type of intensity in the level. So, it keeps some of the iconic aspects of Cataclysm which connect the two levels, but it also builds something new out of it by a change in atmosphere.
Aftermath on the other hand, does not do this succesfully in my opinion. The level is good on its own, but as a sequel to Bloodbath I think it fails. It keeps all of the same aspects as Cataclysm, so it looks and plays identical aside from the short parts of the ending and beginning.
So, what I like most is when the level still feels like it's connected to the prequel, but "something" happened between the two which makes the two distinguished in many various ways, which impacts all aspects of the level

[@VuuV-k]

I totally agree. A sequel should not be the same thing as the original level ,but I do think that it should have a tiny resemblence to the original level.

[@endervine3676]

I especially like when they use a similar style with new designs, colours, themes etc.
Amethyst is an amazing sequel to The Golden - New colours, gameplay is similar but more synced etc.

[@banderofficial]

eating pasta again, great vid and congrats on almost being at 4k 🎉

[@rootbeerfloathaspop3301]

Thanks, what’s your favourite sequel?

[@banderofficial]

@@rootbeerfloathaspop3301 erm grief by icedcave for sure 🤓👆

[@banderofficial]

nah but fr probably anathema

[@handofchaos5735]

what i think is that sequels have a sorta goldilocks zone to it, not too faithful yet not too far out. it's why i think hugohmf's version of cosmic cyclone works better, because it has some deco aspects of sonic wave but polished, but it also has original parts (e.g, the wave effects). the apteam version just doesn't work at all, WAY too far out from sonic wave.

[@rootbeerfloathaspop3301]

I disagree

[@ytac-ss7vz]

Another interesting example of a sequel is Cosmic Cyclone. It's a very good level, but I'm conflicted on how good it is as a sequel.
The gameplay is VERY similiar from Sonic Wave, uses the same tropes and the exact same gameplay progression.
However, the space theme gives it a very different style and intensity from Sonic Wave. The song is also different.
I think this is an example of a sequel which tries to implement things from the prequel (Sonic Wave), which is a very good thing, but it does it so much that it doesn't leave space for something new, aside from the song & theme change.
But as a remake it still goes hard. I think the reason why it's named/considered "sequel" is because many remakes in GD are just simple redecoration/buffs, but CC is much more than that. This level feels like a high quality "continuation" of Sonic Wave, but I'm not sure if it feels like a remake or a sequel. I'd like to hear some other opinions

[@OnlyTryingYouTube]

does this mean i get to say that every single thing ive ever built is a sequel to anastasia and koteeva and no one can stop me

[@rootbeerfloathaspop3301]

Sure

[@OnlyTryingYouTube]

​@@rootbeerfloathaspop3301 ok thats kinda epic ill take full advantage of that

[@FaeiGD]

ye

[@koalatreegaming2950]

root beer based as always.

[@cyphenex512]

based take

[@klosbati7321]

how many sequels does nine circles have?

[@TheAmazingKamGD]

This is a fair point

[@kingklasherz4834]

there just should NOT be as much sequels and remakes as there are in the GD community. is promoting unoriginality imo

[@rootbeerfloathaspop3301]

No