One of the things I love about Acropolis is it feels like the level isn't built for you; it doesn't care about you. There are these impossible-seeming gaps and awkward angles, and the level doesn't care, you just have to make it work. It makes it feel more immersive, like you're going through an inhospitable area.
WILT IN THE TOP 5??? thats crazy!!!! im so glad you like it :)) the theme is usually misunderstood, since it was supposed to be about nature withering and not the seasons, but the limitations we had on the level sort of forced me to only add 2 sections after shulk's green part, so it does kinda look like it goes from summer/spring to fall and then winter
i think a "timing level" is a level where the difficulty is derived primarily from inputs that are relatively sparse but very challenging, usually uncharacteristically so for the level's difficulty. i see a lot of timing-based levels are very slow-paced to align with this, as making it higher speed would render it a more conventional, albeit much more difficult, level. timing levels also usually lack wave or ship parts (or at least, the majority of the difficulty is not derived from these gamemodes), as the community generally regards skill for those two gamemodes to be separate from others as "timings."
24:20, there is NO way my crappy little level placed that high, I am so incredibly surprised by that. and honestly I am EVEN MORE surprised that you put wilt in fifth place. that's just so baffling to me, but it also makes me extremely happy to know that people play these pretty simple levels. I don't intend on being the best, or trying to create something absolutely incredible, but I am nonetheless happy to know that people enjoy these levels (usually).
i have no idea how krmal was able to translate the feel of lit fuse into a level, visually at least. it's one of the best songs ever used in the entirety of the game and it being so perfectly represented is insane
Bit surprised that none of Loltad's levels showed up, Auroral Bloom in particular is a big favorite of mine. Still a solid list nonetheless, good vid 👍
Something I adore about Acropolis is how the gameplay in the level feels so against the grain of what you’re used to seeing. In the wave sections, you transverse between blocks instead of slopes, and the ship sections are filled with strange slope corridors as supposed to the straight fly sections we’re so used to seeing.
I really liked your Extreme Demon video, and I liked this one a lot too! I'm very excited for the next three videos in this series, and the inevitable moment when Still Life gets placed at #1 for Medium Demons lol. You had some very interesting and varied takes in this one, and exposed me to many levels I haven't seen before that look pretty cool. For my money, the best Insane is The End.
finally some deserved attention for 'the place', such a ridiculously good level still, i cant help but be sad that harm didnt get rated, i wonder if it wouldve placed in the top 50
i’m so glad colorful overnight was mentioned here, it’s my favorite gd level, i don’t think anything before or since has drawn me in and mesmerized me to such an extent
The part in the Alika section about Devin only building in that style once is incorrect. He has a medium demon called Downside City that predates Alika, and there may be other levels in this style on his old account (the one with nonsense world)
Really good video, you talk about some seriously underrated levels, just kinda suprised you didnt talk about the end by zylenox. Thought it would be a level that interested you
sad to see some of my favourites didnt make it like crossroads and the end but this is a really good list anyway, really cool to see you put so much time into playing and picking, and youre one of the best at describing levels and what theyre trying to do
Funny thing, I'm well aware of the name "Kidsmoke" (it was a bit of a meme long ago) but this is the first I actualy see the level. And I didn't know about most of these levels and creators, so good job!
I have to defend the Duelo update - the looks, sure, maybe, but the gameplay became SO much more fun after the update! I was going for a solo completion of the level when the update came out, and even with having to relearn everything I was happy with it because it fixed so much in terms of predrop jank and made it so it just felt a lot more skill-based. Much more fun after the update :p
It's insane how Lit Fuse is almost 8 years old and still is the most mesmerizing GD level I think I've ever seen. Especially the ship part like you mentioned. On paper it's just some cool effects and straight fly gameplay that syncs to the music, but in practice it almost lulls me into a trace with how captivating it is. Anyways, I really enjoyed this video overall! I think shining a spotlight on some of these lesser known levels and revisiting the classics is a really cool idea. Can't wait for the rest of the series!
awesome video, definitely serves as a list of great levels to try! (please watch the whole video if you want to read more!!!) the much older levels definitely caught me off guard, and im super glad theyre still as appreciated as newer levels are! i especially didnt expect horntail cave to even remotely be on this list, but im so so glad it is. its adventurous feel and intimidating nature are immaculate for and still hold up. acropolis is genuinely one of my favourite levels of all time. its grey, claustrophobic theming goes SUPER hard with the specific part of final battle zobros uses, and the theme itself is executed pretty much perfectly in my eyes. the spike jump part before the wave is repetitive, but its repetitive done right. it builds so much suspense, and really makes the following wave part feel a lot more intimidating... and a lot more special, as well. i know many people really arent a fan of the gameplay, and i completely respect that, it certainly isnt for everyone! for me, however, it was incredibly fun and pretty consistent! the spike jumps and last wave were an extremely nervewracking pair (i died to them a fair few times), but nonetheless they didnt wreck my experience whatsoever. super glad this level got a place as high as it did, definitely zobros's best work, imo. the woogi levels dont need much explaining, really. i absolutely love his levels to bits, with their vibrant decoration and fun, engaging gameplay! im stoked for the hard demon video!
Thank you for making this. My skill level lies right at insane demon, and it's extremely difficult to find playable levels of that difficulty P.S. I WILL finish this video and if crossroads isn't woah zone I'm headed to your home
i genuinely enjoyed this more than the extreme demons video, some of these levels are incredible to me, especially breadboard, kidsmoke and the place, it was also nice to discover several levels that i had no idea existed, although, it is a shame not to see any hinds level or FFFFFF by vlacc here i'm looking forward to the top 100 hard demons, it's my favorite difficulty !!!
Timing levels are generally labeled as such because they're typically slow speed and can't focus on fast/flow gp. I get your argument but with slow and difficult levels there is definitely more emphasis put on precision as opposed to other levels of the same difficulty in order to make up for it's less frequent inputs, it's almost like a trade-off, the more precise inputs you have in quick succession, the harder the level is generally regarded as
i wasnt really making an argument, just voicing my confusion. i think i get what people mean by timing based gp now, even if it is kind of a misnomer imo
@@WHErwin It's not really a misnomer. Every click in Gd technically is a timing, but timings-based levels are usually levels that focus on very precise jumps with small input windows. Similar to how every level in gd technically requires nerve control, but longer levels require that skillset more than shorter ones.
One hard demon I think you should consider for the list is Sunfall. The atmosphere, the gameplay, and the deco are all amazing. It is my favorite hard demon and not many people know of it.
something i noticed about the place is that not a single jump exists without a purpose. no orbs, platforms, or gameplay elements just float on their own. it's overlooked a lot but it adds so much to theming (also something that donkey kong country does well)
I love the top 1 pick SO MUCHHH, I'm actually trying to beat it as my first insane demon ig I have really good taste (bigger surprise than 2.2 dropping fr)
I can understand why Spacelocked II isn't on the list because it's only a minute long and pretty fast paced, but it's probably the most fun level I've beaten. The gameplay flows unbelievably well and even though there's not a particularly strong theme, it just oozes character. Absolute banger. Also I think it should probably be hard demon
9:06: "memory gameplay will never be good" >proceeds to place a memory level at #1 Despite me thinking memory is the most fun thing in the game this is a pretty solid list, I like the top 3 choices a lot
On your question about what a “timing level” is, I’d say that it’s a level which is generally slow paced, or fast faced but with spaced timings so that you’re actually focusing on which frame you must jump, instead of instinctively going through a fast paced level where you rely more on muscle memory and reflexes.
I think they call it “timing based” because instead of having high cps, memory, blind clicks, etc. every click is layed out for you and you just have to time them right
I really enjoyed this video, there were a lot of demons I had never heard of before that were in this list which is really cool imo. I’m really surprised Transtellar by Grax didn’t place on the list, considering EXG and Broken Signal were already in your lists, I thought it would place really high tbh
I'll be honest, I didn't care how you positioned those levels. (Largely because the presence of some levels is predictable). I've always been interested in hearing reviews of the different levels, but I like reviews like the ones pocke and you did the most. When I found out you were doing a list of the best insane demons (best difficulty btw), I was very excited (definitely not because my level might show up there :clueless:). Anyway, great video. Can't wait for my grandkids to see the list of best hard demons :)
I believe nebunyx's comment explains timing levels decently well but I'd also like to add that when timings in a level are sparse, you have to rely more on your eyes and reactions rather than muscle memory. Levels like wasureta and cognition have tight timings but you end up relying on muscle memory due to the speed of their gameplay. Also I'm surprised Quantum Variations didn't make the list. It was made in earlyish 2.1 and still looks great. The effects match the song and it's super fun imo.
Aw i wished reentry made it higher. As a victor of it, it’s my favorite insane demon, and that end section still wows me. But im glad it made the honorables. Since you seem to like kiwipenguin’s levels, you should see his new release (still not rated but he has a showcase of it) called Neurostasis. It’s in my opinion the level of the year. It has the complexity of a story but the simplicity of his other works like Dreamer.
Good video i enjoyed it a lot. The only objection i had was Gloom, which i found to be a worse version of void. I didn’t think it was as imaginative as you did
This was such a blast of a video, man. I remember when my main focus was grinding insane demons (which I should really get back into at some point) and I found a lot of banger levels of the difficulty, so many of which showed up on your list! You also gave very valid reasons for the hotter takes on here. I also have to give it to you for putting your own levels on these lists, it really shows you have confidence in your work and don’t care what anyone else thinks. Honestly this is probably my favorite video of yours, you did such a great job with this one :) I also want to put some of my personal faves down here that weren’t on the list, just as some extra recommendations: - 8E8E6 by cynir - violet glint by cordeaux & scorpsi - Steel Nightmares by CornFungi - Gone to the store by koko43 & skywalker14 - Mastermind by Hinds - Feral by Insidee & more - Lustre by OliSW - CONK by SirHadoken - Free level by heatherhayes - grindfury by loogiah & Hinds - Ultraviolet by ViPriN & others (I’m biased because this was my hardest at one point lol) Don’t worry, I saw your post regarding why there’s no Hinds levels on the list. I just really wanted to share them here ;)
Do you have the playlist that you used for this list? I’m interested in seeing every insane demon, but it’s kind of hard to find a showcase for all of them lol
Imo, timing based essentially means a levels gameplay consists of many tight timings, but with clicks not in quick succession, unlike flow levels such as prismatic haze that rely much more on muscle memory.
Wherwin: The OBJECTIVE Top 50 GREATEST of all DEMONS time Also Wherwin: EVERYONE IS WRONG about level criticism except ME You really need to grow to be a better person than that I am really disappointed.
Kidsmoke is the best insane demon imo but you kinda glossed over why I like it so much Every single part makes you focus on a specific part of the screen. the first ship part for example has this really hard gap you have to enter, meaning you have to focus on the weird wall thing on the right, waiting to see where you have to maneuver. The wave and that ship part you mentioned has you looking at the flashing structures and memorising where they were so you can pass by them, the first ball has a large difficulty spike that makes you look out for it, the following cube has really strange cube movements and vertical screen scrolling etc This ended up having a really weird effect on me while playing, because I focused on the screen in that way, a lot of the really rough deco blurred out and I only really saw the form of whatever the art was. and that's why the level ends up looking way better than it does on a surface level
@@WHErwin it was kinda like that for me tbh, I always liked it but I could never figure out why, so I thought about it a lot and the more I did the more I liked ot
Surprised to not see any Hinds or Hinds-styled levels on the list. FFFFFF by Vlacc is one of my favorite levels in the game with an interesting concept/limitation. Seems like you are more into quirky effect levels than I am.
First of all, I'd like to say that this list is awesome. I think it represents genuinely some of the best we've to offer and also you're awesome for including Kidsmoke and having Colorful Overnight so high. Both of those levels captivate me and have captivated me for years without fail. Now, I know i kind of spammed this in your community posts but I'd like to make a case for Rupture by Jekko as i did with Glide in your extreme demon video. I think it's another one of those examples that utilizes memory in a thematic and natural way. When i think about the word "Rupture" I think of catastrophe, something in decay and something that is falling apart. This movie sucks, but think about the scene from 2012 where all buildings and infrastructure of a city is being pulled down into the earth in the most sporadic way possible and everyone is in complete panic. While I dislike the movie 2012, I'm still enamored by this concept as it's scary to me. Rupture is a level that I think pulls off this same chaotic and panicked vibe. Take the first part for example, If you were to simply look at it in the editor, it looks like very conventional 1.9 memory gameplay, but in practice, you have to get around in the most unconventional way possible. Jumping at orbs and and portals at awkward and sharp angles. I love that, it feels like something used to make sense here but it's now simply fallen into the decay of the level. You have to tackle this level in a way that is not conducive to a regular geometry dash experience. I do think this vibe does drop off a little bit towards the middle section of this level, but it never keeps disinterested for too long throwing me right back into the chaos. I think the song also helps it out in thst regard, I understand the level was named after the song, but I don't think that takes away from the theming in the slightest. It's a fitting title, with a fitting song for the theme, and has fitting gameplay that pushes forward the feeling that you are actively running from something that is falling apart in an unpredictable and jagged way. Idk that's my piece, great list though
I think "timing levels" is reserved for levels that use no memory and have very easy to follow gameplay that is still tight. Sure Nine Circles also needs timing in its gameplay, but the flashes are much more central to the gameplay than timing as in congregation for example.
As somebody who loves [the #1 level] I aprove of this list and I know that having unpopular opinions is valid... (But lets be honest, 4 Matilida did deserve a spot on the list)
magma bound at 34 hurts to see. it was a terrible experience for me cuz it was a new hardest, but i can definitely point out all the stupid shit in that level. i've got ptsd from it at this point lol
Usually when i hear or see "timing based gameplay" referenced, people are specifically referring to timing that is intentionally awkward or stunted in certain ways. I still think its stupid to complain about it since using awkward timings is just a way to make the very simple gameplay style of GD slightly more complex and interesting.
ok two levels that i think should be in here: 1)Gumshot, i understand that high cps flow gameplay isn't exactly everybodies cup of tea, but visually speaking the levels stunning. 2)Night life, other then the fact that the level is just barely not an extreme demon, the level has a great atmosphere and the pre-drop makes you feel like your going through a city
I find it interesting that you hate memory levels while enjoying more timing focused levels. I feel the opposite, I enjoy memory (learny too) and hate timing levels. Now I don't always enjoy memory levels, I have to be in a patient mood for them so I can learn them, but I love the feeling of executing them. However, timing levels tend to just frustrate me, like the beginning of Lit Fuse. You brought up the fact that you are confused by what people mean by timing levels. When I say timing level, I mean a level that mainly tests timings, by making the timings in the level way harder than anything else. It's kind of like the way we call Nine Circles levels wave levels. You could argue that wave is all about timings, which I completely agree with. However, the wave gamemode is so much more complex that just the timing of the gaps themselves. When people say that Acropolis is a timing level, they are saying that the level mainly gets its difficulty from timings rather than other skills like: ship, wave, nerve control, consistency, speed, or memory. Although I disagreed a lot with some of the choices, mainly the ones I've played, I could see where you were coming from on a lot of them. I know I would hate playing levels like Acropolis, but I still like it for its atmosphere. I respect Lit Fuse for gameplay the you will not see anywhere else, although playing it makes me want to punch my computer. Thanks for making this video, as there are now a lot of levels that I am now going to play that I didn’t know exsisted before.
@@WHErwinso the later seriously tho chill lol people are allowed to like things you don't I feel like this hits different than teasing someone for not liking something you like
alika is actually a part of a level series, so its not the only level devin's made that uses that style. look it up! also i hope you know that nonsense world by mynamejefff is a devin level. thats his first account. i assume you know this but just making sure anyway, good video! i like most of your takes here
I think what makes this kind of review great is that it directly contrasts with Robtop's taste for levels. He prefers highly refined and clean levels but doesn't take into accountability uniqueness as much, while you disregard those kind of levels and value the more original kind of levels, even if they are rather rough around the edges. I also think this list is a bit more comprehensible than the extreme demon lists you've done since you also used gameplay to justify some ratings, which you couldn't do for extremes.
One of the things I love about Acropolis is it feels like the level isn't built for you; it doesn't care about you. There are these impossible-seeming gaps and awkward angles, and the level doesn't care, you just have to make it work. It makes it feel more immersive, like you're going through an inhospitable area.
i despise acropolis lol
Watching Acropolis: wow, this is cool!
Playing Acropolis: okay, this is hard
Beating Acropolis: I want to kill zobros
good point
everything in the level except for the first cube is like the most fun i have ever had playing any level in this game
True, it literally feels like you’re trying to travel through a place that you’re not supposed to be, which fits with the theme perfectly.
WILT IN THE TOP 5??? thats crazy!!!! im so glad you like it :))
the theme is usually misunderstood, since it was supposed to be about nature withering and not the seasons, but the limitations we had on the level sort of forced me to only add 2 sections after shulk's green part, so it does kinda look like it goes from summer/spring to fall and then winter
Cant believe he put Love Baba at number 1 🤩
Wow that was insane of you to put Edge of the Universe at #1, very brave 👏
scared the hell out of me
i think a "timing level" is a level where the difficulty is derived primarily from inputs that are relatively sparse but very challenging, usually uncharacteristically so for the level's difficulty. i see a lot of timing-based levels are very slow-paced to align with this, as making it higher speed would render it a more conventional, albeit much more difficult, level. timing levels also usually lack wave or ship parts (or at least, the majority of the difficulty is not derived from these gamemodes), as the community generally regards skill for those two gamemodes to be separate from others as "timings."
indubitably sire that paragraph indeed was well written may I offer a positive review on your reply to this video please
24:20, there is NO way my crappy little level placed that high, I am so incredibly surprised by that. and honestly I am EVEN MORE surprised that you put wilt in fifth place. that's just so baffling to me, but it also makes me extremely happy to know that people play these pretty simple levels. I don't intend on being the best, or trying to create something absolutely incredible, but I am nonetheless happy to know that people enjoy these levels (usually).
They are better than you think
@@adaPd theres some people that just leave super nasty comments and they dont think twice before posting them
@@Shulkern well that's not pretty but still good if you made just one person's day better.
@@Shulkerngloom is one my faves of all time
nice, The Janus Miracle is my favourite insane demon too
quite controversial to put white women at #1, but i respect it
Bruh spoiled it for me
Bruh you spoiled it for me
Its not actually true
Bruh you spoiled it for me
@@Falcolique not real
i have no idea how krmal was able to translate the feel of lit fuse into a level, visually at least. it's one of the best songs ever used in the entirety of the game and it being so perfectly represented is insane
Bit surprised that none of Loltad's levels showed up, Auroral Bloom in particular is a big favorite of mine. Still a solid list nonetheless, good vid 👍
Something I adore about Acropolis is how the gameplay in the level feels so against the grain of what you’re used to seeing.
In the wave sections, you transverse between blocks instead of slopes, and the ship sections are filled with strange slope corridors as supposed to the straight fly sections we’re so used to seeing.
incredibly grateful you managed to put my goals with mothmelons into words better than I ever have, good stuff man
shes the silly
Hi sammy
I really liked your Extreme Demon video, and I liked this one a lot too! I'm very excited for the next three videos in this series, and the inevitable moment when Still Life gets placed at #1 for Medium Demons lol. You had some very interesting and varied takes in this one, and exposed me to many levels I haven't seen before that look pretty cool. For my money, the best Insane is The End.
I think putting removed Submission at #1 even tho it isn't even an insane demon was a bit narcistic honestly
finally some deserved attention for 'the place', such a ridiculously good level
still, i cant help but be sad that harm didnt get rated, i wonder if it wouldve placed in the top 50
i’m so glad colorful overnight was mentioned here, it’s my favorite gd level, i don’t think anything before or since has drawn me in and mesmerized me to such an extent
The part in the Alika section about Devin only building in that style once is incorrect. He has a medium demon called Downside City that predates Alika, and there may be other levels in this style on his old account (the one with nonsense world)
yea lol i was gonna say
whoops
Really good video, you talk about some seriously underrated levels, just kinda suprised you didnt talk about the end by zylenox. Thought it would be a level that interested you
sad to see some of my favourites didnt make it like crossroads and the end but this is a really good list anyway, really cool to see you put so much time into playing and picking, and youre one of the best at describing levels and what theyre trying to do
sad to see no SFW or Shallow Dive but overall i vibe with this list, especially colorful overnight being up so high
Really interesting list, surprised that there's no Hinds levels on the list since they have a lot of great insane demons
Funny thing, I'm well aware of the name "Kidsmoke" (it was a bit of a meme long ago) but this is the first I actualy see the level.
And I didn't know about most of these levels and creators, so good job!
sword dance at #1 is ballsy but i respect it
I have to defend the Duelo update - the looks, sure, maybe, but the gameplay became SO much more fun after the update! I was going for a solo completion of the level when the update came out, and even with having to relearn everything I was happy with it because it fixed so much in terms of predrop jank and made it so it just felt a lot more skill-based. Much more fun after the update :p
pixels
It's insane how Lit Fuse is almost 8 years old and still is the most mesmerizing GD level I think I've ever seen. Especially the ship part like you mentioned. On paper it's just some cool effects and straight fly gameplay that syncs to the music, but in practice it almost lulls me into a trace with how captivating it is.
Anyways, I really enjoyed this video overall! I think shining a spotlight on some of these lesser known levels and revisiting the classics is a really cool idea. Can't wait for the rest of the series!
awesome video, definitely serves as a list of great levels to try! (please watch the whole video if you want to read more!!!)
the much older levels definitely caught me off guard, and im super glad theyre still as appreciated as newer levels are! i especially didnt expect horntail cave to even remotely be on this list, but im so so glad it is. its adventurous feel and intimidating nature are immaculate for and still hold up.
acropolis is genuinely one of my favourite levels of all time. its grey, claustrophobic theming goes SUPER hard with the specific part of final battle zobros uses, and the theme itself is executed pretty much perfectly in my eyes. the spike jump part before the wave is repetitive, but its repetitive done right. it builds so much suspense, and really makes the following wave part feel a lot more intimidating... and a lot more special, as well.
i know many people really arent a fan of the gameplay, and i completely respect that, it certainly isnt for everyone! for me, however, it was incredibly fun and pretty consistent! the spike jumps and last wave were an extremely nervewracking pair (i died to them a fair few times), but nonetheless they didnt wreck my experience whatsoever. super glad this level got a place as high as it did, definitely zobros's best work, imo.
the woogi levels dont need much explaining, really. i absolutely love his levels to bits, with their vibrant decoration and fun, engaging gameplay!
im stoked for the hard demon video!
Niflhel > niflheim
you may have a True... (i havent played niflhel that much)
i don't like the first cube because it's harder than everything else in the level, but everything after it is amazing
31:31 spooked me a little bit seeing me in one of your videos lol. great list, lots of really interesting level choices i wouldn't have thought of
Bloodbath leaderboard guy.
Thank you for making this. My skill level lies right at insane demon, and it's extremely difficult to find playable levels of that difficulty
P.S. I WILL finish this video and if crossroads isn't woah zone I'm headed to your home
NOOO CROSSROADS DIDN'T EVEN MAKE THE LIST
I'm probably the only person with a favorite insane demon that isn't even on the list lol
@@HelloHSRmy favorite is leyak lol
i genuinely enjoyed this more than the extreme demons video, some of these levels are incredible to me, especially breadboard, kidsmoke and the place, it was also nice to discover several levels that i had no idea existed, although, it is a shame not to see any hinds level or FFFFFF by vlacc here
i'm looking forward to the top 100 hard demons, it's my favorite difficulty !!!
Timing levels are generally labeled as such because they're typically slow speed and can't focus on fast/flow gp. I get your argument but with slow and difficult levels there is definitely more emphasis put on precision as opposed to other levels of the same difficulty in order to make up for it's less frequent inputs, it's almost like a trade-off, the more precise inputs you have in quick succession, the harder the level is generally regarded as
i wasnt really making an argument, just voicing my confusion. i think i get what people mean by timing based gp now, even if it is kind of a misnomer imo
@@WHErwin It's not really a misnomer. Every click in Gd technically is a timing, but timings-based levels are usually levels that focus on very precise jumps with small input windows. Similar to how every level in gd technically requires nerve control, but longer levels require that skillset more than shorter ones.
@@sebthenose huh, thats a sensible argument
One hard demon I think you should consider for the list is Sunfall. The atmosphere, the gameplay, and the deco are all amazing. It is my favorite hard demon and not many people know of it.
that does sound promising. dw, when the time comes ill look at all of them and if its as good as you say it is itll make the list
something i noticed about the place is that not a single jump exists without a purpose. no orbs, platforms, or gameplay elements just float on their own. it's overlooked a lot but it adds so much to theming (also something that donkey kong country does well)
I love the top 1 pick SO MUCHHH, I'm actually trying to beat it as my first insane demon ig I have really good taste (bigger surprise than 2.2 dropping fr)
I can understand why Spacelocked II isn't on the list because it's only a minute long and pretty fast paced, but it's probably the most fun level I've beaten. The gameplay flows unbelievably well and even though there's not a particularly strong theme, it just oozes character. Absolute banger. Also I think it should probably be hard demon
I entirely did not expect wilt to be mentioned, its my current favorite level and its severely underrated
Lit Fuse at #2 is unfathomably based, I love pretty much everything about it and to this day consider it Krmals best work
9:06: "memory gameplay will never be good"
>proceeds to place a memory level at #1
Despite me thinking memory is the most fun thing in the game this is a pretty solid list, I like the top 3 choices a lot
On your question about what a “timing level” is, I’d say that it’s a level which is generally slow paced, or fast faced but with spaced timings so that you’re actually focusing on which frame you must jump, instead of instinctively going through a fast paced level where you rely more on muscle memory and reflexes.
I think they call it “timing based” because instead of having high cps, memory, blind clicks, etc. every click is layed out for you and you just have to time them right
I really enjoyed this video, there were a lot of demons I had never heard of before that were in this list which is really cool imo.
I’m really surprised Transtellar by Grax didn’t place on the list, considering EXG and Broken Signal were already in your lists, I thought it would place really high tbh
kappa boss fight at #1 as expected
Im surprised not a single loltad or sodaz lvl is on the list, but I like the fact there are a lot of unknown lvls on the list
Dang you didn’t put Boreas by DiamondDemon935 on the list. Rip
😥
I loved the numbers between 50 to 26
I'll be honest, I didn't care how you positioned those levels. (Largely because the presence of some levels is predictable). I've always been interested in hearing reviews of the different levels, but I like reviews like the ones pocke and you did the most. When I found out you were doing a list of the best insane demons (best difficulty btw), I was very excited (definitely not because my level might show up there :clueless:). Anyway, great video. Can't wait for my grandkids to see the list of best hard demons :)
I believe nebunyx's comment explains timing levels decently well but I'd also like to add that when timings in a level are sparse, you have to rely more on your eyes and reactions rather than muscle memory. Levels like wasureta and cognition have tight timings but you end up relying on muscle memory due to the speed of their gameplay.
Also I'm surprised Quantum Variations didn't make the list. It was made in earlyish 2.1 and still looks great. The effects match the song and it's super fun imo.
Props to you for putting Congregation at #1!
Not including *any* of gmdmann's Rainbow Trilogy levels (Bichromatic, Multichromatic, & Ultrachromatic) on this list is frankly criminal.
I was really happy seeing place by spu7nix get 1st place
Aw i wished reentry made it higher. As a victor of it, it’s my favorite insane demon, and that end section still wows me. But im glad it made the honorables.
Since you seem to like kiwipenguin’s levels, you should see his new release (still not rated but he has a showcase of it) called Neurostasis. It’s in my opinion the level of the year. It has the complexity of a story but the simplicity of his other works like Dreamer.
Woo yeah shoebill!! I beat that 6 times because its so good and fun
Good video i enjoyed it a lot. The only objection i had was Gloom, which i found to be a worse version of void. I didn’t think it was as imaginative as you did
The Secret Box is so secret that this guy doesnt even know about the best insane demon in GD
This was such a blast of a video, man. I remember when my main focus was grinding insane demons (which I should really get back into at some point) and I found a lot of banger levels of the difficulty, so many of which showed up on your list!
You also gave very valid reasons for the hotter takes on here.
I also have to give it to you for putting your own levels on these lists, it really shows you have confidence in your work and don’t care what anyone else thinks.
Honestly this is probably my favorite video of yours, you did such a great job with this one :)
I also want to put some of my personal faves down here that weren’t on the list, just as some extra recommendations:
- 8E8E6 by cynir
- violet glint by cordeaux & scorpsi
- Steel Nightmares by CornFungi
- Gone to the store by koko43 & skywalker14
- Mastermind by Hinds
- Feral by Insidee & more
- Lustre by OliSW
- CONK by SirHadoken
- Free level by heatherhayes
- grindfury by loogiah & Hinds
- Ultraviolet by ViPriN & others (I’m biased because this was my hardest at one point lol)
Don’t worry, I saw your post regarding why there’s no Hinds levels on the list. I just really wanted to share them here ;)
Grindfury mentioned :DDDD
@@Gooey yep, issa banger
Do you have the playlist that you used for this list? I’m interested in seeing every insane demon, but it’s kind of hard to find a showcase for all of them lol
i dont have a playlist, i used gdbrowser
Imo, timing based essentially means a levels gameplay consists of many tight timings, but with clicks not in quick succession, unlike flow levels such as prismatic haze that rely much more on muscle memory.
I'm happy that windy landscape is on #7. This is my favorite level of all time. Sadly it's impossible at 2.2 now lmao
Hopefully by now you know, but it is very possible
It's sad that Blast Furnace is not even included in the list.
Such an underrated and forgotten insane demon.
Not me at 2 am having to up and down my volume in panic because of the constant earrape countdown music
Wherwin: The OBJECTIVE Top 50 GREATEST of all DEMONS time
Also Wherwin: EVERYONE IS WRONG about level criticism except ME
You really need to grow to be a better person than that I am really disappointed.
Kidsmoke is the best insane demon imo but you kinda glossed over why I like it so much
Every single part makes you focus on a specific part of the screen. the first ship part for example has this really hard gap you have to enter, meaning you have to focus on the weird wall thing on the right, waiting to see where you have to maneuver. The wave and that ship part you mentioned has you looking at the flashing structures and memorising where they were so you can pass by them, the first ball has a large difficulty spike that makes you look out for it, the following cube has really strange cube movements and vertical screen scrolling etc
This ended up having a really weird effect on me while playing, because I focused on the screen in that way, a lot of the really rough deco blurred out and I only really saw the form of whatever the art was. and that's why the level ends up looking way better than it does on a surface level
originally kidsmoke was around the 30s but i kept raising it because it grew on me as i worked on the video
@@WHErwin it was kinda like that for me tbh, I always liked it but I could never figure out why, so I thought about it a lot and the more I did the more I liked ot
Surprised to not see any Hinds or Hinds-styled levels on the list. FFFFFF by Vlacc is one of my favorite levels in the game with an interesting concept/limitation. Seems like you are more into quirky effect levels than I am.
FFFFFF was in consideration for the list, but I couldn't figure out how to beat it. Just a frustrating experience
@@WHErwin Yeah Vlacc levels are a bit of an acquired taste gameplay wise.
@@WHErwin sounds like a skill issue ngl
@@xDmakc if i dont have fun with a level thats not my fault
First of all, I'd like to say that this list is awesome. I think it represents genuinely some of the best we've to offer and also you're awesome for including Kidsmoke and having Colorful Overnight so high. Both of those levels captivate me and have captivated me for years without fail.
Now, I know i kind of spammed this in your community posts but I'd like to make a case for Rupture by Jekko as i did with Glide in your extreme demon video.
I think it's another one of those examples that utilizes memory in a thematic and natural way. When i think about the word "Rupture" I think of catastrophe, something in decay and something that is falling apart. This movie sucks, but think about the scene from 2012 where all buildings and infrastructure of a city is being pulled down into the earth in the most sporadic way possible and everyone is in complete panic.
While I dislike the movie 2012, I'm still enamored by this concept as it's scary to me. Rupture is a level that I think pulls off this same chaotic and panicked vibe. Take the first part for example, If you were to simply look at it in the editor, it looks like very conventional 1.9 memory gameplay, but in practice, you have to get around in the most unconventional way possible. Jumping at orbs and and portals at awkward and sharp angles. I love that, it feels like something used to make sense here but it's now simply fallen into the decay of the level. You have to tackle this level in a way that is not conducive to a regular geometry dash experience. I do think this vibe does drop off a little bit towards the middle section of this level, but it never keeps disinterested for too long throwing me right back into the chaos.
I think the song also helps it out in thst regard, I understand the level was named after the song, but I don't think that takes away from the theming in the slightest. It's a fitting title, with a fitting song for the theme, and has fitting gameplay that pushes forward the feeling that you are actively running from something that is falling apart in an unpredictable and jagged way.
Idk that's my piece, great list though
I think "timing levels" is reserved for levels that use no memory and have very easy to follow gameplay that is still tight. Sure Nine Circles also needs timing in its gameplay, but the flashes are much more central to the gameplay than timing as in congregation for example.
As somebody who loves [the #1 level] I aprove of this list and I know that having unpopular opinions is valid...
(But lets be honest, 4 Matilida did deserve a spot on the list)
magma bound at 34 hurts to see. it was a terrible experience for me cuz it was a new hardest, but i can definitely point out all the stupid shit in that level. i've got ptsd from it at this point lol
was not expecting to see electrorush on here. thanks lol
Hard Demon video is greatly anticipated
"Centrists get the bullet in this house"
*10 min later*
"It strikes that balance between X and Y"
My top:
10: Cursed Mansion
9: Acropolis
8: Colorful Overnight
7: Ultrasonic
6: Dark Travel
5: Crazy III
4: Dark Rainbow Rebirth
3: Poltergeist
2: Future Funk II
1: Osiris
I love how you broke free from the trend of saying “in my opinion”. Because, well it’s not an opinion. This is objective fact!
lots of levels i didn't know in here. most of them were good !!
lots of real cool levels in this I hadn't even heard of, definitely gonna check them out
the blood room better be #1
the blod rom 🔥🔥🔥🔥
22:29 geometrical dominator and deadlocked also end in such a fashion.
Colorful Overnight is still my favourite level in the game, seeing it at number 3 made me so happy
seeing windy landscape at #7 was the biggest relief, i was starting to worry it wasnt gonna be on the list
I beat Wilt as my hardest a while back. It’s a really fun level for mobile 60hz too.
Where's Driproom?
Idk why but I love Butiti II I’m sad it didn’t make it but it makes sense I don’t think the quality is very good compared to a lot of levels nowadays
Usually when i hear or see "timing based gameplay" referenced, people are specifically referring to timing that is intentionally awkward or stunted in certain ways. I still think its stupid to complain about it since using awkward timings is just a way to make the very simple gameplay style of GD slightly more complex and interesting.
ok two levels that i think should be in here:
1)Gumshot, i understand that high cps flow gameplay isn't exactly everybodies cup of tea, but visually speaking the levels stunning.
2)Night life, other then the fact that the level is just barely not an extreme demon, the level has a great atmosphere and the pre-drop makes you feel like your going through a city
Good thing you put Ballistic Wistfully at #1
38:42 THANK YOU!!! i have never understood this
8o in the top 20 is crazy
I find it interesting that you hate memory levels while enjoying more timing focused levels. I feel the opposite, I enjoy memory (learny too) and hate timing levels. Now I don't always enjoy memory levels, I have to be in a patient mood for them so I can learn them, but I love the feeling of executing them. However, timing levels tend to just frustrate me, like the beginning of Lit Fuse.
You brought up the fact that you are confused by what people mean by timing levels. When I say timing level, I mean a level that mainly tests timings, by making the timings in the level way harder than anything else. It's kind of like the way we call Nine Circles levels wave levels. You could argue that wave is all about timings, which I completely agree with. However, the wave gamemode is so much more complex that just the timing of the gaps themselves. When people say that Acropolis is a timing level, they are saying that the level mainly gets its difficulty from timings rather than other skills like: ship, wave, nerve control, consistency, speed, or memory.
Although I disagreed a lot with some of the choices, mainly the ones I've played, I could see where you were coming from on a lot of them. I know I would hate playing levels like Acropolis, but I still like it for its atmosphere. I respect Lit Fuse for gameplay the you will not see anywhere else, although playing it makes me want to punch my computer. Thanks for making this video, as there are now a lot of levels that I am now going to play that I didn’t know exsisted before.
17:57 I love the triple trial gameplay, my life is complete.
skimmed and didn't see the end by zylenox... not sure if I'm blind or you're just wrong
song sucks donkey balls
@@WHErwinso the later
seriously tho chill lol people are allowed to like things you don't
I feel like this hits different than teasing someone for not liking something you like
@@JamAttack dw i wasnt offended or anything, just explaining my reasoning. youre not the first to ask about that level lol
alika is actually a part of a level series, so its not the only level devin's made that uses that style. look it up!
also i hope you know that nonsense world by mynamejefff is a devin level. thats his first account. i assume you know this but just making sure
anyway, good video! i like most of your takes here
i did know, yes
@@WHErwin well now you know both!
OH MY GOSH THE PLACE ITS MY FAVOURITE INSANE I WAS ANGRY BC IT WASNT ON THE LIST TURNS OUT IT WAS NUMBER 1
so glad 8o got a top 20 spot. jumped from B to 8o and i enjoyed all 30,000 attempts. i genuinely don't understand the people who hate it.
wasn’t expecting buff this to be your number 1 choice, but i still enjoyed the video!
did he just say...
_j u m p r i n g ?_
also my heart actually stopped when I heard carp minor, one of the most fun wave levels ever (imo)
Fusion Core at 20 is crazy. It was my hardest at one point.
As someone who just yesterday crashed into the very last spike in Acropolis, I approve this message.
I think what makes this kind of review great is that it directly contrasts with Robtop's taste for levels. He prefers highly refined and clean levels but doesn't take into accountability uniqueness as much, while you disregard those kind of levels and value the more original kind of levels, even if they are rather rough around the edges. I also think this list is a bit more comprehensible than the extreme demon lists you've done since you also used gameplay to justify some ratings, which you couldn't do for extremes.
8:33 didnt see that one coming
Didn’t expect Switchblade to be #1, but I guess everyone has their own opinions
spoiler
GOOD
50: EXG
49: Evercharging
48: Bee nest
47: Veil
46: Epil
45: Electrorush
44 MothMelons
43: Feel
42: WhoWhatWhereWhy
41: Inane demon
40: Foggy Morning
39: Smochs
38: Night Crawlers
37: RIppley
36: Dreamer
35: Dust
34: Magma bound
33 Crazy 3 (I have personal experience, it’s good for the most part expect for the dual)
32 nonsense world
31: Moodwave
30 Klutz
29: Drop Box 2
28: Horntail cave
27: Chancla
26: Moon
Honorable mentions
HM 1: Carb minor
HM 2: Footnote
HM 3: Reentry
HM 4: El Dorado
HM 5: Meet dress express
HM 6: Don’t look Don’t speak
Good tier P2 (main list)
25: Dark travel
24: H B F S
23: Gloom
22: Ultimo Universo
Great tier
21: Shoeball
20 Fusion core
19: Breadboard
18: 8o
17: Hi
16: Kidsmoke
15: New Bloom
14: Stalemate
13: Ultrasonic
12: Edge of the universe
11: Dual maestro
10: Home
9: Alika
8: The far sky
7: Windy Landscape
6: acropolis
Woah zone
5: Wilt
4: Beneath the surface
3: Colorful overnight
2: Lit fuse
1: The place
Great list, most of these levels are my favorites too. I'm surprised Found by Rowan isn't mentioned, also a banger insane demon!
I cant lie I laughed out loud when i realized you were noclipping your own level at 32:31
i could use my verification footage, but that has facecam in it so i decided to just grab my showcase
there actually are more devin levels in the alika style, the downside series for example