"Sent" by Qubb // Geometry Dash 2.2
[PLS READ, I PUT EFFORT INTO MY DESCRIPTIONS]
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Firstly, I know this level's already featured. I don't care. It's a great level, it's underappreciated, and Qubb is also underappreciated!
Secondly, in case you guys don't know, this level is a remake of "Scent" by Optical, the legend himself. That was Opti's first level of 2.1, released around early February 2017. Seven years and an update later, we have a good fucking remake level for once. You don't see that very often. Last time I saw a good remake was "Paperworld by TamaN" by nasgubb, which was all the way back in 2020.
Cuz that's kinda the problem right now, right? Remakes everywhere, especially extreme demons, and most if not all of them are overthought and soulless. I know this isn't an extreme (not even a demon) but that's KINDA one of the reasons why this is so refreshing. It's not a remake of another extreme demon.
Of course, that's not the only reason why I love this as a remake, it's mainly because it excels in something super important that very few remakers ever actually care about. That something is expansion of ideas. You don't just try to make it look better (which is already smth most remakers fail at) but you also expand on the ideas from the original level in your own interesting way. ESPECIALLY when you make the level one whole update apart from the original, you kinda have zero excuse not to.
Apart from that, this level also offers a pretty neat bunch of visual ideas strewn about the level such as the UI elements with the piano and audio responsive elements. I mean it's not nearly as technically advanced as Opti's original but again he made his in 2.1 and also that was kinda the value in the original but not so much on this one. Plus way fewer ppl now care about it because you can do so much more in 2.2, that the only thing that really matters now (and should've always mattered from the beginning) is how well executed it is and how dope it is in a vacuum, and not just from the perspective of GD and it's limitations.
Not only that, but if you look closesly, this level also has some cute subtle movement details. It really shows how much Qubb cares about this shit. Try to catch all of em! I love how almost NOTHING is static in this level. Almost every object has SOME type of movement, even if it's subtle or minimal. You gotta have that animator mindset when making levels, for real. That's how u breathe life into your work.
Also, can we actually talk about how Qubb is one of the very few people remaining in the community who are actually carrying Optical's torch style-wise? (alongside people like obsco and maybe HollowEarth) I'm sure Opti would be so proud of them.
This is CRAZY improvement too, cuz I wasn't feeling a lot of Qubb's older works, especially when bro went as Fonter. But naw their last few works (including the preview in their YT channel) are actually really good. I'm hyped to see more.
Gameplay-wise it's kinda bleh with some indicator failures and readability issues but it's not like... rage inducing, a lot of em feel intentional like that last part so it's ok. One or two practice runs and you should be good.
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Recorded by: Myself
Qubb's Channel: @qubv
Music:
Erik McClure - Nuetronium
/ @erikmcclure
https://erikmcclure.bandcamp.com/