Sycophant (With Pictures + Video) *SPOTLIGHTED!*

**Kog** · 07-20-2010

Sycophant by CogSpartan
You awake in a crashed drop-pod with no memory of how you arrived there. A feeling of deja vu takes you into a nearby facility that has long been abandoned. What secrets does this place hold? (One player only!)

After all the information on LBP2, I decided to not make any more levels until it was released. But of course, I couldn't resist returning to make one last LBP level.

This level incorporates all my favourite things in an LBP level;

Cardboard visuals (Don't let this fool you, the visuals are very unique, and I hope they impress )
Stickers! (Not enough to make it cartoony though!)
A good story (This levels story slowly unfolds and may have you going back multiple times to fill it all in.)
Simpleness (Though there are some logic heavy spots.)

Theres a lot of platforming to be had, and several puzzles that may take a bit to complete. Lots of text bubbles, but not enough to slow down the gameplay, and an ending that may be shocking for you.

As for the length of the level; played by me, (Someone whos played it too many times to count.) takes 15 minutes to complete. So I'm guessing it'll be between 15-20 minutes for a normal player to complete.

(Major props to anyone who finds the secret Cogcave ;D )

Spoiler - Pictures

Tada!

The crashed drop-pod.

The entrance to the facility.

The first puzzle, and the easiest.

It's all in the wrist!

The facility has seen better days...

One of the many notes you'll find throughout the level.

Plants!

Warning! Warning!

Spoiler - Video

Spoiler - The Story Explained (Beat the level before you read this!)

It's understandable that some of you may be confused by the story, as I did make it into a sort of puzzle that you had to piece together. So, for those of you who want everything to be clear, heres the entire story of the Sycophant storyline:

It all started with a Research and Development corporation known as Talon Corporation. This group was extremely powerful and rich as they travel the universe finding liveable planets and developing colonies on them, for both human living, and research. This took Talon to a planet in a remote region of space, known as the Gearus sector. Talon landed on this planet, and was quickly intrigued by it's unique plant life and terrain. They learnt that the deeper they went, the more plant life there was, and so they slowly began to mine into the surface, creating facilities on the way down.

After several months they discovered something that would change the whole universe. They found an energy source like no other, as it wasn't just energy, it was a sentient being. They built their facility around this energy and started to study it, after a while they discovered an amazing fact about the energy, when a living thing comes in contact with the energy, it becomes the energy's minion, or slave. Talon's Head decided to test this on humans, and so a group of people were chosen to touch the energy.

When they did, the humans lost all their personality, and became mindless puppets. Wanting to know more about these 'infected' Talon began to create a testing facility where they could see what physical and mental capabilities these things had. For many months this was the only thing they did until they became interested in the properties of the energy.

So, they extracted samples of energy from the source, and began to test it. Sadly, they learned the hard way what the energy could do as a laboratory (and a massive part of the facility) was lost because a MOLECULE of the energy was ignited, and then exploded. This intrigued the head of Talon, and he decided they would take this energy back to their planet to create bombs with it, allowing them to take over any planet they desired, or wipe it off the map.

The energy was not pleased with this though. He had tolerated the tests, but the fact that these people where using him for war, he decided to stop them. Using his power he commanded his slaves to attack the facility. The employees didn't stand a chance against the slaves, and quickly the facility was under the control of the energy. The head of Talon, and a small group of others escaped into a cruiser, and they escaped. Among those people was one of the test subjects, the only one that had fought the control of the energy.

The rest of the employees tried to get away in the docked freighter ship, but it had been grounded by the plant life that the energy controlled. What happened to the people left on the planet was unknown.

The energy realized that even though he scared off these people, more would return to use his power for war and to fuel their greed. He decided he would destroy himself. Unfortunately all of his slaves had perished, and there was only one remaining, the one that had escaped. Using all his remaining power, the energy took control of the escaped slave, and made him take a drop-pod back to the planet.

This is were the level begins. (Knowing that you've played the level, I'll leave out the adventure through the facility.)

After confronting the energy, the slave finds himself aboard the grounded freighter, there he finds some of the energy in a shipping box. With his employee identification, he activates an emergency substance removal machine, which triggers the energy to explode. As one molecule of the energy could wipe out a facility, the large chunk of it in the ship was enough to wipe out the entire planet, destroying the energy forever... or so it thought.

Unfortunately, the head of Talon had escaped with a small sample of the energy, and his science team had discovered a way to duplicate it.

And that's where the story ends...

As you should've seen in the title and description, this is a one player level. You CAN play with more though (As I've played with 3 people once) but it is best when you play it with one player. (Any Mutliple player related glitches will be ignored.)

HUGE thanks to goldenclaw13, as he came in and helped with a ton of the logic (Which loves him so) and with some of the visuals.

Enjoy, feedback is welcomed!

**pickled-punk** · 07-20-2010

Wow, this is a really great level.
I absolutely loved the visual style. The cardboard works great here. The odd-angled blocks of sckyscraper-sketch material applied to a space-ship, creates something completely unique. The combination with the other materials (black-white striped grabbable, and the boxes-material from Marvel DLC.) I also really like how the terrain keeps changing, a you reach diferent parts of the colony.
Only aspect I didn't like were the green sprouting leaves. Off course I understand the foreshadowing to the conclusion of your story, and it contrasts perfectly with the reds of Talon, still I felt it was less spot on then the rest of your design.

Your music was perfect. Liked how you changed the tracks. Eerie at the beginning, more dramatic Spaghetti-western style near the climax.

Gameplay is good. I really like the platforming, mixed with some not to hard puzzles.

The story is ambitious and works fine: some original and moving stuff here. (Fingers crossed for a sequel...?)

One small glitch: on the first puzzle, when swinging along the ceiling, you can get layer-changed to the back row, near the high tower with the button.

Great level. Five stars and hearted.

F4F, it would be great if you could take a look at one of my latest levels: Drones of Genius Loci, or Kurtz and the Dead City of Fabul.

**austimerr** · 07-20-2010

This is an amazing level! I don't know where to start! I guess from the beginning. Well As soon as I saw the planet that this level was set on I was blown away. There was great monkey climbing that fit in perfectly with the scenery! When I entered the complex I was faced with fun puzzles. The first puzzle where you had to move the sponge to get atop different areas was really interesting and entertaining. The second puzzle with the hawk pictures was frustrating. My least favorite puzzle area was underwater. I think it was number 4,The one where you had to make stairs with the blocks by moving them and lowering the water. I'm sorry but I hate that with a passion. It took my about 20 tries to get the dumb block to stay under the other one without tipping. From then on I loved every bit of this level. From the giant vines growing out of the planet to the giant living energy source! If any one is on the fence about playing this level take my advise and go turn on your Ps3 right now because you will love this level! I predict that if this is seen by enough people you will be in the next community spotlight! Great job! What a great way to finish off LBP 1!

**javi haguse** · 07-20-2010

Sounds cool! will give it a try!
oh, and lol @ the spoilers!

**RUBZMAN** · 07-20-2010

Going to give this a spin as soon as i come home. thx for sharing

**Kog** · 07-20-2010

Oh my, thank you all for the kind words

@pickled-punk I know about that layer change you talk about. You can actually get off it by swinging back to the left and you can grab the roof again, but I know how it is a bit annoying, so I'll change it's material.

EDIT: I changed the material so it isn't grabbable, so that should be ok now.

I've also added pictures, so check em out! (Video is uploading right now, should be up in an hour or two.)

**goldenclaw13** · 07-21-2010

{Cog}

Tsk tsk Cog, I see some grammar errors in your first post. Save it for THE ULTIMATE DESTINY OF SACKBOY WHO IS PROTAGONIST next time

To anyone who is still thinking about playing the level, If you're into some nice platform or puzzle game-play and loves a good plot like myself, this is a great level and definitely worth a play or two.

Also, if you decide to play race mode you'll end up with a few neat prizes as well

{Cave}

**Joey** · 07-21-2010

Cog looks great! i will have to give it a try soon

**Hex** · 07-21-2010

I love hanging from something and swinging like this

I'll try this level out.

**monstahr** · 07-21-2010

I really want to finish this, it was really cool, but puzzle number 4 maddened me. The blocks and the water. I knew what I had to do but the blocks just wouldnt stay. I gave up. I may try again later, especially if you could make some adjustments. say, winches to make them snap in place? or something.. i see someone else had trouble at that section too. i would love to finish the level at some point, i dont want to spoil it by watching the video.

5 stars and a heart anyways.

**goldenclaw13** · 07-21-2010

Originally Posted by monstahr

I really want to finish this, it was really cool, but puzzle number 4 maddened me. The blocks and the water. I knew what I had to do but the blocks just wouldnt stay. I gave up. I may try again later, especially if you could make some adjustments. say, winches to make them snap in place? or something.. i see someone else had trouble at that section too. i would love to finish the level at some point, i dont want to spoil it by watching the video.

Yeah, I found that one hard too, even with two or three people >.< While the water is up, try making an upside-down pyramid. If you're lucky, a block will fall in the right place to let you get up. Maybe I'll get Cog to make it easier...

**talbot-trembler** · 07-21-2010

I'll put this on the list for the next time I'm on!

**Kog** · 07-21-2010

@monstahr Ok, I've fixed that so the boxes won't topple when you try to stack them, though the puzzle is very easy now :P I guess it's better than really hard.

**Dragonvarsity** · 07-21-2010

Wow this level looks amazing after watching the first two minutes of the first video, I don't want to see all the secrets but anyway, I'll give it a try and tell you what I think.

**snail_po01** · 07-21-2010

wow amazing lv i cant rely say anything more because the people who posted above me used all the adjectives! lol

F4F: please try out my lv: the attack of the dragons(pt1)

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