Surreality 2: A Sojourn and the Case of the Missing Sunglasses

[HardSync]

Hi all,

I hate doing this... really hate doing this... but I've just published my newest level, "Surreality 2: A Sojourn and the Case of the Missing Sunglasses."

From the level's description: "If the adventure almost began in part 1, then it starts properly here. Battle vicious fire ants, take a dangerous ride, slip past some scary specters, and challenge the nappiest of bosses. Multipath, secret areas, two endings, and someone nicked your shades."

My PSN is HardSync. The level can be found off the coast of England, kinda near Greenland I suppose.

Thanks go out to xkappax and GrantosUK for their help, testing, inspiration (the level is part tribute to their fantastic levels) and all their kind words.

And thanks to everyone reading this. Hope you enjoy the level.

Here's a vid (also posted below) that xkappax did of the beginning of the level (thanks, Kappa!)

[Watch YouTube Video]

HardSync

[xkappax•]

Unfortunately, with the state of cool levels, this is the sort of thing you have to do to get your level out there, so please don't feel bad for self promotion.

Anyway.

This is a very nice looking level. Sure, I'm probably biased, because I did some beta testing for it, but still. A very good looking and funny level. There are two endings to this level, too, so that's worth a second playthrough for that alone!

[GruntosUK]

Everyone should have a go at this, if just to see the "boss". Its a great level that will definetly make you all smile.

I'll have another go at the improved one later HardSync once I get the TV back see if I can get the high score again

[HardSync]

Thanks, kappa. You know, I'd be happy if it appeared on newest levels longer than say, 5 seconds...

Apart from that, I don't know how Mm calculates how levels get put on the highest rated, but there were tons of levels on there that have seemingly a lesser rating (percentage plays/hearts/stars) than my first Surreality level does. And does my first Surreality show up on highest rated? No. Does it show up anywhere? No. Mm hates me.

[graygoose]

well that was an interesting level.. beautiful level design and really user friendly. one gripe tho... IMO it was too dark and the hint of sephia fog made it darker...

oh and i liked how you gave the players the option on choosing their own music, thats the frist ive seen.

overall 4 stars and beautiful plus a heart.

SPOILER ALERT!

[SPOILER] oh and i killed the cat lol[/SPOILER]

[xkappax•]

Mm hates me too, so don't worry. They stopped doing mm picks the moment the hearted The Fall of Winter. lol. That's my luck, eh! ^_^ (in all honesty, i'm not complaining, i'm absolutely overjoyed that they hearted it in the first place!)

It actually doesn't make sense to me why you don't show up on highest rated, truth told. You have a pretty high heart to play ratio and star rating on your first level. I saw a level on page five of highest rated today that had 200 plays and 20 hearts. it didn't make sense to me!

I tend to agree with graygoose about the lighting. I have a westinghouse and a sony bravia. It's rather dark on the bravia but playable. It looks perfect on the westinghouse. Although, on the other side of the coin, you could put a gamma warning at the beginning of the level if you don't wish to tweak it. It was the same thing that happened with Centralia. Up to you, though, ultimately.

Here's a short video I took of your level, hardsync:

[Watch YouTube Video]

and to graygoose:

[SPOILER]graygoose, how dare you! what will the kittens do now!?[/SPOILER]

[HardSync]

Man, that is the best video ever. "Play it... because, why not, right?" I love it. We, that being my wife and me, laughed all the way through it (in a good way).

Ah, and 13 is a reference to Grantos's character in his levels.

As for the darkness, we've got a Sony Bravia as well. We tend to switch between Cinema mode and Standard mode depending on what we're playing. But you can either change the brightness on your TV or in LBP (I think)... if you need to. It looks just fine on our TV in Cinema mode, which is darker than standard... just saying is all.

But hey, kappa, thanks for doing a video! Really, really, really appreciated -- and we loved the commentary all the way through! Thanks so much!

[xkappax•]

I said "play it, because 'why not' " as a reference to something in the movie Spinal Tap. The one guy says he wants his tombstone to read "here lies david st. hubbins, and why not?" lol.

I had fun doing the video. I'm actually surprised I didn't die like 17 times on those ants. That seems to be the trend with me.

[HardSync]

haha. I love Spinal Tap. I've been trying to work out how to incorporate some Spinal in my levels. Exploding drummers? Maybe. "This one goes to 11"? Or how about the "black level". Yeah! (Note to graygoose: thanks for the heart ... sorry the level is too dark for you. If I increase the lighting, the level material doesn't glow any more... I don't know what to do. I suppose I could I dump the fog... but then the colours would be off... I'll have a play around with it tomorrow.)

As for the ants, kappa, you can actually "ride/kill" them all for for a 2x bonus. The trick is to start off in the middle or back plane... jump... and then ride/kill... It took a little trial and error to get them all placed like that. The last one is just slightly off from the others, but still gettable...

[Zommy]

LOOKS GOOD nice job

[Morgana25]

I am so going to "play it, because 'why not' "....tonight!
Great vid xkappax - I love the commentary


EDIT: Let me start this off by saying that it must be really interesting to know you in "real" life HardSync and I say that in the most respectful and non-sarcastic way possible. I love your level. I think it's because not only did I find it fun and challenging, it has an amazingly refined sense of humor that is darkly charming. I think you really have an interesting outlook on players and the world in general coming through in this level (As well as the first in the Surreality level - and yes I know what ubiquitous means.) The talking heads were a nice touch & I think you're a Monty Python fan and that's about all I want to mention in specific because xkappax is right - players really just need to play this level. Bottom line. If you're reading this now and you're not HardSync - seriously - step away from the PC and go play this level.

Have they gone?

ok, good

HardSync - seriously a wonderful level. Thank you for sharing it and your unique take on the world.

[graygoose]

As for the ants, kappa, you can actually "ride/kill" them all for for a 2x bonus. The trick is to start off in the middle or back plane... jump... and then ride/kill... It took a little trial and error to get them all placed like that. The last one is just slightly off from the others, but still gettable...

I Had Thoughts off doing that to make a combo... but then it was already too late when i killed the first 2 already...lol ill have to play through it again

and Kappa

HEY! when i watched your video for Hardsync's level, i just remembered your the one who discovered the grab glitch (making any type of material grabable/floatable) or whatever right?

im bluegoose in youtube who thought your voice was of a boy... eeeeeeekkk!! do you remember me? lol sorry...

[Zwollie•]

Just played both Surreality levels.

First level:

+ Humor: even though I was totally alone in the room, I laughed very loudly at the "rocket car joke"
+ Hated the swinging star-bit but because you mocked it yourself, I didn't mind
Misc:

*You used a lot of Mm content but this is one of the few times it didn't bother me at all.
* The level had many little annoying bugs, but again...I really didn't mind


Second level:

+ Very, very funny.

+ That "epic boss fight" was one of the funniest things I've seen in LBP.
The fact that you could actually kill the cat made the joke better, ten you topped it with the kittens and that made the joke into a masterpiece of LOL-proportions.
- Very Dark, It took me a while to find the switch in the part with the talking heads.
I know I could adjust my lcd to another setting but the remote was on the other side of the couch...so, you know

Conclusion: Are you still here? Go play those **** levels!!

[GruntosUK]

I also have trouble with the lighting on my TV. Its very dark in places.

[xkappax•]

Lol, graygoose, it's okay. For some reason a lot of people thought I was a 13 year old boy when I did that video. hah hah. I guess because a lot of people don't expect girls to post on gamefaqs or something, but I don't know. i did not take offense to it in the slightest.

And I'm not the one who discovered that glitch, I think it was around for a really long time. I found this random user level online that had a bunch of metal that was floating. I looked at my husband and said: "Imagine if we did a whole level like this out of dark matter!" ... lol.... so I went and made the video. That glitch was called the cow glitch. Does anyone know WHY it's called that, btw?

Anyway, this is about hardsync's level, so... yeah. I really like those ants. Usually, when I see someone using an object they won in someone's level, it's that shark from Distress in the Ocean, and the shark is floating in mid air on the blank level template, glued to dark matter and/or rockets (remember that level, hardsync?) I like that you use objects you win, but actually make them work in the level (you did this in your "revenge" level, which I recommend everyone tries if they want a good laugh)

and I agree with morgana, I wish I knew hardsync in "real life" too, cause he's fun to play online with! :P

oh and someone should do a spinal tap level. you could have rotating things that go to "11" ... and you could have to navigate through their various albums, like shark sandwich, and intravenous de milo. ^_^