Super Block Fort | 1V0-9NC-FVF

Super Block Fort | 1V0-9NC-FVF

A maze of blocks and pipes, filled with big enemies and bigger treasures! Focused around a neat trick with Clear Pipes, which can save a lot of time in this level if used well. Makes for a great beginner speedrun!

Blaster Faster 2 (30sec) | 739-GWT-YVG

Speedrun through an abandoned explosives factory! Like before, the floating blaster will propel you to the goal, but it's more of an obstacle this time. Can you keep your cool in this heated sequel?

Teetering Tundra | 820-4GH-9NG

Finally went back and finished one of the very first levels I started for SMM2! A chill(y) exploration of seesaws and other physics(y) things. Some puzzle-solving in this one!

I have a list of Mario Maker level ideas in my to-dos. Anytime I come up with a level idea – which is a lot – I add it to the list, so I can come back to it at some point. Most of them are massive, sprawling adventures or high-level concepts that need tons of work to be viable.

Thing is, I've only finished one of the levels on that list – Skyway Metro. Every other level I've released was completely improvised, and usually done in one sitting. Flurricane took two hours, Cheep Creep Creek was made in an evening. I haven't come back to the list in weeks!

Besides the overwhelming scale of some of the levels on the list, I think I just enjoy the creative process of improv more. It's more hands on; I'm actually putting things together and experimenting, rather than thinking about what needs to be done and how to accomplish it.

On top of this, planning something makes it an obligation, and obligations are hard to start when you have ADHD. But when I'm experimenting, I've already started – I don't have to overcome that hurdle.

This is best illustrated by when I worked on Prickly Pass. It's a larger level, so I only made about half of it at first. But I procrastinated on coming back to it, and made Flurricane instead! It took me about a week before I finally pulled it up again and finished it.

Honestly, this is starting to make me rethink how I make stuff in general; it seems like I have a lot more fun when I don't plan things out in advance. It's fun to dream up these huge, complex ideas... but it's a lot more fun to throw together a smaller, tighter experience. (Plus I actually finish those, as opposed to the big stuff that takes forever.)

Maybe I'm just burnt out from working on Projects™ all the time, but regardless, I think it'll be good to lean toward more of the improv stuff for now. That's why I've been doing so much writing and level design lately!

Blaster Faster (20sec) | 08M-C6P-95G

Blast processing! Get ahead of the floating blaster so it speeds you along to the goal. A ridiculous little concept level that makes for a fun speedrun.

This level was originally going to be released with a four-page strategy guide, since it’s so complex! However, it was holding up the release of the level itself for way too long, so I ultimately decided to scrap it – but what I’ve got turned out pretty good! Tumblr probably crunched the quality, so click here to see it in full resolution.

Lost In Skyway Metro | 6FN-F3B-N7G

A full adventure in one level! Search high and low for a way out of this massive city full of buildings, construction, and subway tunnels to explore. Find enough Key Coins to purchase a subway ticket home!

This took over 30 hours to make, and it’s one of my biggest and best levels yet. I hope you enjoy ✨