One of the custom levels that has become popular and recognized within the Geometry Dash community is Geometry Dash Darkest Paradise, a hard level that is rated 6 stars and 3 user coins by Texic. It has a large number of flashing objects and is built in a basic style. This level exhibits a certain skill and creativity that makes it a notable expansion in the community. It has a dark and mysterious atmosphere, with a constantly changing color scheme and a soundtrack to match. This level also has smooth and balanced gameplay, with multiple game modes and speed changes. The level is not too difficult or too easy but is a fair and interesting challenge for intermediate players.
It starts with a simple half-speed cube section that has a small number of blades and single spikes that can be easily avoided, as well as a constantly changing color palette. Players need to pay attention to arrows and jump pads, as well as fading blocks and gravity gates. The first coin lands in a fixed position when your travel reaches 9%. To collect it, players need to carefully jump over the yellow jumping platform and blue gravity gate, while avoiding the large saw blade directly above them. Next, you need to accelerate a little and enter an easy stretch at normal speed. Here, players need to deal with several changes in speed, jumping back and forth between long platforms to avoid obstacles and bouncing off various jump pads. Pay attention to invisible spikes and pseudo-blocks, as well as fading ramps and dimension gates. The second coin will appear when you reach 24%, where the player needs to slide into the spiked area and get on the platform.
Then there's a simple half-speed train sequence consisting of a few saw blades. However, these can be easily avoided thanks to the expansive space, as well as the abundance of arrows and other decorations that guide the player through obstacles. Players also need to be careful with mirror portals and speed portals, fading blocks, and gravity portals. The third and final coin is located at position 57%, in the first train sequence, between the obstacles. Collecting it is quite challenging as the player must fly through a narrow tunnel with spikes. The part where you change into a miniature UFO comes next. Numerous alternating ramps are readily surmountable at regular speed. Here, the player only follows two long, horizontal decorative lines that run the length of the screen, indicating the middle of the screen, and travels cyclically until the section's conclusion. To avoid having to start over, you must also stay away from saw blades and spikes in addition to gravity and speed portals. From the second to last area of the level, the player needs to move between multiple blue gravity pads through continuous speed changes - from half speed, to double speed, to half speed , and finally triple speed (in just half a second) as background music.
Finally, the tempo drops and the player switches to a simple half-speed wave, where they must move through some more open spaces and a few mirror portals, as well as avoid a few more saw blades. Upon entering the final set of mirror gates, the player will see the creator's signature, while also zooming through another set of three-speed gates as the level ends. For its layout and gameplay, Darkest Paradise is a level that merits recognition and admiration. This level is a great illustration of how using flashing and color-changing items can make a simple style look attractive and spectacular. This level is also a great illustration of how utilizing various game modes and pace variations can make balanced gaming entertaining and thrilling. For intermediate players, the level presents a fair and engaging challenge without being overly easy or challenging.
