ZAPHKIEL
“quote~ originator
ZAPHKIEL is a 2.1 Extreme Demon collaboration created by Darwin and Noctalium, published by Darwin, and hack-verified by Noctalium. The level contains detailed effects and is considered to have an all-around design. As such, it is very distinctly rainbow-themed, along with levels like Astral Divinity and Allegiance.
History
The first trace of ZAPHKIEL is dated back to March 18, 2017, when Noctalium released a noclip preview of ZAPHKIEL announcing that it would be an Extreme Demon collaboration between him and Darwin.[1]
A month later, Noctalium released the full layout, whereas his part was generally finished, while Darwin's part was just a complete layout, with Noctalium indicating he was "slow."[2]
After three months, in July 2017, Darwin's part was almost finished, and Noctalium started making some progress on it, getting a record of 51% (this record was legitimately done).[3]
About three weeks later, Darwin and Noctalium's parts were finished, and Noctalium released the full-level preview (using noclip), showing Darwin's great effects and decorations.[4] On August 1, 2017, Noctalium seemingly verified ZAPHKIEL.[5]
However, when Riot and several other players worked together to expose Noctalium for hacking,[6] on November 27, 2017, he finally confessed to hacking several Extreme Demons and making them semi-auto, including ZAPHKIEL.[7] This meant that the first player to legitimately beat ZAPHKIEL was Sunix, who completed it on August 9, 2017.[8]
Gameplay
- 0-19%: The level begins with a cube section containing some orb timings. The player then enters a robot section with some tight jumps. Then, the player enters a cube portal where until the drop, they will have some orb timings while the speed increases until they reach an auto part. After the auto part, they will do one final jump until they make it to the drop.
- 20-38%: The drop consists of fast game-mode switches. It first starts with some straight-fly and then a tight wave section. The following cube and UFO sections consist of some jumps and orbs. The player then reaches a very tight wave. If the player passes the wave, they will enter a variety of game modes with fast gameplay.
- 39-57%: This part starts with a ship part consisting of straight-flying. Then, the player enters a cube section with some more orb timings. Then, they enter a very tight wave section, followed by a spider-copter with another wave section. A mini-cube section follows to transition into the next part.
- 58-80%: The player will start with a triple-speed ship sequence with a lava-volcano-ish design. The ship section contains mostly straight-flying, with orbs to hit. The UFO section afterward contains, again, mainly jumps and some orbs. After that, a series of fast-paced game mode switches occur with fast paced-gameplay.
- 80-100%: The final part begins with a cube having to do some orb timings. It is followed by a robot doing tight jumps, a ship with tight flying, and then a ship-ball dual. Next is a tight wave section and then another ship-ball dual. Then, the player enters the final cube with two triple spikes and a tight timing between them.
User Coins
- There is only one coin in the level. At 85%, the player must jump higher as the robot to reach a separate platform where the coin is located.
Trivia
- The password for the level is 004250.
- The level contains 96,848 objects.
- The level is 1m 16s in length.
- The level was initially placed at #4 on the Demonlist on August 5, 2017, above Artificial Ascent (#5) and below Yatagarasu (#3).
- This addition to the Demonlist knocked Creeper Force into the Legacy List.
- Noctalium himself stated he believes the numerous wave segments are the hardest parts of the level, the same opinion as many other players. If not nerfed, Noctalium said it would have made the Top 3 on the Demonlist.
- Riot stated that he would love to be the first to beat this level after Noctalium. So, the community respectfully waited so that Riot could beat it first. However, Riot's finger pain reappeared unexpectedly, and he had to stop practicing. With this in mind, Sunix, a good friend of Riot, dedicated his completion to his aforementioned friend as he was the first to beat it instead of Riot himself.[8]
- Some parts of the level were changed from the layout to the final version of the level. For example, the dual segment and mini-wave section at the end were once one long ball segment that was easier. It was buffed to match the difficulty of the other parts of the level.
- Zaphkiel is known as Division of Heaven and Hell.
- The name Zaphkiel (Hebrew: צפקיאל), also written as Jafkiel, Japhkiel, Tzaphkiel, Zafkiel, Zafchial, Zaphchial, Zaphiel or Zelel, is an archangel. His name means "God's knowledge." He is sometimes equated with Jophiel/Zophiel yet other times considered a different angel.[9]
- The original verification video by Noctalium was deleted from his channel as he admitted to hacking it. He re-uploaded it in January 2019, and Noctalium was exposed because of the last dual, where he went into a spike way over the hitbox.
- A sequel to the level called Catalyze was created by ZephiroX and verified by MrSpaghetti.
- If the player dies at 91%, the text "les gameplay en l'air. go back at easy demon noob. Meh !GG" will appear.
- According to Google Translate, this translates to "gameplay in the air," which probably refers to the straight-fly the player dies to activate this text.
- The movement of Cadrega City from #151 to #150 on November 15, 2022, knocked ZAPHKIEL into the Legacy List of the Demonlist.
Gallery
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The level menu of ZAPHKIEL.
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The secret coin of ZAPHKIEL.
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The ending of ZAPHKIEL.
