The Abyss
98163412
MadisonYuko
mikoshii
1070978
The Abyss is a 2.2 Extreme Demon platformer level by MadisonYuko, published on 28 December 2023, verified by mikoshii on 9 January 2024.[1] It was a former Top 1 rated platformer level.
History
The creation of The Abyss began around 26 December 2023, with the level finished and uploaded two days later, making it an open verification.
The version initially uploaded to the servers was much older, with Layers 3-10 instead of the current Layers 1-8. The main differences were that this version had only one checkpoint per layer and that the hearts did not exist. Instead of the current Layer 8, it had a Layer 10 called 'Ascension', which featured golden decorations, cube gameplay, and a short jetpack section; however, it had one physically impossible jump.
On 30 December 2023, MadisonYuko updated the level to remove all the coins. Later, she updated the level again to add more checkpoints and nerf some jumps.
On 3 January 2024, Yuko decided to extend The Abyss; she began work on the 'The Castle' section. She had plans to add a boss fight at the end of the level, but she replaced it with a short jetpack section.
On 6 January 2024, Yuko would finish the new room for the heart collectables and add a barrier before Layer 9 (current Layer 7) that would only open when the two hearts were collected.
On 8 January 2024, Yuko renamed the layers to their current version, from Layer 1 to Layer 8.
On 9 January 2024, mikoshii verified The Abyss with a time of 5:02:59.834. It was placed at #1 on The Platformer List (TPL) two days later, dethroning the unrated level INFINITY TRIALS.
On 14 January 2024, The Abyss was rated.
On 21 January 2023, The Abyss would get dethroned by the unrated level Smelvin Teahouse, only staying for 10 days as the hardest-unrated platformer level.
On 22 January 2024, The Abyss would get updated to its current version and re-verified by mikoshii.
On 18 April 2024, The Abyss got dethroned as the hardest-rated platformer level by Free Solo.
Description
The Abyss requires collecting 2 hearts to open a gate before Layer 7. It begins on Pluto's surface as a cube; on the right side is a lake of water, and below it is the entrance to 'The Abyss'. After jumping into the lake, the screen turns blue.
Layer 1 – The Ruins
This layer features the first needle mini-robot gameplay of the level. Layer 1 has four checkpoints in total.
The first checkpoint is focused entirely on robot precision gameplay, with no orbs or portals on the main path.
The second checkpoint has gameplay similar to the previous one; however, it is considered the hardest checkpoint of Layer 1 because of the last dropdown and the section at the beginning with sawblades on the top and ceiling.
Layer 2 – The Great Pit
As the name suggests, the entire layer requires descending a steep drop. It is considered one of the easiest layers of The Abyss, featuring four checkpoints.
After beating the fourth and last checkpoint of Layer 2, there is a rock before going into the next screen with the following text:
A gate lies guarding the entrance to the 7th layer. Two hidden hearts will be open the barrier Seek them before decending the 6th layer
Layer 3 – The Sunken City
This layer has two checkpoints.
The first checkpoint features the first moving hazards, with multiple moving sawblades throughout. The last jump is a very tight drop with walls lined with sawblades, requiring a mid-air movement before hitting the floor to avoid dying.
The second checkpoint features straightforward mini-robot gameplay, except for a stream of bubbles that push the player upwards as they weave through spikes in a vertical corridor.
The first heart of the level is located in Layer 3, at the base of the tower that can be found to the right of the drop that leads to Layer 4.
Layer 4 – Thermal Vents
Layer 4 only has one checkpoint.
User coins
The Abyss has three user coins.
The first coin requires reaching the hidden jetpack portal at the bottom-right of the first checkpoint in Layer 1.
Lore
After the second checkpoint of Layer 3, there is an open room with a big statue in the centre, with text reading the following:
At the bottom of our great fault, our salvation awaits. All will be one, we will find our peace. A mind shared, a world freed. We will escape our mortal bounds.
Halfway through the robot checkpoint of Layer 5, there is a hidden passage on the right wall, where an abyss angel can be found with the following dialogue:
- Another comes?
- I know of kind like you
- you are not born of the abyss, yet your roots are firmly planted here
- the lower we descend the more our souls reject the beyond
- should i descend further, my soul will reject my being even moreso.
- but you- you void those flaws. your descent will be effortless
- but me? I will remain here. nothing remains to return to.
- us abyss angels live for ages. our only downfall was our own ambition
- leave now, construct your purpose awaits.
Gameplay
First 10 victors
Trivia
- The Abyss has 10 songs and 22 SFX.
- The Abyss uses a 0.76 time warp while underwater.
- The Abyss is currently the only platformer Top 1 to use all game-modes.
- The layers are inspired by Made In Abyss,[2] with Layer 7 sharing the same name.
- After getting the heart to the right side of Layer 4, there is a wall blocking off access to an old and unfinished version of Layer 4 that had fast dash orb gameplay and moving blocks.
- At the top-right of Layer 7, a dead abyss angel can be found.
- GToast was the first player to beat The Abyss deathless on 8 December 2024,[3] followed by Ayumi, Mikoshii, sillybananaguy, Tanuklen, ArtemkaKlutoy, and ungafo.
- The Abyss is the fourth former Top 1 rated platformer Demon in the game's history.