Calculator Core
Calculator Core
ID
58355141
Creator(s)
Walroose (host and publisher)
- Contributors
Verifier(s)
Crazen
Created
Calculator Core is a 2.1 Extreme Demon mega-collaboration level hosted by Walroose, verified by Crazen and published on 23 November 2019.[1] It is a rebirth and extension of Artificial Ideology. In Walroose's words, it was 'designed to capture the feeling of the old level, while still being detailed and visually pleasing'.
History
Calculator Core was first revealed to the community when Walroose released a preview on 11 December 2018, showcasing the basic gameplay and extension.[2] After a long period of inactivity surrounding the level, on 17 February 2019, Walroose uploaded an update video on all her upcoming projects, mainly Forever Asleep. Around halfway into the video, she stated that she had decided to turn Calculator Core into a mega-collaboration.[3]
On 2 March 2019, Walroose uploaded a video showcasing her part in Calculator Core.[4] The next day, on 3 March 2019, Zest uploaded a video showcasing his part in the level. In the video description, he stated that his part uses about 14,400 objects and is the second-to-last in the level.[5] On 27 March 2019, Cytokinesis uploaded a video showcasing a transition for the build-up to her part in the level.[6] Three days later, on 30 March 2019, Spectex uploaded a video showcasing his part in the level as well as the end logo. In the video description, he stated that a preview will be posted on Walroose's YouTube channel very soon.[7]
After about a month of inactivity, on 21 April 2019, Chuckgamer1 uploaded a video showcasing his part in Calculator Core.[8] The next day, on 22 April 2019, Isane uploaded a video revealing his part in the level. In the video description, he stated that it took him two weeks to complete.[9] About a week later, on 27 April 2019, Walroose released the first preview of the level, showcasing 10 out of 22 finished parts. In the comments section, she revealed that it is currently set to be verified by Zagros.[10]
On 17 May 2019, Walroose released a video showcasing her other part in Calculator Core, which subsequently replaced Hadeon.[11] About two months later, on 20 July 2019, she uploaded a video showing the full level with the completed decoration. In the video description, she stated that it is now set to be verified by Crazen and is expected to be Top 10, maybe even Top 5.[12] On 29 July 2019, Crazen began to progress on Calculator Core and achieved a start position run of 46-81%.[13] Over a month later, on 9 September 2019, he achieved a new best of 67%.[14] On 23 November 2019, Crazen finally verified Calculator Core for his second-ever verification project (after Twisted Tranquility). In the video description, he stated that this was the most enjoyable XL Extreme Demon he had played to date.
On 7 December 2019, Calculator Core received its first victor, swiborg. swiborg beat the level in 16,312 attempts and said it is perhaps one of the most fun XL Extreme Demon levels ever, rating it 91/100 for enjoyment. On 18 December 2019, Calculator Core was rated and featured about three weeks after its release. It got rated at the same time as two other levels of similar difficulties, Renevant and Cognition, as well as another Extreme, called TM18.
Description
- 0-3% (Isane): Calculator Core begins with a half-speed cube section with confusing obstacles, with many fake orbs and gravity portals. The player must memorise which orbs to touch and not to touch. Next, the player enters a mini-ball section with difficult timings, then switches to a normal-sized ball dual with difficult timings that requires the player to time it right when the ball is nearly over the edge of the platform.
- 3-5% (Zylenox): Then, the player enters a difficult wave section with tight spaces and bright pulsing air decoration with very detailed blocks.
- 5-7% (Walroose) Afterwards, the player changes into another dual-ball section with hard timings. It changes into a very tight wave segment and a ship sequence, which requires precise straight-fly as the spikes slowly close in on the player.
- 7-10% (Acnologia): This consists of a robot section with many timed jumps with many spinning gears that are difficult to see through the dark.
- 10-12% (Tolstyh): It changes into a mixed dual section, the top one being a mini-cube and the bottom one being a mini-ship. This part requires a high level of timing—the top one changes into a mini-ball, while the bottom changes into a normal wave. Later, the ball turns into a spider, and the wave enters a teleport portal that transports the player to the next part of the level.
- 12-15% (Sedgehog): Then, the player enters a ship sequence that has a moderately tight space and a mini straight-flying section, which changes gravity as the player passes through. The player enters a wave section that requires precise timing of light-tapping and minor jitter-clicks.
- 15-22% (Cytokinesis): It turns into an auto segment with a giant red sign that reads, 'Calc_Core Warning! Meltdown', corresponding to the build-up of the drop. Next, the player enters a half-speed auto wave section that quickly becomes triple-speed at the drop, with very tight wave spaces. It then transitions into a mini-wave segment, another normal wave segment, and a mini-ship segment with straight-flying and gravity changes. It turns into a mini-wave that requires precision to fly through, and it follows the song's melody. It changes into a normal cube and a brief straight-flying segment with the normal-sized ship. Next, the player enters a simple cube section with slight timing and minor orb spam, along with a short spider segment in the middle. It changes into a normal-sized ship with moderately tight spaces as it changes its size and gravity. Then, the player enters an auto transition with huge text saying 'ENTER THE MACHINE', and the player is transported to the next section.
- 22-27% (Chuckgamer1): Next, the player enters a half-speed wave segment with a very dark background that makes the part difficult to see, along with a set of fake obstacles, making it a difficult wave section. It changes into a triple-speed mini-ship sequence with numerous straight-flying segments. Then the player transitions to another half-speed wave segment with tight spaces and increasing speed as they fly through. Then, the player changes into a dual-cube section with moderate timings. It changes into a mixed dual section, with the top one being a robot. It transitions into a single mini-ship with a short straight-flying segment.
- 27-32% (Helpegasus): This part begins with a quadruple-speed mini-UFO section with many gravity portals, then transitions into a ship with one tricky orb timing and some straight-fly. Then it goes into a very quick cube, then a robot, then a ball, and finally a ship before going into a dual-mini-ball with some tough timings. The gameplay of the dual-ball is the same as in the original Artificial Ideology.
- 32-39% (CrankyTheHuman): Almost all of the gameplay in this part is the same as in Artificial Ideology, with minor changes. Throughout the part, the screen flashes black, which briefly obscures the player's vision. Unlike Artificial Ideology, the ship section does not have any keys; the moving blocks move on their own, without needing to be activated by keys. The cube-and-wave dual is the same, but the last dual in this part was changed to a swing copter that uses blue pads to change the player's gravity. Then it goes into a precise straight-flying section, then onto the next part.
- 39-42% (Walroose): Walroose's part starts with a ball with some orb mazes and some mild timing. Then it transitions into a half-speed tight wave section that, halfway through, changes into a mini-wave.
- 42-48% (Zero): Next, Zero's part has some straight-fly which goes into a small corridor where the player needs to move up and down against two platforms, and then the player must use a blue orb on the ship so that the player will be in the correct gravity when they go into the next cube. If the player does not hit the blue orb, they will be in the wrong gravity for the next cube, and they will fall into the ceiling. Next is a triple-speed mini-cube, followed by a mini-ball with some tough timings in the cube, whereas the ball is fairly lenient. Then the player is launched into the next section, where a radiation symbol appears, made by Wazuuup.
- 48-51% (Voltrix): Voltrix's part is very vibrant and bright, and many people regard it as one of the best-looking parts in the level. First, the player starts as a quadruple-speed UFO with frequently changing gravity, which then transitions into a wave-spamming segment. It briefly returns to normal speed, then back to quadruple speed as the wave transitions into a ship with gravity changes that sync with the music.
- 51-59% (StarkyTheSalad + Yoonsr): StarkyTheSalad and Yoonsr participated in the same part. It is the longest part of the level, and the way Starky and Yoonsr ordered their parts is Starky > Yoonsr > Starky > Yoonsr. It starts with a dual-ball with asymmetrical timings, which then transitions into a dual-spider. The dual-spider then goes into a single spider with some hard timings, followed by a short robot timing. The robot transitions into a wave, then into a dual-mini-cube, then into a ship, and finally into a UFO, where the player has to spam to reach the top in time to avoid obstacles.
- 59-64% (Cryo): This part is one of the calmer parts. It starts as a mini-cube with some orb timings, which then goes into a mini-ship with precise flying. It then goes into a mini-cube with a jump that resembles a triple-spike timing, then into a dash orb that takes the player into a long robot section. The robot section has many timings that utilise orbs and gravity changes. Some of these timings are very tough, so even though it is a calmer section, the player still needs to be on their toes.
- 64-68% (Xaren): This next part is almost entirely a dual section. It starts as a dual-cube, with the top cube having to hit a pink orb while the bottom cube is suspended in the air. Next, the top becomes a UFO, and the bottom becomes a ball, requiring a few timed inputs before the top enters a ship the player has to control while also controlling the ball. Next, it goes into a very small straight-fly section, which goes into a dual with a ship and a cube. Both the ship and cube have to hit a yellow orb, making the ship go down into a straight-flying section while the cube goes upwards to land on some platforms. The ship continues straight-flying until it becomes a wave, and the bottom becomes a spider. After two timings where the wave has to release the button at the right time, it transitions into the next part.
- 68-71% (Sheep): This part is during the build-up to the third and final drop of the level, and is entirely a wave section. It starts as a quadruple-speed mini-wave that requires lots of button presses to avoid obstacles, then transitions to a normal wave, then back into a mini-wave with more fast button pressing. Then it transitions to an auto cube, and the player must prepare for the third drop.
- 71-73% (Voltrix): This section contains art that Walroose confirms to depict the city known as 'Cycloid Citadel'.
- 73-80% (RealVet): During the third drop, the player first has a black orb timing, which transitions into a ship with constantly vibrating spikes on the top and bottom in sync with the music. Next, it goes into a mini-ball with very tough timings, then to a short spider section with two small timings. It then goes into a mini-ship where the player must straight-fly, and then into a mini-wave where the player spams in sync to the music. After two orb timings with a mini-cube, the player becomes a ship and must straight-fly some more. Then the player transitions into a ball, where they must perform some extremely tough ball timings, which then lead into a wave section where the player moves up and down twice, and then to a spider section with two timings. After this, it goes to an auto spider section where the player is prompted to activate a Low Detail Mode for Spectex's part.
- 80-82% (Brittank88): Brittank88's part is regarded as one of the tougher parts of the level. It starts with a straight-flying segment with one orb-timing, then more straight-flying. It then proceeds to a wave section with periodic size changes and strict timing. Finally, the player enters a tight wave corridor with limited visibility, which flashes onto the screen for a brief moment.
- 82-84% (CairoX): CairoX's entire part is a dual section, and it is a dual from Walroose's abandoned project known as Robot Rock. It still syncs very well to this part of the song, however. The player starts as a dual-mini-cube, jumping over some spikes. Then the player becomes a spider and a normal-sized cube, performing two timings before becoming a dual-spider. Next, the player must straight-fly with two ships of different sizes. Finally, the player becomes a dual-ball, with a few strict timings, which then transition into Zest's part.
- 84-92% (Zest): This part begins with a quadruple-speed dual-wave where both waves are the same gravity. The waves move up and down twice to the music, then split into two mini-waves with different gravities and some tough wave timings. The waves then become normal-sized, and the player must navigate through a small wave corridor with frequently changing gravity. The player then becomes a ship and must straight-fly, then do two orb timings, before going into a spider with a few spider timings. It transitions into another dual, this time being a ball and a spider. It then goes into a symmetrical dual-wave with a brief section in the middle where the waves are mini. Next, the player is a normal ship at triple speed, then they go back into quadruple speed with gravity changes, followed by another straight-fly with the mini-ship. A few mini-ball timings later, the level transitions into the last part of the level.
- 92-99% (Spectex): This part has the most objects of any other part of the level. It contains so many objects that there is a separate Low Detail Mode option within the level between RealVet's and Brittank88's parts. The entire part is a quadruple-speed dual, starting with a dual-ball. The ball has some very tough timings, including one difficult pink orb timing. The ball then transitions into a symmetrical dual-ship, where the player must straight-fly and hit some orbs to continue to the next dual, a dual-UFO. One of the UFOs is mini-sized, while the other is normal-sized, and both must perform some timings to continue to the dual-cube. The player's icons keep the same size as before, with one being mini and the other being normal. After some cube timings, the player then must make each cube jump while the other cube is still in the air. Then both cubes jump at the same time, making one of them become a wave. The wave moves down and becomes reverse-gravity, while the other cube lands on some platforms and becomes mini. As the player moves through, the cube should automatically go through this section correctly as long as the player is operating the wave correctly. After this, the screen turns black, and the level ends.
- 99-100% (CrankyTheHuman, End Screen): The end screen was made in Photoshop and then recreated in the level editor by CrankyTheHuman. It is very detailed and is a great end to the level. The credits scroll on the left side of the screen, listing all the builders, playtesters, dedications, host, and verifier. Underneath all this, the credits also say 'Buy From the Vault', which references the online merch store run by Crazen, Spark, and a few others.
Gameplay
Trivia
- Calculator Core was placed at #6 on the Demonlist on 8 January 2020, above Lucid Nightmares, and below Bloodlust.
- This addition pushed Erebus out of the Top 25, The Hell World into the Extended List, and Incipient into the Legacy List.
- Both Calculator Core and Erebus ironically share the same song.
- This addition pushed Erebus out of the Top 25, The Hell World into the Extended List, and Incipient into the Legacy List.
- 'Calculator Core' was also a previous title for the original Artificial Ideology, but was never used.
- Some of the gameplay for Calculator Core is reused from an abandoned project by Walroose named 'Robot Rock'.
- At 19%, there is an Easter egg of a calculator with the words 'Divide Demon' next to it. It is also used in the title of Walroose's video showcasing the level.
- Calculator Core was initially going to be part of a trilogy and would have been followed by Cyber Centrifuge and the cancelled Cycloid Citadel.[15]
- After Walroose quit the game, Cyber Centrifuge switched between several hosts. It is currently being hosted by youknowwho and is no longer a Calculator Core sequel.[16]
- The movement of Disconnected Descent from the Legacy List to #148 on 16 March 2026 pushed Calculator Core into the Legacy List on the Demonlist after six years.
- However, Calculator Core moved from the Legacy List to #149 on 13 April 2026, returning to the Extended List.
- The placement of BEING HOME on 27 April 2026 pushed Calculator Core back into the Legacy List.
- However, Calculator Core moved from the Legacy List to #149 on 13 April 2026, returning to the Extended List.
Notable completions
- On 11 December 2019, exactly one year after Calculator Core was initially previewed, swiborg reached 1,000 subscribers, as swiborg was the first victor of the level, and his subscriber growth accelerated once he beat it.
- Bigthunder556 has the lowest attempt count record on the level with 4,246 attempts.[17]
Videos
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3ambJFmbH4
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKzvXaKtgew
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0rP-4x_kaA
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCGJHSuX2rc
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WUXqMPsL-M
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDLYP3i3lRg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovuzdykErZc
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dLqexL42Jk
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHpBWhUQ0BA
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmKY2jQFiBU
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjkcgcKg6rw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuDgir5s2UE&t=168s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjl09oRJfzc
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsXqDXFYnGI
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Walroose64/status/1347343658161491968
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M4CbDSSF3g
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWy_NqKqxM