MasterGame
MasterGame is a 2.1 Medium Demon by Serponge. It is an Epic-rated level that plays like a long RPG, using passwords to save progress and resume from where the game left off on subsequent attempts. Like the others in Serponge's AlterGame series, the level uses the two-player mode to allow two different types of inputs, turning and moving forward.
Core mechanics
[edit | edit source]The two actions performed by tapping either side of the screen are as follows:
- Player 1: Moves the player in the direction that they are currently facing.
- Player 2: Rotates the player 90 degrees counterclockwise.
The player starts with three hit points, lost upon contact with enemies and certain obstacles. Hitpoints are restored using save points, and additional hitpoints can be purchased through a shop in the starting area.
Speaking of save points, they can be found in various locations around the world. Rooms containing save points are marked with a green dot on the map (if the player collects the map) and as a circle on the ground next to a statue in-game. Touching one will generate a code based on the player's location and what they have done thus far.
There is a limit to how much time the player can spend on the level in one attempt. A timer in the lower-right corner of the screen counts down the player's remaining time. Messages will appear on the screen as it lowers, reminding the player to save. When the meter reaches one minute, it will count down in seconds, so the player will not get caught off guard when time is up.
When the game ends due to running out of time or dying, a black overlay drops down from the top of the screen, showing the player the code they must enter to return to the most recent save point.
Password system
[edit | edit source]At the beginning of the level, the player sees a screen that lets them enter a six-digit code. Using the two-player mode controls, the player can manipulate the selection box as follows:
- Player 1: Moves the selection box 1 to the right. The selection box will return to the first number if it is moved past the sixth number.
- Player 2: Adds 1 to the number in the currently-selected box. The number will return to 0 if it is increased past 9.
This screen will remain until the beginning of the song ends. Depending on what code the player inputs, one of two things will happen:
- If the code is rejected: The words 'INVALID CODE' will appear in red on the screen, and the player will instantly crash. It occurs at around 4%.
- If the code is accepted: The screen will flash white and fade to black, and then load the game state corresponding to the code.
A new game will start if the player keeps the code at 000000. Some codes, like 6140002, which are seven digits long, are bugged and will force the player to start again, destroying all their progress.
The code comprises three segments:
- The first two digits determine the spawn location
11is the starting room26is the save point in Arctika Village53is the Frosty Plains73is the Desert84is the second Frosty Plains98is the boss area
- The next digit determines hardcore, and the number of doors opened
- If the number is even, the game runs in 'Normal' difficulty
- If the number is odd, the game runs in 'Hard' difficulty
- Multiply the number of doors (and add 1 in Hard mode) for the value needed here, i.e., 2 keys + Hard = 5; 4 Keys + Normal = 8, etc.
- The next three digits are a binary encoding of which quests are completed and how many extra lives are gained (Add the values together to get the desired outcome)
- 1 for the first quest (Pengo's Quest)
- 2 for the second quest and map (Pengi's Quest)
- 4 for the third quest (Penga's Quest)
- 8 for the fourth quest (Penkewl's Quest)
- 16 for the fifth quest and glasses (Penrich's Quest)
- 32 for the first extra life
- 64 for the second extra life
- 128 for the third extra life
- Everything above 256 is invalid, as it runs on an 8-bit
Areas
[edit | edit source]WARNING: This part of the page contains potential spoilers.
Starting area
[edit | edit source]If the player uses the code 000000, they begin with a cutscene showing a ship sailing across the ocean before sinking. The basic story will also be displayed as scrolling text.
The player starts in a simple room with no exit. The next few rooms introduce basic game mechanics such as walls and spikes. After this, the player will enter a room called Pengo's Refuge, where they meet a lone penguin who explains that a monster ahead prevents him from returning home. In addition, he will give the player the first quest.
Continuing onwards, the player will soon encounter a room with a green slime known as The Monster Hideout. When within a certain range, the slime glows red and charges towards the player's current position.
Upon passing The Monster Hideout, the player will enter an area called the 'Arctika Village'. The village consists of a 2x2 square of rooms inhabited by penguins. Some of them will give out quests if the player talks to them. This area also features the first save point, located in the lower-right corner of the village.
The two rooms below the save point contain a few obstacles here and there, as well as another green slime in the second room.
The next room introduces a moving block puzzle. The player has to push a block along a path slightly darker than the ground. Upon pushing the block once, it will move slowly until it hits the edge of the path; it can be moved faster by pushing it while it is moving. The player must move this block onto a button at the end of the path, and it will open a door to
One room has another entrance to a room with a simpler block puzzle. Finishing it will open a door to a seemingly empty room with a secret exit leading to the Map item.
Frost Plains
[edit | edit source]The first room in this area has a save point. To the left is a room with a penguin who will tell the player about a secret exit leading from the starting area. To the right is a room that allows the player to take one of two paths.
The lower path involves a short obstacle course involving ice mechanics, spikes, and a blue slime that moves towards the player at a constant pace. The room with the slime also contains a switch puzzle: three switches must be pressed in the correct order. Past these rooms, the player will find another penguin.
Upon interacting with this penguin, a cutscene will play. The player will discover that he is a former crewmate and will be forced to find key fragments to unlock the Sea Door. Once the cutscene ends, a new area will be unlocked in the upper path.
Speaking of which, the upper path contains simpler obstacles but has a fight against a blue slime in a slightly harder arena. Upon passing this, the player will pass through simpler rooms (and end up at a dead end if they have not finished the lower path yet) until they find a room with a ghostly penguin blocking the path. The player can turn their back to the penguin to lure it away from the exit or take the secret path they find in the next room, which also has a save point.
Freezy Valley
[edit | edit source]This area introduces snow fields, which slow the player as they move through them, and spiked blocks, which can move horizontally, vertically, or even in a circular pattern. It is also split into an upper and lower path.
The lower path contains simple puzzles that involve these two elements, where the player must move at the right time to avoid being hit by a block. At the end of this path is a piece of a key.
The upper path consists of tougher challenges, including rotating variants of the spiked blocks. At the end of this is a young penguin, who can be interacted with to unlock the Frozen Maze.
Frozen Maze
[edit | edit source]The Frozen Maze is a special area exclusive to the Penga quest. Every room in the maze has four exits, and going through the wrong exits sends the player back to the beginning. Some rooms also have a central wall with markings showing which way to go.
To get through the maze: Down 2 rooms, Right 3 rooms, Down 3 rooms, Left 5 rooms, Up 3 rooms, Left 2 rooms.
Cave
[edit | edit source]It is a small area dedicated to the collection of the second piece of the key. It is initially hidden, but the collection of the first key fragment will allow the player to access it. The area contains a moving-block puzzle that unlocks a room with the second key fragment. This fragment unlocks the Desert and Volcano areas.
Desert
[edit | edit source]This area is full of cacti. Some of them have differently coloured flowers, indicating that they will charge at the player if they get too close, similar to the green slime. The area is somewhat split into two: an open desert and the interior of a building.
The area is large because Penrich's quest involves finding items scattered around.
Volcano Core
[edit | edit source]It is a small area dedicated to the collection of the third key. It introduces the Heat mechanic, which rises whenever the player touches lava or fire but increases slowly.
There are several rooms where the player must avoid lava and fire shooters. Upon collecting the key in the last room, a shortcut is added, allowing the player to escape more quickly than before.
Upon exiting the Volcano Core, the player's Heat level is retained but decreases steadily.
Final boss
[edit | edit source]The Sea Door is located in two rooms to the right of the top-left corner. It will only open once all three key fragments have been found. Once this is done, the player can open it by interacting with it the same way one would with a penguin. Speaking of penguins, the crewmate from before is beyond the door, and he gives out the code to the final boss battle, like a save point.
Upon entering this code, another door will open, revealing a bridge leading into the ocean. Here, the player will meet the final boss, a blue, circular, floating robot with what appears to be a penguin inside.
In Phase 1, the player must navigate several rooms, each containing obstacles such as spiked blocks. The boss will fire lasers periodically while also moving around. The fifth room ends up being a dead-end, where Phase 2 begins.
In Phase 2, the boss obtains two additional laser cannons. The player must survive its shots while waiting for a white beam of light to appear from one of the boss' laser cannons (or the boss itself). Touching this beam of light damages the boss, and the player has to reduce its health to 0. At 66% health, the boss also gains an additional laser cannon that fires horizontally and follows the player. At 33% health, the boss can fire three projectiles at the player.
In Phase 3, the boss retreats, and the player gets a wooden plank to ride on and chase it down. The boss soon regenerates, and the player now must survive the boss' attacks for a short time as lightning whittles down the last bit of its health. Once it hits zero, the boss explodes.
One final cutscene plays, and it is revealed that the penguin controlling the boss was the boss itself, who had taken the player's human (or, in this case, penguin) appearance. The penguins are grateful for the player's success.
Quests
[edit | edit source]Pengo
[edit | edit source]Three rooms away from the starting area, the player will find a penguin named Pengo. This penguin will explain that he is stuck in this area and wants to return home, but a monster in an upcoming area is preventing him from doing so. Once he finishes speaking, the player will receive this quest.
In the lower-left corner of Arctika Village, the player will find an entrance to a room with a button and a door. Standing on the button will open the door. Pengo will immediately run through and enter the next room, and the quest will be completed.
Pengi
[edit | edit source]In the upper-right corner of Arctika Village, the player will encounter a blue penguin named Pengi. He will tell the player about a map in the room to the right of the one they are currently in. Once he finishes speaking, the player will receive this quest.
In the block puzzle room, the second room from the start of the puzzle has an exit leading to a simpler block puzzle. Solve this puzzle to gain access to the next room; there will then be a secret exit leading to the map in that room. Touch the map to collect it and finish the quest.
Penga
[edit | edit source]In the lower-left corner of Arctika Village, the player will meet a pink penguin named Penga. Upon interacting with her, she will express concern about her daughter, who has become lost. Once she finishes speaking, the player will receive this quest.
At the end of the Frozen Valley, the player will find a young penguin named Ping. The player needs to guide her through the Frozen Maze to return to Arctika and reunite her with her mother. Once the Frozen Maze has been completed, Ping will return to her mother, completing the quest.
To get through the maze: Down 2 rooms, Right 3 rooms, Down 3 rooms, Left 5 rooms, Up 3 rooms, Left 2 rooms.
Penrich
[edit | edit source]Below the room next to that room with the save point, the player will find a penguin named Penrich. He explains that he has lost all his stuff and makes a pun on his name before offering the player glasses if the player helps him. Once he finishes talking, the player will receive this quest.
Penrich's stuff includes a pair of glasses, and there are two rooms to the left of the save point, a spear below the room in the top-left corner of the map, a jewel next to the Frozen Maze exit and a second spear above the room with the jewel. Return to Penrich once the player has finished the quest, and once he finishes speaking, the quest will be completed.
Penrich will keep the jewel and two spears, but the player will be given a pair of glasses.
Penkewl
[edit | edit source]Above Penrich's room, the player will find another penguin named Penkewl. Upon interacting with him, he acknowledges that the player is looking for quests and proposes one of his own. He places a red point on the map that the player must reach within 100 seconds.
In the goal room, the player will find a glowing yellow light. Touch it, and the quest will be completed.
Errors
[edit | edit source]When fighting the boss, the boss becomes buggy, and the right laser cannon disappears, meaning the only attack is from the player, making the boss unpassable.
Gameplay
[edit | edit source]Trivia
[edit | edit source]- Although the level is technically only six minutes long, it could be considered the longest-rated level due to the multiple lengthy attempts required to complete the entire level.
- The level was nominated for and achieved Best Original Game in the Geometry Dash 2.1 Awards.
- The level was ranked #11 in GDToday's 100 Greatest Levels of All Time list.
- The player can immediately enter the codes 988255 or 988111 and start the battle with the boss.
- The core game mechanics in this game are similar to those found in AlterGame XVI.
- After beating the game, the player receives a code for 'Hard Mode'. In this mode, the cube is replaced by its penguin form from before, spiked blocks are placed in more places, and the boss is red instead of blue.
- Practice Mode is not recommended for this level, as its usage makes the level buggy.