Stalemate Redux
Stalemate Redux is a 2.0/2.1 Extreme Demon collaboration level by GdTheTactiq and TheFrozenTide, verified by Zephal.[1] As its name suggests, it is a super-buffed remake of the famous Insane Demon, Stalemate.
History
[edit | edit source]The first trace of Stalemate Redux can be found in Update 2.0, when GdTheTactiq uploaded the full layout of Stalemate Redux, showing the gameplay for his part on his YouTube channel.[2] At that time, Stalemate Redux had not officially begun the decorations. Eventually, Tactiq started to work on Stalemate Redux during Update 2.1 and released previews of the level, showcasing the colour themes and decorations.
The first preview, released on 11 March 2017, mainly showcased the colour themes and was more of a layout, as it was barely decorated.[3] In the second preview, Tactiq showed the level somewhat decorated with the original Stalemate colours.[4] In the third preview, Tactiq showed off more of the decorated parts, indicating he was getting closer to finishing creating his part.[5] In the fourth preview, Tactiq indicated that the drop was finished, and he would host either a mega-collaboration or a creator contest to fill in the rest of Stalemate Redux.[6]
Eventually, Tactiq decided on a creator contest, using rules similar to those of the Yatagarasu creator contest hosted by Viprin.[7] After almost a month, Tactiq decided to choose TheFrozenTide's part that started from 76-100%.[8] Another month later, Tactiq had finished adding TheFrozenTide's part and decorating his own part.
Now the level was ready for a verifier. Tactiq chose Zephal, a good friend of his and a skilled player who had recently beaten Allegiance[9] and other levels that were Top 100 Demons at the time.[10] Zephal started making progress quickly, completing a run of 54-100% right away.[11] Zephal then got a record of 56% just two days after the 54-100% run that was making quick progress, seeing as Stalemate Redux was more difficult than even SubSonic or Sakupen Hell.[12] Zephal then got even closer, achieving a record of 62% and a run of 30-100%, an astonishing achievement in such a short time.[13] Afterwards, Zephal got a record of 78% as his furthest fail.[14]
About a month later, Zephal verified Stalemate Redux after 17,304 attempts, but he did not get the coin. Zephal then decided to remove that coin and noclip through the level, since he had made no other changes.[1] Stalemate Redux was rated a little while after it was uploaded, and several players beat it afterward, including Sunix,[15] Wooshi,[16] and DiamondSplash.[1]
Description
[edit | edit source]- 0-34% (GdTheTactiq): Stalemate Redux begins with a ship sequence that features narrow spaces, tricky gravity changes, and size changes that require a lot of precision. The player then enters a wave section with very narrow paths and sudden changes in gravity and size, with a small memory area, just like the original Stalemate. The section ends with a cube dual possessing three triple-spikes, along with a silhouette of a king chess piece and the text 'There Is No Escape' visible; failing anywhere in this dual causes the screen to go black and the text 'MICHIGUN' to appear.
- 34-75% (GdTheTactiq): The drop begins with a tight triple-speed mini-UFO segment that consists of many difficult and precise clicks synced to the music, sudden gravity changes with orbs and portals, and variations in size. The player then continues to a mini-ship section featuring straight-flying, orbs, sudden changes in gravity, and size changes.
- 75-100% (TheFrozenTide): This part begins with a single-speed memory ball section. The section has many gravity and size portals, fake paths with orbs, and distracting colour-changing flashes. The player then transitions into a mini-ship dual, featuring inconsistent straight-flying. Then, there are a few gravity variations of multiple orbs and portals, culminating with a ship section where the player switches gravity with every click; toggle orbs serve as markers for where the player is supposed to click. Finally, the level ends with a short dual straight-flying section where the text "Well done..." fades into view, followed by the level credits at the end.
Gameplay
[edit | edit source]Trivia
[edit | edit source]- Stalemate Redux was placed at #1 on the Demonlist on 22 September 2017, above Erebus. It was originally #1 on the Demonlist because Zephal said it was harder than Yatagarasu.
- This addition, along with Cadrega City, pushed AcropoliX and The Ultimate Phase into the Legacy List simultaneously.
- Stalemate Redux is regarded as the 30th instance of the hardest rated level in the game's history.
- The term stalemate originates from chess terminology, referring to a game outcome where a player has no available moves on any given turn other than illegal moves which would put them into check.
- While verifying the level, Zephal completed the level but missed the only user coin in the level (intended to be a free coin); therefore, it made the run invalid for uploading. He had no interest in completing the level once again, so he removed the coin and noclipped the level to verify and upload the level.[1]
- A similar thing happened to Dorami three years later. In 2020, he beat Yatagarasu without realising he was in Practice Mode. Luqualizer said that his completion was legitimate, as Dorami asked him about it. Dorami later rebeat the level in Normal Mode using noclip.
- Biohazard inspired its gameplay, although it was easier than Stalemate Redux.
- The placement of memories on 27 November 2022 pushed Stalemate Redux into the Legacy List of the Demonlist.
- This placement makes Stalemate Redux the first Top 1 released in Update 2.1 to be pushed into the Legacy List.
Videos
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9XP1lhMrPo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTG3pH8czls
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znSlt247He4
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvamGtIeiC0
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EPfNhQyLPs
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V_rNhUv0Ac
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ93zhC7Kpk
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOsr2fJ8ikY
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyrYiuSQb_s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siQk01sM-LA
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6MfTZcCKkc
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCHpPMYBWNs
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELBGcsGhlFQ
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veS10JPAdwo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsQWd3zG5vw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ld1BjsfGcI