Review: Super Mario Planets 1-4 AKA Bowser Jr's Bob-ombastic Castle!
Code: FF1F-0000-006C-6378
Author: Koopa Kid
Cool level SMW style in a Castle. Main elements are bombs, fireballs and moving platforms. The level alternates between fast paced platforming sections and slower puzzles. However, the pacing doesn´t seem right, it seems as each section is independent and wasn´t designed taking the others into account: you start with a simple puzzle, then and intense platforming section, then go back to puzzles and end the level with a boss fight. Some more back and forth is missed. The puzzles and platforming sections don´t use common elements: it´s true that fireballs are used in both of them, but they are used on tracks for the platforming sections and in free-rebounding mode for some puzzles, so they really don´t add that common element beyond the aesthetics.
The first puzzle (throwing bombs from a tower to destroy a wall) can leave you trapped if you jump down before destroying the wall completely. Also, when you go back to get another bomb the floor isn´t visible before jumping, so you may jump down to land next to a walking bomb which was not visible from above. Hopefuly you get another flower just as you destroy the wall so not much is lost if you don´t have to use many bombs and are extremely unlucky.
The tunnel challenge is a bit messy: depending on how you get through the tunnel evading the fireballs some of them will follow you to where the bombs spawn. Having 3 or more fireballs there and non-stop spawning bombs makes the challenge impossible.
The platforming section is really challenging (in a good way) with great parts; I specially liked the part where the giant winged fireballs slowly go through your platform, that was really cool. There are some flaws however: as fireballs are on tracks they are activated by the player advancing and sometimes this makes it so they come in configurations that are impossible to avoid. The part where the platforms bounce up and you have to jump over fireballs is very good. I would have put this section right at the beginning instead of after the puzzle, because when you die 2 or 3 times at the platforming section the first puzzles become somewhat a chore. Or even better, maybe you could break this section into 2 or 3 smaller parts and alternate them with the puzzles to provide the back and forth which the level is missing.
There are several hidden 1-Ups in cool places that really reward and encourage exploration, this is very well done throughou all the level.
Finally, the boss fight is really cool: it uses the mechanics already used through the stage and adds a disrupting element in a very intelligent way. This is one of the best uses of Bowser Jr. I´ve seen yet in any level.
In conclusion: the level has some flaws, but they are minor things: overall the level is solid, challenging and fair and has some really fun and surprising parts. It deserves a star with no doubt.