Spiral Knights - What's your favorite themed area/region/mission in the game?

What's your favorite themed area/region/mission in the game?

10 replies [Last post]

Mon, 05/14/2018 - 21:42

Videobun

I'm asking overall, so it can be one specific level or a general area.

I'll pick two, just because:

Ghosts in the Machine is my favorite danger mission, it's visual theme and especially its music reminds me a lot of the Submachine series (those point and click flash games by Mateusz Skutnik) and it's got some SOMA vibes too (even though this mission predates it). It's got a genuinely creepy atmosphere and it's also one of the more fun ones to perfect your technique in. The first level has a really good spin on the Deconstruction Zone layout that feels well integrated with the design of the mission as opposed to the others which mostly just place new map chunks in familiar levels (not that they're not fun).

As far as clockworks regions go, there's a lot to like so it's tough picking a favorite, but I'm always really happy when a full rotation (3 levels) of Dark City rolls in (Amber Sun has it in S6 as of posting this). It looks nice (and has some devilite spawns that are the easiest to handle in the game... I promise I can fight them competently, but easy revenge does feel nice sometimes, especially on those predictable 4+ group spawns that you have immediate access to). It also just so happens to be a great event farming location for both Tortodrone and Kataclysm, but even with that aside I still really like the area.

Mon, 05/14/2018 - 22:01

Flash-Flire

Aurora Isles.

(Why do I love everything related to the Aurora Isles so much, they're my favourite level set and they have my favourite music in the game)

Mon, 05/14/2018 - 22:16

Videobun

@Ze-Epik | Speaking of satisfying enemy spawns

Getting a winter grave or acheron charge in a vortex full of jellies on S6 Aurora Isles Jelly Farm and just watching those drops is just... *chef kiss*

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 12:25

Traevelliath

Personally I love the Ironclaw Munitions Factory. If I could, the Twins would be my icon on this forums. I love the heavy mechanical feel to the place. I see a lot of people just rush through the level, facetanking missiles and stumbling into tons of pain. However, I find a sort of zen in slowly working my way through the place without shielding, evading traps and managing switches.

Plus, I love the Roarmulus Twins boss. I like pushing myself to best them as quickly as possible. The key to beating them quickly is to always think a few salvos ahead. Predicting the Twins' movement, managing multiple salvos at once, keeping an eye on the scuttlebots, managing your positioning to let you pounce when needed, or evade salvos that are passing by, etc.

Tue, 05/15/2018 - 01:23

Zero-Chill

meow

Dark City!

Tue, 05/15/2018 - 04:14

Azuresh

Aurora Isles, Ironclaw, i also like GITM, and the Unknown Passages too.

Tue, 05/15/2018 - 06:17

Exokai

@Traevelliath I see you are a man of culture as well.

I really like the Starlight Cradle levels too (sharing #1 spot along with Ironclaw Munitions Factory and it's missions subplot), pretty fun to play(either solo or co-op) with the sleep status and a fair amount of challenges. Plus, guaranteed gates in almost every variation as far as I know. Too bad there's just a few of them(as in, 1 depth) available whenever I have time to play :(

Tue, 05/15/2018 - 16:36

Fangel

a handful

The Dark City and Shrine of Slumber finale levels are some of my favorite levels in general. The fact they play my favorite song in the game may be part of that too though...

Other than that, the entirety of Breaking in the Recruits is a lot of fun. Some new scenario rooms, blending enemies, on top of familiar level pieces, all starting and ending in a bit of Haven area, it feels like the beginning of the game turned into end-game content which is really cool.

Thu, 05/17/2018 - 09:12

Sgt-Brownie

"Erecting a Handgun Dispenser"

I have a few favorite levels, depending on what it is you're asking.

My favorite boss level would have to be the Gloaming Wildwoods; it hit everything so right as a T1 boss stratum that I still have fond memories of it, between the way you interacted with the Snarbolax along the way, the stage music that's oddly reminiscing of the Jak & Daxter games, and just the right amount of the right kind of enemies at a point where you don't quite care yet what monsters you'll face before stepping on an elevator. Good times, good times indeed...

My favorite mission would have to be OCH; the level design is so well-choreographed that you actually feel like you're trying to break through a fortress of technological might, and the music really helps sell that grand undertaking you're accomplishing. It's also one of the more challenging Gremlin areas of the game, but without being too unfair about it (if only the generator room on the second level wasn't so cramped, though...)

My favorite sub-town would actually have to be the Rescue Camp; though I appreciate the charm every hub in the game has, there's just nothing quite like sitting cozily alongside knight NPCs around a camp fire at night... while automated turrets keep killing the endless wave of retrodes for us. It's at least a more different area to relax at than Haven, but it's a real shame you can never go back there once you cross the chasm.
Before we had the mission update, the Rescue Camp was actually more like a proper town you could stay at; you even had a secondary elevator you could use to learn more of the game and grab some extra money before you tried to cross the chasm, but even after they trimmed down its fat in the mission update, they still kept the night camp fire aspect of the area, which I couldn't be more grateful for.

Thu, 05/17/2018 - 13:18

Fangel

oh right i forgot about that!

I forgot that OCH existed for a moment there. It's one of my favorite boss levels for sure, just because it has an environmental feeling. It's rather unfortunate that it drags on a bit longer than I'd like though, with the rewards being subpar compared to other boss levels (outside of the special rewards), but from a design standpoint it's great to play through on occasion.

Roarmy is a close second but I'm biased when it comes to constructs.

Wed, 05/23/2018 - 11:33

#10

Alfreton

Haven after hours

Level wise, I'd have to say Dark City, specifically Stygian Steeds levels. Short, sweet and to the point. I'm not a fan of dealing with Devilites, but I love the design and style of Trojans. Wish they put up more of a fight though.

As for missions, I'd go for either a New Threat or the Gauntlet.
I love a New Threat because it's awesome for lore and a symbol of everything the game is becoming - instead of plonking you on the phone with Kozma to hear about some crazy new Gremlin, you get to witness his power and the raid on the Garrison firsthand. It lasts about five seconds, but it's a perfect example of lore through gameplay.
Now, the Gauntlet. Sure, it's a spark-sucker. Sure, it's annoying. But I love the idea of the Vanaduke showing some honour instead of just blind rage and giving knights a chance to reach his citadel by going through a crucible. I love the infernal aesthetic of the arenas that make them so much more atmospheric than normal arenas, and though it's pretty much impossible for a bog-standard Defender fresh out of the Hall of Heroes to clear without a few dozen sparks solo, you feel great when you finally clear it!

For region, I don't know if this technically counts, but I'd go for Forgotten Passages and other such areas. It feels so different from the rest of the game, and it's the first area when, as soon as the music creeps through your speakers and the darkness ebbs around your squad, you feel completely out of your depth for the first time. If you hadn't already guessed, I love areas that have the perfect balance between story and gameplay, strengthening each other.

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What's your favorite themed area/region/mission in the game?