Cycle Facility

168th: Cycle Facility Make a Good Mega Man Level 3

What a piece of junk!

Overview Creator(s): Sharker da Shark Composer(s): Mari Yamaguchi, Akari Kaida (originals) MiniMacro (cover) Statistics Scores: 17 13 35 33 35 Total: 26.6 / 100 Rank: 168th Elements: 2 Collectables: Enemies: Baby Metall Cargou Q (blue) Cutting Wheel Dachone Ltd. Ed. Docbaton G.S.Q Molmole Neo Metall New Classical Cannon Numetall Pickelman Bull Returning Machine Gun Joe Shaboan Shield Attacker TRL Shield Guard Telly X Yonbain Gimmicks: Bubble Floor Mercury Block Quick Laser (drain) Water Block Sub-Bosses: Metall Potton Bosses: Grey Devil

Theme Music Mega Man 5 - Dr. Wily Stage Boss: Mega Man & Bass - Boss Stage Order Location: Tier 1 Previous: The Cave Level That Exists Next: The Level Equivalent of An Old Man Rambling at You

Cycle Facility is the 168th place entry in Make a Good Mega Man Level 3. It styles itself as a junkyard or recycling facility (hence the name) with a wide range of enemies and gimmicks, though none in particular receive significant focus.

Strategy

The level begins with a hallway of junk filled with respawning Molmoles, followed by a hallway of Neo Metalls and Baby Metalls. Falling down the end of the pit leads to a room with two Mercury Blocks and a single Numetall. The first Trickster Token can be found at the end of the next section, in between the platforms and the spikes at the bottom of the section. While it appears the intended method of obtaining it is to use the Rush Bike to ride over the spikes and reach the Token, there is an invisible platform directly below it, thus it can be safely obtained even without using it.

After this is the first checkpoint, with a hallway containing a large number of spikes, as well as Shield Attacker TRLs, Cargou Qs, and Shaboans. Mega Man can return to the Token section from here, but he will immediately take damage from the Cargou Q at the end of the previous screen. Falling down the pit at the end of the hall leads to a completely empty room, followed by a room containing a single draining Quick Laser. After this is a fight with a Metall Potton. The next section of the level is filled with Water Blocks and Bubble Floors. However, the Bubble Floors can bounce Mega Man high enough that the Water Blocks are not necessary to progress. This room is followed by another Bubble Floor room with a very low ceiling and two Shield Guards. The first Shield Guard can be avoided or destroyed, while the second Shield Guard will generally despawn before it can reach Mega Man due to it moving to the right first. The final section contains a Dachone Ltd. Ed., Pickelman Bulls, and Cutting Wheels. The final checkpoint is in the boss hallway, which leads to the Grey Devil and the first of two Energy Elements.

The second Energy Element and Trickster Token can both be found down an invisible ladder underneath the Metall Potton. However, attempting to go down the ladder before the Metall Potton is defeated will kill Mega Man as if he had fallen into a bottomless pit.

Judge Comments

Judge Comments
Mick Galbani  : 17 / 100
Design Fun Creativity Aesthetics Functionality 3 / 35 2 / 25 1 / 15 2 / 15 9 / 10 Oy... for once, I have absolutely no idea what to say about this. To be blunt, it's... really, really boring. It's a bunch of enemies in really simple locations, with the odd gimmick here and there that makes things slightly more than basic. It has some unusual enemy choices, such as Shield Guard and Dachone Limited, but for the most part this is really just... there. Well, there's one aspect to complain about. What even was the purpose behind that second element? This really isn't a level that warrants a second visit, and having to do so again just to find a random, basically unmarked ladder was vexing. That's the only part of the stage that's truly memorable, though.
Shinryu  : 13 / 100
Design Fun Creativity Aesthetics Functionality 1 / 35 1 / 25 1 / 15 2 / 15 8 / 10 Well...that was certainly something. In all honesty, there's not much to talk about here, at least when it comes to enemy placement and level layout (barring one particular moment). It's a rather short stage with basic enemy configurations along a mostly linear path. There are a couple notable parts along the way however, such as the first token. While I appreciate that an intentional death isn't required just to get it...it also begs the question as to why there's just a random patch of invisible floor over a spike pit. This isn't the only spot with terrain problems, however. There's two spots before the boss doors where you can stand on thin air, along with the midway checkpoint respawning you inside the floor. And then there's the second token and Energy Element. For those of you that don't like spoilers and want to try to find them on your own, feel free to look away from the next block of text in this review. I guarantee, however, that you're not going to find them unless 1: You already know where they are, or 2: You have the map and/or radar upgrades unlocked. Just...why? Why exactly are these hidden in such an obscure way? There's absolutely no indication that there's a ladder beneath the Metall Potton. Unless maybe (and this is really stretching it) the ladder is supposed to be lined up with the tube that comes out of said mini-boss. I'm just taking a wild guess here. Even if that were the case, however, it would still be an incredibly obtuse hint.
Pachy  : 35 / 100
Design Fun Creativity Aesthetics Functionality 5 / 35 10 / 25 6 / 15 8 / 15 6 / 10 le Facility Cycle Facility Cyc Whole aesthetics keep switching around per room, is that the "cycle" part of this ye olde facility? This level is a whole mishmash of random gimmicks, enemies, and misaligned collisions. Feeling like the stage is just kinda thrown out there without much care or thought put into it. If you need even more evidence of how unpolished this stage is: The respawn point is embedded into the ground. Truly the level of all time. Now how about we top this all off with a funny secret ladder into the last token and element? Along with a funny memery imagery. Next.
Flashman85  : 33 / 100
Design Fun Creativity Aesthetics Functionality 10 / 35 9 / 25 3 / 15 8 / 15 2 / 10 Level names are very important to me. They help set player expectations and may hint at the amount of care and effort expended by the designer. In fact, two whole points of my Design score are devoted to how well the name matches the level. "Cycle" implies wheeled vehicles, or perhaps something cyclical such as seasons. "Facility" suggests a location with a specific function. I originally pegged this level as a place of inscrutable purpose that cycles through unrelated tilesets and enemies, *re*cycling the same uninspired configurations ad nauseam. But as soon as I wrote that sentence, it occurred to me that maybe this is a *recycling* facility? MaGMML3 contestants, we need to have a talk about naming recycling-themed levels. So let's assume there's actually a theme here. I see junkyard tiles, vaguely industrial tiles (which don't match at all), junk-spewing enemies, and enemies that dispense discarded balls and Metalls. Yeah, it's a recycling facility. I don't know how bubbles and a goo golem figure into it, or why we detour for a single screen into some other level involving lasers; I'll leave those questions to the philosophers. The numerous design flaws are textbook examples of what happens when someone still learning how to use the devkit doesn't get other people to playtest their level. Some highlights include egregious problems with collision, section, and checkpoint objects; a completely skippable miniboss that creates a deadly problem if completely skipped; and an unsightly secret room with delusions of being an acceptable place to stash half the level's key collectibles. Still, the level is playable and not overly long or difficult. The music is good. Background graphics, when they decide to show up, add some character. Part of me wonders whether this was submitted merely to see how the judges would react, but I'm hopeful this was an honest attempt gone awry.
ACESpark  : 36 / 100
Design Fun Creativity Aesthetics Functionality 6 / 35 10 / 25 5 / 15 5 / 15 10 / 10 This feels like several levels thrown into a blender and an incredibly unfocused level appeared from it. There was nothing but enemy challenges, as each gimmick only appeared once and were rarely appropriate or added anything (such as the Quick Man Beams or Water Spouts). The constantly changing tileset was jarring, even if this was the point of the level. There needs to be some cohesion through a level, but we rarely ever saw the same enemy more than once, and certainly didn't find the level any more difficult as it went on. In order for a constantly changing environment like this to work, there needs to be something that stays the same throughout to anchor the player. Without it, the entire stage feels like a mess. Did there need to be a second exit? A token would have been enough.

Gallery

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  The secret room containing the second Energy Element, a Trickster Token, and a shitpost.

Notes

• When submitted (and in the earliest version of MaGMML3), it was possible to walk past the Metall Potton without defeating it. Attempting to drop down to the next section in this case would kill Mega Man, as trying to go down the ladder without defeating Metall Potton will in the final game. An invisible solid was added by the developers to prevent players from trying to skip the miniboss and getting stuck.
• The background in the level's secret room references the YouTube animation "SPONGEBOB CAVE EATEN ALIVE" (in which Bulborbs are not featured).