Even though I’ll probably have to go back and revise a few bits, the level is basically half done and it’s coming along pretty good. The layout will probably be done in another day or two.

I’ve found the best way to make levels is to gradually escalate. You introduce one thing in the level at a time in mostly safe ways, and then start doing more interesting things with them, gradually amping up the difficulty as the level goes on. This is also the first level in the second world, so I need to be mindful of where the level is placed in the game. I need to make it more difficult than the first world levels but only enough for the player to notice. This is also the first level with water, so I need to have a section at the beginning that showcases all of the major water mechanics in an easy enough way. I also use the water as a substitute for a bottomless pit; I do this so I can have more difficult platforming but with “training wheels.” I’d like to write a long-form post about this someday but I think it’s best if I do a few more levels first so I really nail a design process.