Category:The Synthwave Trials
An experimental, gameplay-focused collection of short levels with synthwave music, intended to be played together and released all at once.
The Synthwave Trials is a completed level collection created by DXL44. Featuring mostly Advanced difficulty levels, the collection focuses especially on gameplay. All levels are shortened to under two minutes of gameplay, and each features no boss. Levels in the Synthwave Trials also use a more geometric style similar to most of DXL44’s work, with minimal color variation and simpler details. The collection follows the player as they undertake a set of trials assembled by the enigmatic Creator - a seemingly abstract and likely godlike entity who is capable of creating and manipulating levels and universes.
Described as an “experiment” by DXL44 due to its focus and release style,[1] The Synthwave Trials released on March 6, 2022 with all levels and the collection itself going onto the Steam Workshop at once. Within a week, all of its levels had reached the top three weekly most popular spots on the Steam Workshop - where they remained for a short time.[2] A sequel titled The Complextro Trials to the collection is in progress[3], with one other Trials collection planned as well.
Plot
I want to preface this by telling you to throw away any expectations you may have. You are not here to retrieve a stolen artifact. There is no crisis you must bring to a resolution. Nobody is in danger, and nowhere needs to be saved. Here, you are alone. No friends, no foes. Just you.
What are you here then, you ask? What is your role? That of the player. Nothing more, nothing less. You are the dependent variable. Welcome to the Synthwave Trials.- Creator, Steam collection page
In the prologue to The Synthwave Trials, Creator is seen discussing their completion with another abstract figure - referred to as Judge. Judge inquires as to why Creator made the Trials specifically, and they are unable to give an answer besides that they “wanted” or “needed” to. As Creator states their hopes that the player will help they discover the real reason, they arrive and begin to play through the collection. At the end of the Trials, Creator appears to the player and explains how they expected them to be completed. Telling the player that they may meet again in their next trial, which they already know where to find.
Levels
Gallery
Steam banner image
Trivia
- The Synthwave Trials is the first level collection to be completed by DXL44.
- Coincidentally, the collection released one day before DXL44's birthday.
References
- ↑ "The Synthwave Trials is an experiment. It is something that I created out of curiosity, something I just wanted to make. Something with a new format and release than most other things on the workshop." -DXL44, 3/6/2022, Vitamin Games server
- ↑ (Image) - DXL44, 3/7/2022, Vitamin Games server
- ↑ "I have started work on making levels for the next trials collection. Oh no" - DXL44, 5/12/2022, Twitter
Pages in category "The Synthwave Trials"
The following 4 pages are in this category, out of 4 total.
- Collections
- The Trials Series