Enigma (Mc-Starz)
Enigma is Mc-Starz's second level and the first level in the Dark Delirium series. The level introduces the main antagonist of the series Hysteria, who controls Delirium during the fight.
Layout
The level begins with simple grey pulses and beams. The level then transitions into a sidescroller, with walls on both top and bottom. White beams will appear to the melody and square bullets will be synced to the beat. After that, the attacks are replaced by beams both horizontal and vertical, square pulses, and bombs. “Hysteria” then appears on the screen; however, this is actually Delirium being possessed by Hysteria, as shown later in the storyline. Delirium tries to warn the player to leave before Hysteria takes full control.
Checkpoint 1
Hysteria starts by saying that the player is dead before his attack cycle starts. The first half of his attack cycle includes him closing the walls in, either vertically or horizontally, and using his hands as lasers, while constantly shooting bullets out of himself. Hysteria then goes into the center of the screen as a giant circle forms around him and the player. Hysteria then begins shooting bullets out of himself as well as semicircles. At the end of the checkpoint, Hysteria shoots eight beams out of himself, also spewing out bigger, slower bullets.
Checkpoint 2
The second checkpoint is a lot more chaotic. Hysteria uses the following attack cycle.
- Hysteria creates an expanding circle, then goes to the top of the screen where he shoots two sets of lasers, as a row of hexagons covers the top area.
- Hysteria fires two sets of eight lasers as he moves down to the center of the screen. Two circles come out of Hysteria and then go back in.
- Hysteria fires his right hand, and then holds his left hand longer, as he moves the laser around.
- Hysteria then goes to the left side of the screen, then fires two giant lasers, covering most of the screen.
- Hysteria then fires three sets of lasers from his hands, targeting the left and right areas.
- Hysteria fires two sets of six lasers, as three hollow circles appear around him.
- Hysteria goes to the top of the screen, and two lasers come out of his hands, covering most of the screen under him. During this attack, Hysteria also fires some beams.
Hysteria then gets big at the center of the screen, then gets smaller as a circle around him appears. Hysteria constantly turns with lasers coming out of his hands while shooting bullets and beams from his body. Before the checkpoint ends, Hysteria does a couple more unique attacks.
- Hysteria fires two lasers from his hands horizontally.
- Hysteria then shoots out an expanding circle, then shoots two sets of eight bullets.
- Hysteria shoots two lasers from his hands horizontally again, except they are both done at the same time.
Checkpoint 3
Hysteria starts by complaining that the player hasn’t died yet. He then goes to the left side of the screen as the level turns into a side scroller. Hysteria will shoot bullets and beams out of his body. Hysteria will also sometimes use his hand lasers as attacks. Note that the top and bottom walls are covered. At the end of the checkpoint, the screen scrolls a lot faster as Hysteria tells the player to get back.
Checkpoint 4
Even though this is the longest checkpoint, it is also the least chaotic. The checkpoint starts with pulses and falling bullets. Hysteria then appears in the center of the screen. Delirium tries to tell Hysteria to leave, but Hysteria says that he’s staying with him until the player dies.
Final Checkpoint
The first section of this checkpoint is similar to the first section of the first checkpoint. Some of the differences include most of the things that are white besides Hysteria are red, and some of his attacks are inverted. The checkpoint then turns into a side-scroller upward. Hysteria uses most of his attacks from before, including lasers from his hands and bullets from his body. The player then escapes as Hysteria screams “NOOOOOOOO!!!” The ending includes the player talking to themself, realizing that this wasn’t the last they would see from “it.”
Video
Trivia
- Delirium's name wasn't revealed in this level, and was unknown until the end of Careless.