Description
We entered the Arcadia. We were attacked immidiately after entering. We have to do something. But not kill.
Virtual' is a Master difficulty level created by Virmay. It is the first level of the Virtual Arcadia EP and features Neneko as a boss, a character owned by song artist Geoxor & Ariimaw.
The level was initially announced in the August 2021 Workshop Direct.[1]
Virtual uses a style inspired by the level Exploring Space by Jolly Jack.[2] It mainly features scarlet, pink, purple, and blue colors on a black background. Semi-transparent effects layered on top of each other appear in front and behind the background grid.
The Virmay logo splash screen is played, after which a cinematic screen appears with a text log matching the song's vocals. In it, Neneko tries to find out from someone whether he is real and in what place they are.
The color theme becomes black and white. This part contains only white pulse attacks.
The console displays information about preparing for import in the background. After that, the countdown begins. After it expires, a flash occurs.
Checkpoint 2
A white pulse in the center attacks with circular, rectangular, triangular, and cross bullets. Two wave lasers are fired from the left and right. The pulse then fires bullets again, followed by a semicircular hexagon appearing from the edge and closing into the center. After its disappearance, 3 bullets fly out in the opposite direction from it. This pattern is repeated three more times.
The Geoxor logo appears in the center. Its 2 "arrows" fly apart and emit wave lasers 3 times at different heights, after which they change places, repeat the same actions, and disappear.
Hints in the background tell which direction the player should quickly dash to avoid 4 abrupt obstacles. After this, two squares will appear on the right and one appears on the left. Immediately following, they change sides to stretch horizontally and disappear.
Two horizontal and two vertical stomps appear, after which these attacks are repeated.
Checkpoint 3
A reference to Doomsday Machine by Airtech. A round wall closes over the player. During this part, bullets will randomly spawn from the wall.
The Geoxor logo appears again. At this time, its arrows multiply twice, shoot wave lasers once, scatter in 4 directions and attach to the wall. They take turns firing wave lasers. After a while, the wall and arrows will disappear.
Kitty bombs fly out and explode from the right side.
A beating heart comes from above and begins to crack, emitting square bullets.
A giant silhouette of Neneko appears behind the heart and produces a flash.
Checkpoint 4
Neneko sweeps across the screen as a comet and appears from the left, sweeping a laser from top to bottom and flying away.
She rushes again and appears in the center, dragging 2 spikey walls on both sides, and flies away again.
She sweeps again and repeats the first attack, but to the right side.
Audio visualizers appear at the top and bottom, leaving a free space just below the middle.
Neneko appears on the left, shoots lasers twice, rushes to the right side, and throws 2 laser balls.
The free space moves up.
Neneko repeats the previous attacks, but now a large bomb appears on the right, and she rushes right into it, exploding with bullets.
The free space is moved to the middle.
Two laser balls explode, and Neneko rushes vertically to the middle. A Kitty bomb appears, divides into two, and explodes into spikes. After that, 3 more Kitty bombs explode.
Checkpoint 5
Neneko creates an energy sphere that fires three lasers downwards. She then moves the laser from left to right and back. The pattern then repeats with her aiming to the top. Three vertical stomps appear, and Neneko runs through the empty seats. The pattern repeats, but horizontally.
Neneko throws two chains and pulls down two pillars, blocking the player with them. She pushes the pillars apart to get to the player.
Before she can attack, the player shoots at her with a large beam that knocks her down and causes a collapse.
Checkpoint 6
Neneko tries to get up, but she is crushed to death by a rock. The screen begins to scroll upwards, and the player narrowly escapes the collapse after breaking through a wall. The level ends with a credits screen.
Video
Trivia
Virtual was one of the levels showcased by Pidge as a part of the Project Arrhythmia segment of SAVE & SOUND - a show hosted by Bedtime Digital themed around music in video games.[3]
Additionally, a screenshot from the level was added to Project Arrhythmia's Steam page on the same day.[4]
