Cataclysm (2024)

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This article is about the Extreme Demon level. For the Easy Demon level, see cataclysm 1.

Cataclysm is a 1.9/2.0 solo Extreme Demon level created, hack-verified and published by Ggb0y on 3 January 2015. The level was later updated and verified in 2.0 by Riot on 15 January 2016, who uploaded the new version to his account, where it is currently rated. Upon its release, it was featured and instantly became the hardest Demon level in Geometry Dash, historically tied with ICE Carbon Diablo X. The level received acclaim for its difficulty and design and received accreditation for popularising the red and black 'hell' scheme in Extreme Demons.

Cataclysm remains the second most-liked Extreme Demon in the game^[1] and one of the most popular and influential levels of all time, with its creation widely considered a turning point in the game's history.^[2][3] It is the first installment of the community's classic Apocalyptic Trilogy of similarly-themed Extreme Demons, preceding Bloodbath and aftermath.

History[]

• On 30 December 2014, Ggb0y uploaded a fourth preview on YouTube showcasing his upcoming Extreme Demon named Cataclysm, set to be the hardest level in the game up to that point.^[4] Some noted design cues reminiscent of the Rek3dge level Nitronic Freedom, as well as several cuts in the preview videos.
• Ggb0y allegedly invested around 80,088 attempts to verify the level but could not beat it, resorting to hacking verification. Sometime later, players like ZorroZ Zet and Lyra Bandicoot claimed to beat it legitimately with video footage but later confessed to hacking the level after suspicion aroused by various game effects bugs visible in the replays, now known to be archetypal of speed-hacking.
• Cataclysm was widely considered humanly impossible for a time. South Korean player Cyclic was thought to have completed it legitimately with his stream on 28 April 2015 and was initially considered the level's first victor. The completion propelled Cyclic's channel and popularity.^[5] However, he later purported his hacking of the level alongside all his major achievements. Whether or not Cyclic's confession was the truth is debated, as there were no signs of illegitimacy in his completion of Cataclysm.
• After Cyclic's confession, the Colombian player Giron became known as the first person to legitimately beat Cataclysm on 14 May 2015. He called the achievement his 'best work'.^[6] Soon after, two other players named Sandstorm^[7] and Riot^[8] beat Cataclysm within the same day: 20 May 2015. Riot was also subject to a huge popularity boost after his completion, and the level became considered one of his signature achievements. Powerbomb became the fourth victor on 10 July,^[9] and Creepy Dash became the fifth on 25 July.^[10] Completions of Cataclysm began to snowball, and with the release of Bloodbath on 12 August 2015, Cataclysm was officially displaced from the position of the hardest verified Demon.
• A year later after its initial release, in Update 2.0, Ggb0y updated Cataclysm, with buffs to the ship segments, the addition of an 'extra death' and three user coins in the level. Riot verified the update legitimately on stream on 15 January 2016.^[11] This version became known as New Cataclysm and is considered somewhat harder than Old Cataclysm.
• Cataclysm went on to become one of the most influential and popular levels in Geometry Dash, revolutionizing the difficulty precedent for what would become known as Extreme Demon levels after previous more difficult but illegitimately verified levels like Silent Club and the Hell Series. Cataclysm inspired other future levels such as Bloodbath, aftermath and many more.^[12] As of Update 2.1, Cataclysm is now considered one of the easiest Extreme Demon levels in the game, often said to be the ideal beginner Extreme Demon alongside Acu.^[13]

Gameplay[]

• 0-6%: The level starts with a fairly easy half-speed cube section, with a few fake orbs and easy timings. Next, the player enters a difficult double-speed wave segment that contains tight spaces, many size-change portals, and inconsistent and awkward timing. It then turns into an auto segment and briefly into a cube, where 'Cataclysm' and 'ggb0y' appear briefly on screen. After that is a difficult triple-speed ship segment with gravity portals and many invisible-size portals that require very light inputs and good transition control to avoid death. The ship was one of the few parts completely overhauled after the 2.0 update. It originally featured mirror portals without size portals. The player changes back into a mini-wave at half-speed, but this part is easier than the first wave as it is not double-speed. The wave briefly becomes normal size before entering the next section. The background obstructs some of the player's vision. The player then changes into a double-speed ball that requires good timing and spamming. Then, the speed changes to half-speed, and the player must pass through very tight spaces, with a few speed changes trying to throw the player off. The player then enters a double-speed UFO segment with many orbs, gravity portals, and tight spaces with fairly awkward timing. This UFO then transitions to a single-speed ship segment that requires insane straight-flying and hitting orbs inside gravity portals; missing one orb results in a crash. The straight-fly has a mini-portal and a gravity portal in the middle, making the part inconsistent. The ship then transitions into a triple-speed cube section that requires good timing, then turns into a half-speed mini-cube that mostly requires some spamming.
• 52-100%: Afterwards, the player enters a ball section requiring spamming and good timing. Gameplay-wise, this is one of the easiest parts of the level. However, the level becomes dark, with the obstacles flashing intermittently and challenging to see where the player is going. Midway through, the player becomes a mini-UFO, then briefly becomes a ball again before turning into a mini-ship. Then, the player must jump once as a mini-cube before a short ball section brings the player to the next part. The level then transitions into a difficult mirrored half-speed ship segment with straight flying. The ship then becomes mini and must maneuver through a few tight spaces. The ship becomes normal-sized and unmirrored shortly before entering a dual section with more tight spaces and straight-flying. The player exits the dual and must pass one final straight-fly before entering the next part. Afterward, the player enters a tight half-speed wave segment. Multiple players are known for crashing here from the lack of nerve control or screwing it up. After this wave segment, the player enters a short and easy robot section. Then, the level ends with one final ship segment, with the well-known area that says 'GBOY', the creator's name, 'U NEED TO REST...' and finishing with 'GG' and one final straight-fly. There is a hall of fame of players who finished the level legitimately before the update. There is also a message from Ggb0y admitting to hacking it, an apology, and thanking Riot for verifying the level and adding coins. Finally, the level ends.

User coins[]

• The first coin is located at 3% and is easy to get with relatively simple timing. The player must hit a blue orb late, sending them into a sawblade that looks like it would kill them but instead will bring them to the coin and then teleport them back on course.
• The second coin is located at 70% and is the easiest coin. In the first segment in the dual ship, the player must fly between the spiked area to get the coin. They will then exit a small space and continue the level. This route is arguably easier than the regular route.
• The third coin is located at 85%. The player must hit the last blue orb and go through the gravity portal. While inside it, they must hit an invisible yellow orb that will take the player to the last coin. Alternatively, the player can hit the blue orb late, allowing the robot to brush past the coin.

Fails[]

New version[]

• Nexus, LordSkello, Jamby, and Mosos have all crashed at 74%.
  • However, Jamby crashed at 74% three times.
• ChrisCredible crashed at 77%.
• Ninetales crashed at 81%.
• Theo crashed at 82%.
• MaxiS9 and Cerni crashed at 89%.
• Hotball1, SrMusca, Slypp, Squad, Rusty, and NothingIsScary^[14] have all crashed at 90%.
  • However, Rusty crashed at 90% four times.

Old version[]

• SoulsTRK crashed at 74% twice.
• Mosos crashed at 82%.
• Cyclic crashed at 86% (although this may be hacked).
• MaxiS9 crashed at 88%.
• Elite, Nexus, and Quasar have all crashed at 89%.
• Riot crashed accidentally after the last wave segment.
• R3YGA and YGYoshI crashed at the 91% bug.
• SrGuillester crashed at 93%. due to celebrating too early.
  • This is due to him accidentally touching the trackpad causing him to jump at the auto part at the very end.

Trivia[]

• The password for the level is 666777.
• The level contains 15,216 objects.
• The level is 1m 27s in length.
• The level was initially placed at #22 on the Demonlist on 4 January 2017, above ICE Carbon Diablo X (#23) and below Heartbeat (#21).
• Old Cataclysm and New Cataclysm are currently on the Legacy List of the Low Refresh Rate Mobile Demonlist.
• The level was ranked #9 in GDToday's 100 Greatest Levels of All Time list.
• Several players, like the popular Lyra Bandicoot, also used hacks to complete the level. A wave of videos involving the spotting of hackers in the game was attributed to the numerous hacked videos of Cataclysm.
• Riot is the first player confirmed to have beaten Cataclysm more than once, completing all three runs in live streams and the last one being a re-verification of Cataclysm for Ggb0y to update coins into the level.
• Cyclic had admitted to hacking this level, making Giron the first to beat the level. Sandstorm and Riot completed the level a week after Giron, making Sandstorm and Riot the second and third players to beat Cataclysm. Powerbomb soon followed as the fourth and Creepy Dash as the fifth.
• The 'hall of fame' at the end of the level includes the players who beat it before the update. This list comprises the following players: Cyclic, Giron David, Sandstorm, Riot, Powerbomb, Creepy Dash, MaxiS9, MrKebab, Zeostar, SoulsTRK, Danilkaz, Elite, R3YGA and Mabby01.
• Sandstorm is the second player to beat the updated version of Cataclysm, getting all three coins in the process. He was followed by Kins0, Quasar, Brandon Larkin and Surv.
• TrusTa created a level consisting of Old Cataclysm twice, back-to-back, which is called 'Multi Clysm'. TrusTa has also beaten Cataclysm almost 30 times.
• SrGuillester was the first to beat the old version of Cataclysm on 60hz and the up arrow key on 22 February 2016.^[15]
  • He also beat the updated version of Cataclysm on 60hz nearly a year later on 11 February 2017.^[16]
  • The up arrow key is commonly used by skilled players on the Demonlist nowadays.
• There is a redecorated and redone version of Old Cataclysm made by LazerBlitz called Quest For Perfection. It uses a blue and black color scheme and replaces the last wave of Cataclysm with a difficult mixed dual. Most other sections of the level are merged, however. Quest For Perfection is slightly easier than Cataclysm.
• Cataclysm is currently the most defeated Demon on the Demonlist, with about 1,000 victors.
• Bloodbath and aftermath are directly inspired by this level as direct extensions of the original level. Hundreds of other levels are thought to be inspired by it as well.
• Ggb0y's level Infernal Abyss is the official sequel to Cataclysm. Although the idea for the level was dropped when Bloodbath, the spiritual sequel to Cataclysm, was released, Manix648 and Bianox later finished the decoration. The level was hack-verified by YGYoshI, and BlassCFB was the first person to legitimately complete it.
• There is a buffed remake called Armageddon.
• On 1 April 2021, RobTop accidentally deleted all of the level's comments.
• Cataclysm is the 14th former Top 1 in the game's history.
• Either super probably level, Titan Complex, or Annihilation Nation pushed Cataclysm into the Legacy List of the Demonlist on 1 February 2019 due to the not much-known history of the Demonlist.
  • In June 2019, the Demonlist expanded from 100 to 150 which pushed Cataclysm back into the Extended List.
    • However, the placement of Zettabyte on 2 September 2019 pushed Cataclysm into the Legacy List for the second time.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

• Update Verification

• Original Version

Demonlist[]

In other languages[]

References[]