You found my secret level and my secret terminal. Congratulations – especially if you didn’t use Eat the Path, online hints, videos, or map tools to find this. Thanks to James and Chris for the chance to work on a scenario I’ve idolised ever since I first played it some 25 years ago. Working on this (hopefully) definitive edition has been an unmitigated joy. I’m sorry it took so long; we would’ve been done in 2022 if I’d been more focused. Then again, the delays made us more objective & critical – and The Lost Levels far better. They also gave me time to write new music & “KMG-365”’s secret terminal. (Eternal 1.3 players may recognize the latter’s in- universe author. I’ll add that she’s telling the truth and that her closing, bahebbak, is Egyptian Arabic for I love you, directed to a male addressee.)
Thanks also to Solra Bizna for net testing and tutoring me in scripting; Jon Irons for adapting his map layer script and physics utility Charlemagne to Tempus’ purposes; aperturegrillz for the monster health display & prototype of this map’s waterfall; & RyokoTK for Phoenix, especially “Stone Temple Pilates”. This map is my attempt to fuse said level’s style with Tempus Irae’s. If I’ve recaptured half the fun of either, I’ll be pleased. I made the bulk of this level in 2020, an absolute clusterfuck of a shitshow of a thrice-accursed year. I’m dedicating it to the memories of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Ennio Morricone, Nardo’s Devon Belcher, and my dog Duncan, who all passed away that year. I named it for a classic spaghetti western scored by Morricone; I strongly recommend both the film and its score.
Gratuitously long inspirations list: Music: Altar of Plagues, Diana Ankudinova, Ashenspire, Bach, Beach Boys, Beatles, Beethoven, Blut aus Nord, David Bowie, Chris Christodoulou, Phil Collins, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Deathspell Omega, Bob Dylan, Brian Eno, Enslaved, Genesis, Michael Giac- chino, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Murray Gold, Jerry Goldsmith, Minako Hamano, Joe Hisaishi, James Horner, Jinjer, Elton John, Yoko Kanno, Hiroki Kikuta, King Crimson, Ko- enji Hyakkei, Lorna Shore, Magma, Bear Mc- Creary, Yasunori Mitsuda, Janelle Monáe, Moonsorrow, Ennio Morricone, Joanna Newsom, Nightwish, Nine Inch Nails, Marty O’Donnell, Opeth, Panopticon, Pink Floyd, Prince, Di- mash Qudaibergen, Steve Reich, Rush, Michael Salvatori, Alex Seropian, Shiina Ringo, Yoko Shimomura, Talking Heads, Tool, Nobuo Uemat- su, Vangelis, John Williams, David Wise, Kenji Yamamoto, Yes, Neil Young, Frank Zappa
Mapmakers: James Hastings-Trew, hypersleep, CryoS, RyokoTK, windbreaker, Drictelt, Don- Martin Antell, Mike Trinder, Jason Harper, Chris Lund, Courtney Evans, Frank Rooke, Devon Belcher, Borzz, Rich Dierkes, Shebob, Jason Jones, Greg Kirkpatrick, Randy Reddig, Antonio de Llamas, FM Other Games: Super Metroid, Risk of Rain 2, Halo 3: ODST, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI Authors/Storytellers: Terry Pratchett, David Simon, Barry Jenkins, Kurt Vonnegut, Ursula K. Le Guin, Douglas Adams, Philip K. Dick, Guillermo del Toro, Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, Isaac Asimov, Gene Roddenberry, D. C. Fontana, Gene L. Coon, Harlan Ellison, Rod Serling, George Lucas, Jordan Peele, Sergio Leone, Sergio Corbucci, Alfred Hitchcock
Further shout-outs: Rubicon, Eternal, Phoenix, Apotheosis, Istoria, Return to Marathon, Blauwe Vingers, Megiddo Game, Pfh’Joueur, Gemini Station. Megiddo Game is James’ work: if you haven’t played it, what are you waiting for? And hopefully, someday you’ll be able to enjoy Where Monsters Are in Dreams and Marathon Chronicles as well. If you’re into weird challenges, hellpak might be for you. Even if not, go check out its OST. And Eternal’s. And Phoenix’s. And Apotheosis’. And Trojan’s. And Istoria’s… come to think of it, every major Marathon scenario soundtrack has been a banger. Last but not least, thank you for playing. I hope it’s been fun! –Aaron https://aaronfreed.github.io
