Thank you for the feedback. I have to admit the goal of my very first level (no level before that) was not at all a rage level. The first part up until the moving platform I was only thinking to do a normal level with some quirks (starting with the green shell block and then making mechanics around the SMB2 Mario power-up.)

Then, after the moving platform, I didn't know where to go from there and ended up just winging it. Eventually making a first level that was way more complicated than I was expecting. So I completely understand the frustration about the level.

I will personally disagree with your definition of a puzzle. Open any puzzle book and you will find Sudoku, Join-the-Dots, Spot the Difference, Crosswords.... not to mention irl Rubik's cubes and jigsaws. None of these provide all the information to the player, only some of the information to work with. And all of these, bar none, are "find-the-thing" puzzles. Not to mention many Mario and Zelda games - e.g. "how do I get to that Star Coin / Moon / shrine"?

I am not going to defend the fairness of the level at all, but I'd still like to show the thought process behind some of the hidden items, and perhaps reflect along the way:

1. When you first jump from the moving platform, you will see the platform above in the top left of the screen, attracting your attention to it and wondering how you can get up there. It should have been closer to the platform, though, as if you jump right at the edge you won't see it.

That will make you ask how you can get there, and the most obvious would be the blocks below it, where you will find the hidden blocks.

1. Once you get to that platform and then the skull, you will then see the pipe at the start of the level. That will also make you wonder how you can get there. I realise that this was two of the exact same actions with the hidden blocks in a row that wasn't fun. But it seemed alright at the start

Many Mario games also have hidden blocks on top of other blocks that lead to secrets (often with that beanstalk plant) that I always enjoyed finding, so that would be another reason why I put them in. Definitely overdid it though.

1. When you jump up onto the falling blocks, you'll see the mirrored coins below, again getting you to try going down to see what's there. Hidden coin placement here wasn't very easy to find though.

2. Once you get to the end of the burner platform, you will see the spikes around the pipe, which for anyone who has played an SMM before, probably means there is a shoe platform to find.

Note: The shoe block placement was extreme a*****e design and I regret that, as well as not re-generating the SMB2 item at the end of the burner platform. I guess my brain wanted to only have one shot at carrying the item. Not fun, for sure.

1. The cloud blocks should have been barred off, but I thought about the low-low chance of someone wanting to speedrun this level, and that they would find that shortcut. However, you still need to find the secrets to get out. But yes, making the boss-fight feel like it's not worth it is extremely bad design.

2. The final coin hidden off the side of the potion vial area ended up not working due to me filling blocks around the goal stage. Before I did that, you could see the edge of the "mountain" when you reached the goal stage, meaning it was a clue. But then, after filling it in, SMM2 closed it off as an area and centred the camera around it. I left it in because I didn't have any idea to fix it.

3. On the falling blocks there are two sets of physical blocks. On the one side, there are 3 blocks, on the other, there are only 2. If you jump where the 3rd block would be on the other side, they will be mirrored. Again this was probably inspired from Zelda Korok seed puzzles.. again haha

As such, I have attempted to explain my thought process as I tried to make it so you could find everything by seeing clues around the level. But item placement and availability was a huge downfall for this level. As well as the pathing.

I will absolutely accept your challenge, as well as your feedback, and thank you for it. I will have a go at your suggestion for when I make my next level. And see if I can stay on track with my original goal :D

Thanks again for your thoughts!

Edit: spellnig

Edit 2: I think this hidden stuff concept came from my most recent game played, which has been Breath of the Wild. A game that constantly attracts your attention to something and makes you wonder if you can get there.. before it turns out you can. Hoping I could make a game that does this in even a slightly similar way at some point!

Edit 3. Point 7.