YAP SESSION INCOMING!!!
This could be a hot take idk. I've always thought Crunchy Construction (or Entryway), the first level of Sugary Spire, is better than John Gutter. I won't go into too much detail here, but i am thinking about making a video breaking down the level design and such.
(This is referring to the Exhibition Night iteration of Crunchy Construction)
In terms of level design, Crunchy Construction (CC from now on) and John Gutter (JG from now on) are very similar. Being the debut levels of their respective games, they both do a great job of easing the player into Peppino's/Pizzelle's moveset. They both feature plenty of places to reach mach 4, require super jumps, ground pounds and act as a way of solidfying the player's understanding of their moveset.
While the levels are designed almost identically, I feel CC utilises Pizzelle's moveset far more effectively than JG does Peppino's. It can be argued that Peppino's rather basic moveset plays a key role in this and... yeah it sorta does. Regardless, Crunchy Construction features many "dead ends" (for example the 2nd confecti/toppin) where Peppino would have to either wall jump off and land at mach 2, hit the wall, or grab cancel insta turn whatever thingy idk what to call it. Pizzelle, however, can just wall jump into a fast fall and continue in the opposite direction at mach 3. Additionally, CC has a vertical descent room akin to JG during the escape sequence, which is also handled so much better than JG due to it just fitting more with Pizzelle's moveset; this is also why i believe Sugarshack Mines is more fun than Bloodsauce Dungeon.
The level design so far makes Crunchy Construction only a slight bit better than John Gutter. But the level's aesthetic is where the difference really shows itself.
Let's be real, John Gutter looks really boring. A colourless wasteland of checker patterns with some John blocks. Crunchy Construction on the other hand takes place in this construction site (WHAT???? NO WAY!!!) within a clearly industrialised area. The latter half of the level takes place in the city's outskirts. Metal blocks are replaced with girders and gummy bear workers roam rhe place, even reacting to taunts like the pigs in The Pig City. And the escape background, do I need to say anything? I don't remember backgrounds changing this drastically during Pizza Time.
And the music I don't think needs to be discussed that much either. Unearthly Blues is good don't get me wrong, but it takes so long to pick up that you're likely in Pizza Time by then. But Crunchy Construction's theme, Down-To-Noise, is genuinely one of the best in the game's soundtrack. From start to finish its peak. Doesn't take 23 years to actually sound like music.
idk why i made this, nobody seemed to be talking about how good Sugary Spire is. I know it has its own sub but it's kinda dead.