History VideoGame / ThisIsTheOnlyLevel

* SideView

->[[AWinnerIsYou Stage Complete!]]
->[[VideoGame/ThisIsTheOnlyLevel But is the level over...?]]

* SpeedRun:
** The second game has characters that you can unlock by beating the game in 10, 5, 4, and 3.5 minutes each.
** Required in the third and fourth levels to unlock [[PlatformHell FML Mode]].

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: One of the secret characters is a Velociraptor.

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Stage 10 is titled "'''H'''eavy '''h'''eadwind, '''h'''ere".

* PressXToDie: Each game comes with a Panic button that can kill your elephant immediately, for use in emergency situations such as getting stuck. The final stage of ''This is the Only Level TOO'' require you to kill your elephant on the button to weigh it down before you exit.

*** There are two references to ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' -- the clear message for "Red Light!" is "But the end is in another castle.", and Stage 11 is titled "World 1-2" requires you to hit the top of the level to reach a warp zone on the other side.

!!Level 2 provides examples of:

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: One of the secret characters.

* AscendedGlitch: In the first game, there is a glitch which allows players who have just finished the game and quickly re-entering it to get to [[MinusWorld an unfinished and unsolvable Stage 31]] -- simply titled "undefined". This was turned into an actual hidden EasterEgg in Levels 2 and 3.

*** Also, the clear message for "Sliding Portcullis" is "But Advertising/{{will it blend}}?" , which is again referenced in Stage 11 of Level 3.

** The FML Modes present in Level 2 and 3. In Level 2, it stands for "Frustrating Manipulative Level", while in Level 3, it stands for "Friendly Memorable Love".

* InvisibleBlock: In the first level's "Mime's folly", there is an invisible wall to the right of the button that you have to jump over. The second level features "[[PunBasedTitle Amazeing]]", which is a maze made up of invisible blocks.

* EasterEgg: Stage 31.
** In the main menu screen of Level 2, you can control your elephant to press the button at the top left and unlock Stage 22. Finding this easter egg also unlocks Hyper Mode.

The game received a few sequels, co-developed by Tasselfoot. ''This is the Only Level TOO (The Heroic Quest to Complete Another Level)'', is [[http://armorgames.com/play/5351/this-is-the-only-level-too over here]], and ''This is the Only Level 3'' is [[http://armorgames.com/play/12745/this-is-the-only-level-3/ here]]. ''This is the Only Level 4'' is [[http://armorgames.com/play/14694/this-is-the-only-level-4 here]], and it is solely developed by Tasselfoot and does not involve [=jmtb02=].

* InterfaceScrew: Some of the stages in all four levels either reverse your controls or disable certain buttons. Some of them even make you use entirely new keys.

* LockedDoor: In almost every stage of all three levels. Sometimes figuring out how to open it is part of the stage puzzle.

** Level 3 introduces the pastry mechanic first seen in ''Achievement Unlocked 2'', and Stage 9 in particular is based on ''Elephant Rave''.

** In Level 2: There are two references to ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' -- the clear message for "Red Light!" is "But the end is in another castle.", and Stage 11 is titled "World 1-2" requires you to hit the top of the level to reach a warp zone on the other side. Also, the clear message for "Sliding Portcullis" is "But Advertising/{{will it blend}}?" , which is again referenced in Stage 11 of Level 3.
** In Level 3: The clear message for Stage 3 is "But [[Film/ANewHope are these the droids you are looking for]]?" Stage 6 is called "[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Speak Friend And Enter]]", and unlocks a secret Invisible Mode if you type in "mellon", the Elvish word for "friend". [[BulletHell Stage 15]] is called "The Franchise/TouhouProject", and invokes ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}''.

** Required in the third and fourth levels to unlock [[PlatformHell FML Mode]] (which stands for "Frustratingly Manipulative Level" or "Friendly Memorable Love", [[BlatantLies apparently]]).

* EverythingBreaks: In the "Collapse" stage.

* WhenAllElseFailsGoRight: "No Returns, No Refunds" doesn't let you move left, you can only go right.

* DescendingCeiling: Stage 14.

* {{Letters 2 Numbers}}: Stage 27: [=D34TH=] 15 2AD.

* MinusWorld: The EasterEgg and AscendedGlitch from the previous game. This also applies to level 3.

* RougeAnglesOfSatin: The beginning of the ending text says "You have '''beat''' the only level in the game." [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX51tpjO9Wk Tasselfoot's video walkthrough]] shows a version of the game where the clear message for Stage 12 is "But '''your''' still trying to find the ending."

* ArtShift: The background and blocks are much more detailed than in the first two levels.
* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Similar to the second level, one stage has you controlling a Raptor.

* FunWithAcronyms: In stage 14, you are supposed to spell "Blue". The name of the stage is "'''B'''ad '''L'''ittle '''U'''gly '''E'''lephant".

* OddballInTheSeries: Unlike the other levels, this one is designed entirely by Tasselfoot. As a result, there are various departures from the previous games. The main character is a green walrus, the "You Win" messages do not begin with "But...", and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the Armor Games logo retains its music and sound effects rather than overriden by the game's main music]].

A sequel, ''This is the Only Level TOO (The Heroic Quest to Complete Another Level)'', is [[http://armorgames.com/play/5351/this-is-the-only-level-too over here]]. ''This is the Only Level 3'' is [[http://armorgames.com/play/12745/this-is-the-only-level-3/ here]]. ''This is the Only Level 4'' is [[http://armorgames.com/play/14694/this-is-the-only-level-4 here]].

* FakeTrap: In the first level, the spikes in "Dull appearances" [[spoiler:act as springs]]. In the second, they have different properties in "Left IS Right" ([[spoiler:the bottom of the row of spikes on the left wall is fake]]), "On Ice" ([[spoiler:all the spikes disappear when you go near them]]), and "[=D34TH=] 15 2AD" ([[spoiler:you have to make certain sets of spikes disappear in a certain order]]). Otherwise, they kill you.
%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* InvisibleBlock: In the first level's "Mime's folly", there is [[spoiler:an invisible wall to the right of the button that you have to jump over]]. The second level features "[[PunBasedTitle Amazeing]]", which is [[spoiler:a maze made up of invisible blocks]].
* JumpPhysics: The '''''elephant''''' (and the secret characters in the sequel) can jump like freaking [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]. Sometimes.
* LockedDoor: In [[spoiler:almost]] every stage of all three levels. Sometimes figuring out how to open it is part of the stage puzzle.
* PressurePlate: The button that [[spoiler:sometimes]] opens the door.

** For Level 1 in particular, "Time to refresh" requires you to [[spoiler:''refresh the page'' in your browser]] to unlock the door (though an updated version of the game changes the title to "Refresh or Panic" and lets you [[spoiler:hit the [[PressXToDie panic button]] instead of refreshing]]), and "Credit page" requires you to [[spoiler:go back to the menu, then go to the Credits page and click "Main menu, and unlock Stage 27 for me" there]].
** In Level 2, "Peek-a-boo!" requires you to [[spoiler:face away from the door to open it, then dash through before it closes again]], "Stuck?" requires you to [[spoiler:click the walkthrough button]] to unlock the door, "Deaf, Dumb, and Blind" not only requires you to navigate the course [[BlackoutBasement while blacked out]], but also [[spoiler:hit the Mute button]], and "What's On The Menu?" requires you to [[spoiler:go back to the menu, then control the elephant in it and bring it onto the button at the top left, and return to the game]].
** Level 4's "Healthy Teeth" requires you to [[spoiler:clean the walrus's tusks on the main menu]].
* SpeedRun: Required in the third and fourth levels to unlock [[PlatformHell FML Mode]] (which stands for "Frustratingly Manipulative Level" or "Friendly Memorable Love", [[BlatantLies apparently]]).

!!Level 1 provides examples of:

* SchmuckBait: The button in "Think before doing" [[spoiler:closes the already-open door.]]

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Stage 9 has you controlling [[spoiler:a donkey]]. [[spoiler:This is inverted when you actually unlock the donkey as a playable character. Going back to Stage 9 does nothing, but going to the stage after that has you play as the elephant instead.]]

* MinusWorld: [[spoiler:The EasterEgg and AscendedGlitch from the previous game. This also applies to level 3.]]

* ShoutOut: There are two references to ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' -- the clear message for "Red Light!" is "But the end is in another castle.", and Stage 11 is titled "World 1-2" and [[spoiler:requires you to hit the top of the level to reach a warp zone on the other side]]. Also, the clear message for "Sliding Portcullis" is "But Advertising/{{will it blend}}?"
** There is also another one to another of Creator/{{jmtb02}}'s game, ''VideoGame/AchievementUnlocked''; stage 28, Surface Painting, has you coloring the surfaces.
* SpeedRun: Required to unlock the secret characters.
* WarpZone: [[spoiler:In Stage 11. All three pipes lead to the same level you've been going through.]]
* WhereItAllBegan: [[spoiler:Stage 7 makes you return to the starting pipe.]]

* BulletHell: Stage 15. And [[spoiler: every stage in [[PlatformHell FML Mode]]]].
* FunWithAcronyms: In stage 14, you are supposed to spell "Blue". The name of the stage will abbreviate to [[spoiler:B.L.U.E]].
* SchmuckBait[=/=]CallBack: A reference to the first level, Stage 21's switch [[spoiler:closes the already-open door]].
* ShoutOut: The clear message for Stage 3 is "But [[Film/ANewHope are these the droids you are looking for]]?" Stage 11's is, again, "But [[Advertising/WillItBlend does it blend]]?" Stage 6 is called "[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Speak Friend And Enter]]". [[BulletHell Stage 15]] is called "The Franchise/TouhouProject", and invokes ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}''.
** More references to previous elephant games: stage 9 is based on ''Elephant Rave''. The pastries first appeared in ''VideoGame/AchievementUnlocked 2''.
* UnexpectedGameplayChange: [[spoiler: To get through Stage 27 you have to play a game of ''Videogame/{{Snake}}'' in the corner of the high scores screen]].

* ShoutOut: The clear message for Stage 3 is "But [[Film/ANewHope are these the droids you are looking for]]?" Stage 11's is, again, "But [[Advertising/WillItBlend does it blend]]?" Stage 6 is called "[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Speak Friend And Enter]]". [[BulletHell Stage 15]] is called "The VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Project", and invokes ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}''.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/this_is_the_only_level.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The level. It'll get plenty more changes as the game goes on.]]

Actually, there is only one level... but you have to repeat it, over and over. And each time you finish it, the aspect of the levels change. There are thirty variations of the level (called stages) in all, and each of them are different.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: People who are more well-versed in swear language will know that the "FML" in FML Mode doesn't stand for "Frustratingly Manipulative Level" or "Friendly Memorable Love", it stands for "Fuck My Life". Considering the difficulty in that mode, it's very appropriate.

* [[spoiler:DescendingCeiling]]: Stage 14.
* [[spoiler:EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs]]: One of the secret characters.