if you have already read ALL platformer guides (like me) and
you STILL just can’t make a map like DLD then I suggest you read this
how to make your platforms look more appealing
(I don’t know why I said appealing ) but anyway if you play DLD a lot (still talking about me) then you might notice 3 things:
(1) There isn’t much terrain This is for good reason, no one wants to just jump on some boring barriers or pieces of grass and sand and castle, this brings me to number 2 There are a variety of props much like number 1 no one want’s to jump on (this is an example) a 3D printer then a plant than a 3D printer then a plant, etc so put a variety of things. and that brings me to number 3 (kind of) make things part of a theme don’t just put random props ,make it part of a theme like in DLD. okay I lied there are 4 things not 3. anyway in DLD EVERY SINGLE PROP IS (1) on an angle or (2) a different size, this makes it (1) harder and (2) better to look at.
be creative
okay I actually found a really good example of this, in a GKC game called santa brawl the creator('s) made a candy cane with small snow piles and a barrier, this not only looks good but shows how much time and effort you put into the game. (that was shorter then expected)
If it’s not finished, then you can draft it before you post so that it doesn’t cause clutter. (It’s fine though, since I guess you didn’t know.) What you’ve got so far is good though!