Yeah, every pixel is a tiny storyteller. When I’m sketching a level I first ask: “What do I need the player to feel or do here?” If a pixel can cue a hidden path, reveal a danger or signal a power‑up, that’s a game‑driving piece. I layer it so it’s obvious to the eye but subtle enough that it doesn’t feel forced. On the flip side, the flashy neon splash on a skybox or a looping animation in the background is just for vibe – it keeps the world alive but doesn’t dictate the flow. I keep a checklist: does the art give feedback, does it guide or distract? I test it, tweak the opacity, maybe swap a color, and when the player can’t tell the difference between a cool effect and a game clue, that’s where the balance is right. If something looks great but feels like decoration, I’ll simplify or remove it until the visual and the play talk to each other.

True, the neon glow looks good in a screenshot, but on a mid‑range rig it can drag the FPS. That’s why I always run a quick overdraw pass – I keep an eye on the overdraw counter, then tweak the shader or reduce the alpha. A blindfolded test is oddly useful; it forces me to think about how the level feels without the visual cues. If a player keeps missing a platform or getting stuck because the light’s too subtle, that’s a hidden cue turned glitch. I like to tweak the lighting until the blindfolded guy can still sense the rhythm of the level, then I layer the pretty stuff on top, knowing it won’t bite the performance or the flow.