If it is post game, the explain this. In this video, of you look to the top left, he only has 2 moons. I am not an expert at Darker Side, but please explain if the game resets the number of moons you get when you enter a world. Otherwise, this is clear evidence that this skip is possible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0s5x1OmEYBc

Proof that the Glitch does work. He only has 2 moons and it looks like you can get in the portrait. Unfortunately, the quality of the video isn’t he best, but It looks like it is activated. Shoutout to Abaly Debest for the video.

Maybe they didn’t bother to make it so you the portrait is closed. Maybe? I mean it’s in a cage. And they obviously didn’t know about the glitch until after the game came out. But, it may be turned off. I don’t know, I just said a possibility.

I think there might be a way to skip Wooded, Cloud, and Lost Kingdom. Glydon (or however you spell his name) is a very glitchy character. There is a glitch where you can go through the ground by jumping at the corner and there is also a glitch where you can glide way more than you should. I think the can be used to go to the “Secret Path to the Steam Gardens” moon by clipping through the cage by using the jump in the corner glitch. Then, hopefully, you could collect the star and go to Metro (if the game allows you, it may not, I am not sure. I don’t have the game so I can’t test my theory myself) And, if gliding isn’t enough, you can use the glitch to glide way further than you should. Am I right? Probably not. Am I an idiot? Most likely. But it’s at least trying in my option

I think there might be a way to skip Wooded, Cloud, andLost Kingdom. Glydon (or however you spell his name) is a very glitchy character. There is a glitch where you can go through the ground by jumping at the corner and there is also a glitch where you can glide way more than you should. I think the can be used to go to the “Secret Path to the Steam Gardens” moon by clipping through the cage by using the jump in the corner glitch. Then, hopefully, you could collect the star and go to Metro (if the game allows you, it may not, I am not sure. I don’t have the game so I can’t test my theory myself) And, if gliding isn’t enough, you can use the glitch to glide way further than you should. Am I right? Probably not. Am I an idiot? Most likely. But it’s at least trying in my opinion.