the closest i've got is to be able to set text/gui stuff on the front layer, then setup the depth and zscale so the gui elements in question slightly "pop" over the rest of everything else. and while yes, that does mean that the GUI stuff is still inside level blocks, it's not being obscured. look at my megaman 2 or shatterhand 3dn's as an example (try metal man's stage for my mm2 3dn). not the best examples but it's the closest solution i have at this juncture.