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Temporary => Knytt Stories Level Releases => Topic started by: egomassive on January 30, 2021, 17:14:58

Title: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: egomassive on January 30, 2021, 17:14:58

This level was originally a demo by Sinix released back in 2009. I was looking through my library for a new level idea when I was inspired to finish this old beauty instead. I've done my best to make it look and play as if the original author had built it all himself. I'm happy to report, Sinix has not only given me permission to release this level, but he really liked it too.

download Island of Mimir by Sinix & egomassive (http://egomassive.com/nifflas/SinixEgomassive-IslandOfMimir.knytt.bin) 15MB

Spoiler: Features: (click to show/hide)

• digitally painted graphics
• original music by Fubaka and Harumbai
• day and night segments
• a non-story story reminiscent of 2009 levels
• hard, mostly luck-based challenges
• custom elements: 42 gradients, 14 tilesets, 4 songs, 1 ambiance

Spoiler: Secrets: (read after playing) (click to show/hide)

At Sinix's request I included a bevy of hidden rooms for you to find. You may not know the references, so this section explains them.

• I actually don't know about Floopsy. You'll have to ask Sinix.
• Labs, especially the underwater kind, appear in many KS levels. The most notable one is Nifflas' An Underwater Adventure.
• Gustav is a real-life acquaintance of Nifflas who was featured in Gustav's Daughter.
• Loaf is a Fact Toast appearing in Through the Swamp. He has somehow managed to steal the hearts of KS players the world over with his simple appreciation for trees.
• xZilas is a level author with a penchant for lizards. xZilas likes to hide lizard themed rooms in their levels.
• Sergio Cornaga and other level makers like to hide a certain pop-up creature in unexpected, hidden, or hard-to-reach places. In LPChip: Hooray Fun Time it was called a mole and given a village.
• Nifflas includes a sheep drawing as an Easter egg in many of his games. I don't know its significance myself and I hope I've not made myself the target of some secret society for hi-jacking it.

Bonus Fact: Harumbai made music specifically for KS, but it was never used. It was nearly lost and forgotten, just like Island of Mimir. I find it incredibly satisfying to have it included in this level and fit so well. Harumbai was also glad to hear of its use.

I want to thank Sinix, Harumbai, Fubaka, and my beta testers for your time and contributions.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: Comhon on January 30, 2021, 18:29:04

I absolutely love this small level. From the screenshot I instantly got an idea I know it from somewhere. I've seen the tileset somewhere and could not just find out, how to make it work. You have done a great job with it.
While playing, I was wondering where would be the nighttime. And when it came along, I was absolutely amazed, what the result was. Even I got stuck for a while at a one specific place, the atmosphere of the level worked for me and helped me to make the jump I thought to be impossible.
So far, I am 1 of the available secrets, so I need an another run to find them all.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: SC on January 30, 2021, 19:51:04

Really, really, really, good level. The very definition of 'short, but sweet'. I looove how this level looks and feels. Maybe Ego should finish unfinished levels more often... X)

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: egomassive on January 30, 2021, 20:39:34

Quote from: Comhon on January 30, 2021, 18:29:04

From the screenshot I instantly got an idea I know it from somewhere.

The original version of this level is probably still out there somewhere. And, I know Hmpf had gotten permission to use the tilesets in her unfinished level, Falling Water. I don't know if it was included in her last alpha release or not.

Quote from: SC on January 30, 2021, 19:51:04

Maybe Ego should finish unfinished levels more often... X)

I agree, especially my own unfinished projects. For now, I'm back on The Machine remake.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: pfrangip on January 30, 2021, 21:28:29

Excellent little level! There's a lot to enjoy here.

Spoiler: The Good (click to show/hide)

• LOVE the tileset. It's reminiscent of early 90s games, like Another World and King's Quest V
• Excellent music.
• Difficulty is a solid "Hard," which is to say it's enough to keep the player's attention but never felt frustrating or diffucult.
• Secrets are always welcome. I got 5-6 of them the first time through.
• Short but sweet

Spoiler: The Bad (click to show/hide)

• Nothing bad, really, I guess I just wish there was a little bit more.

Egomassive levels are always an instant classic.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: Purple Ink on February 01, 2021, 06:12:17

This level was beautiful. Really unique experience. I didn't find all the signs on my playthrough but I'll give it another go soon. :)

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: egomassive on February 03, 2021, 21:58:03

Important announcement! Sinix finished his picture for the middle cutscene. I was waiting for this before I gave the level more of a story. You can get the new version with the same link.

Sinix plans to show the level on his Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/sinixdesign). So, keep an eye out for that too.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: SilasMann on February 04, 2021, 10:31:30

I feel like this is the culmination of years of secret KS history. Level is a perfect length to be substantial, difficulty is hard but rewarding, really nailed it there for my tastes. Though, I did die an embarrassingly large amount of times at x995y1000 jumping on to the waterfall blocks, by reflex... over and over... The tile usage and edits are indistinguishable in quality from the original level, and the custom music tracks are great additions. Clearly you did the original level justice!

AND... x996y1002, you LOVE to see it.  <3 <3 <3

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: egomassive on February 05, 2021, 04:54:04

As a complete surprise to me, Sinix decided to update the original info image with a version that matches the new cutscene image. We also tweaked the story. I caught a small level design mistake too. Use the same link in the opening post as before.

Glad you enjoyed it SilasMann. I'm suspicious that you and xZilas are the same person.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: sergiocornaga on February 05, 2021, 06:28:12

Quote from: egomassive on February 05, 2021, 04:54:04

Glad you enjoyed it SilasMann. I'm suspicious that you and xZilas are the same person.

What are you talking about, SilasMann is clearly a horse.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: egomassive on February 05, 2021, 17:32:54

It's funny how the mind works. Yesterday as I was falling asleep, I realized I used "phased" instead of "fazed" in the level. It just popped into my consciousness out of nowhere. So, I corrected that and then fell asleep. If you managed to get your hands on a copy that says "phased" where it should say "fazed" consider it a rare misprinted item that has more value to collectors than the rest.

@Sergio: I saw that discrepancy, but I ignored it. Maybe they're a horse that likes lizards, or a lizard that rides horses.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: Evgenii Shiriaev on February 05, 2021, 20:26:16

Good level, but it's not very hard.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: egomassive on February 06, 2021, 20:35:19

Quote from: Evgenii on February 05, 2021, 20:26:16

Good level, but it's not very hard.

When you know how to beat it, it doesn't feel very-hard. Between many players needing to learn a new move to escape the spikers, and lots of spitters making the difficulty variable, I thought very-hard was a better indicator of the difficulty this level would give most players. I nerfed it a lot during testing though, so it might only be hard now.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: Polana on February 16, 2021, 19:42:27

Great level and the night part with spikers is definitely very hard.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: GrayFace on March 14, 2021, 20:50:00

Amazing level! But why is its difficulty Very Hard? I thought it's classic Normal. But indeed it's above the threshold set by A Strange Dream, so Hard should be the best fitting category.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Missed the Leaf and Moo secrets. Used Level Editor for them.
I'd single out Gustav's home screen as the most beautiful. Also, his daughter changed quite a bit since I last saw her.

Title: Re: Island of Mimir [small, challenge, very-hard]
Post by: egomassive on March 15, 2021, 01:09:11

@GrayFace: I was afraid the Moo secret was too obvious. I'm glad to hear it got past someone. As for Gustave's daughter, she had that hamster in the closet with her.