[Environmental/Playground] [KS+] Exploring the Golden Land

Type: Environmental/Playground
Size: Medium

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(Note: KS+ version 1.2.0 or later required)

Exploring the Golden Land is a medium-sized playground level focused mainly on atmosphere and aesthetics. It's intended to be a sequel of sorts to Journey to the Golden Land, where you'll have the chance to explore this beautiful and relaxing place to your heart's content.


Although there's no ending nor a main goal in this level, there is a total of three special areas and a secret bonus that you'll be able to access by collecting all the coins and golden creatures scattered through the land. About half of the map is hidden at the start, waiting for you to discover it.

This scenario was designed to be played on egomassive's Knytt Stories Plus mod and uses some of its exclusive features. It won't work on vanilla KS.

Very good level. This is the sort of thing that environmentals should strive to be.

Excellent level, it was a pleasure to play. KS again surprising, thank you for that.

This is one of the most beautiful KS levels ever made. Fantastic use of Ego's KS+ mod and Custom Objects. Also, trying to find all the golden creatures and coins is very fun.

Thanks for the comments guys! Glad you enjoyed the level

@Fubaka, @ixMarcel:
@Mitorun:
I've updated the level file with some minor edits:

Someone call Quincent Cartographer and tell him he has to give his 'Prettiest KS Level Ever' trophy back.

That was brilliant; most fun I've had playing a new KS level in a very, very long time. Your use of KS+ features was incredible (I'll soon be trawling through your level to work out how you did some of that!)

Well done and thanks!

If I have one criticism...

Whoa man, that is some praise right there  Thank you for the kind words, I'm happy you enjoyed the level so much!

My original plan was to use only the collectible items and the screen tints, but as I started trying out some of the other KS+ features while I was making the level, I decided to use this project to familiarize myself with as many of them as I could (although I tried my best to avoid being too greedy and adding stuff that would feel too tacked on).

Yup, another top notch design! Great job! 

This was so good! I think this is the first level for KS+ that uses its features in ways I never imagined. I used to push the boundaries of what vanilla KS was capable of. It's such a delight to see someone doing the same with KS+. Playground is a genera I've never found appealing, but I think you've figured out how to make a playground as well as one can be made. *gives star*

Thanks a lot for the compliments! Glad you guys liked the level

@egomassive: I had a blast experimenting with the extra features you added to KS, there's a ton of useful stuff in there! I found the triggers and the screen tints particularly interesting, and the support for multiple blending modes is what made it possible to create a different atmosphere for each area while still using the same tileset.

Regarding the secondary category of this level... I suppose this couldn't be strictly called a "Playground". It has no ending and no real plot, but collecting the golden stuff could be considered a main goal. You can, of course, ignore the collectibles completely and just jump around enjoying the atmosphere, but getting them all is required in order to get access to a good portion of the level.

Then again, I really enjoyed Healy's A Day at the Beach precisely because it had a lot of optional/hidden stuff to reward the player's curiosity (even multiple endings). In fact, it's my favorite Playground level for that very reason

Great level! Loved the use of foreground objects... perhaps the best use of them I've seen! Really added an extra layer of depth and immersion! Beautiful stuff!

... I suppose this couldn't be strictly called a "Playground". ...

Hmm. I suppose it did have 2 specific goals, and one relied on the other. That's probably why I liked it so much. I knew what I wanted to do and I knew when I was finished. So you're right, it's not a pure playground level. Still, it's a great variation on the concept. There are many fun things to see and I was free to wander in any direction as I pursued the goals.

Wonderful level! Playing this was extremely soothing! 

One idea:

Just wow! Simply amazing. Such a great level. A great showcase for KS+'s features too.

Can't really say anything that hasn't already been said. Loved the level!

Brilliant level. I noticed some solid shadows at x1002y1002 Pos x2y2 and x1004y1001 Pos x16y6. The latter uses all four layers though, so maybe you just decided visuals were more important than a minor collision oddity there!