[KS+][Environmental][Easy][Small] Jouteien

This is a short, purely environmental level focused almost exclusively on atmosphere, with some light platforming but no action challenges nor any dangers to be avoided. Your goal is simply to take a stroll through a Japanese-style garden enjoying the scenery while trying to unlock your way to the exit. However, I have brought on my A game to make this a little stroll to remember by taking advantage of various KS+'s exclusive features.

Since this is a very small level and most of its appeal lies on its visuals, I don't really want to spoil it with screenshots nor by going too much into detail in this description... meaning, all you get is the obligatory bullet list below   So without further ado, here you will find:

• A lot of new graphics, both static and animated, including a custom character.
• Many custom ambience tracks with some positional audio effects.
• Various special lighting effects.
• A few customized powers, some of them with altered functionality.
• A bonus exploration challenge in the form of hidden collectibles and a secret ending.
• Support for KS+'s automap (M). Not that this is a big deal on such a small level, but it might help you find your way to the ending if you get stuck.

PROTIP: Grab some headphones and use KS+'s full-screen mode (Ctrl+X) at the highest zoom level (Ctrl+Z) possible. Also, probably a good idea to update your KS+ installation to whatever latest version is available on egomassive's site before you start to avoid issues with the ambience audio.

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This level is part of my 2024 Christmas Triple Release Pack(tm), which also includes:

• Search for the Lost Cores
• Ephemeral Realms

Omg, VG, what an absolutely wonderful thing to see. Along with Fubaka's new content and a Talps level slowly in the works, it's looking like The Big Boys are back. Good thing I said "KS has been slow" in Fubaka's post because that clearly has reverse manifested these levels. Can't wait to play. OMG

So is this the most beautiful level you've ever made or what? I still gotta go back and get all the artifacts but wow. Have you perchance visited a different continent lately?

I have been playing this level for less than 10 seconds and already I am blown away.

EDIT: Aaaaaaaaa I love the parasol umbrella!

EDIT 2: A gorgeous, lovely little level. Thanks!

I got the secret ending

Happy you guys enjoyed it. I was indeed my goal to make this level the best looking one I've ever released ("you will say WOW", in the words of a certain someone), so hearing all of this is quite encouraging.

EDIT: Aaaaaaaaa I love the parasol umbrella!

Thanks! Too bad I couldn't find a traditional Japanese-style Run orb to go with it...

Have you perchance visited a different continent lately?

I sure did... through Google!   (ok, Brave search actually, but still)

Hi Vegetal Gibber,
Great level, I found the artistic proposal is very interesting, beautiful sansibility, the work on lights and sound (sound clue of secret passage)
I don't know if other players were able to see this on a PC screen, but on the video projector I'm playing on it's enlarged enough that I was able to notice the smoke escaping from the candles !
superb, thank you 
PS : I got the secret ending too  ...and... I would have liked to climb onto the roofs with a double jump 

Thanks for the kind words!

I would have liked to climb onto the roofs with a double jump 

Tempting! ...But it's probably best to leave some ideas in the backlog for Jouteien 2: The Jouteining.

Very atmospheric level here. I might have been tempted to add some unintrusive music here, but that might have blunted the choice of ambiance, which was quite nice.

Wow. This is perhaps the best pure environmental yet. Great work as always.

Stunning! I'm reminded of the feeling I had when playing Lamp Flower Garden - there are things to explore if you want, or you can simply just exist in this peaceful little oasis. The audio cues attached to the detector glow was a great touch.

The gold standard for an atmospheric KS level.