Legend of Kaomoji by Jayne Genesis

Imagine sitting at home and playing SmallWorlds: maybe chatting to friends in your homespace, advancing your arena levels in Space Jump, or playing a mission. Suddenly something strange happens. The lights in the house begin to flicker and soon the power is out. When it's back, you are unable to reconnect. No, SmallWorlds isn't down for a new update. You clear your cache, try a different browser (thanks, Pamelia!) and still nothing. So you do what everyone else would do in such a situation: abuse your computer until it succumbs.

Sounds pretty accurate so far, right? But then something even stranger happens: you look around and you're no longer home in front of your computer. The people with you have strangely big heads and grotesquely thin necks... and it dawns on you: you're in SmallWorlds. The real you somehow teleported into the game!!!

This is exactly what happens in Jayne Genesis's new mission. While playing a computer game, The Legend of Kaomoji, the lights begin to flicker and the power is out. When it's back, the computer is still down so you tap it... and suddenly you're on the Island of Kaomoji having to save the Kaomoji people from the notoriously ruthless Cinnabar. Karkadaan, the gentle unicorn, will guide you along the way. You will have 100% health and 100% energy as you begin, and a Stellar Staff.

Level 1
Health: 100%, Energy: 100%
Objectives: Release the Kaomoji by finding the key to their prison, while dodging the evil guard of Cinnabar.

Having to sneak past the evil guard proves a challenge. Poor Nicola has to watch her step while searching for the keys.

The efforts pay off. Nicola manages to find the keys and release the imprisoned Kaomoji!

Level 1 Complete!
Health: 100%, Energy: 40%

By the end of level 1 Nicola's energy levels drop too low and she has to do a bonus level to collect some energy back. She gets it back up to 100% and is ready for level 2.

Level 2
Health: 100%, Energy: 100%
Objectives: Sneak past another evil guard, pass through a series of rooms and crack some puzzles, make it to the final room to release the Kaomoji.

This is not an easy level to pass. Nicola is spotted by the evil guard and has to escape while gathering her strength to try again.

Once past the guard, Nicola needs to solve a puzzle in order to get through to the next room. It isn't easy, but she is resolved to go on. Luckily she finds two friends to help along the way and eventually makes it.

Level 2 Complete!
Health: 40%, Energy: 100%

Quickly gathering new health, Nicola is ready for the final level, the Boss Level!

Level 3
Health: 100%, Energy: 100%
Objectives: Find a way to defeat the all-powerful Cinnabar in his Underworld, and release the rest of the Kaomoji.

This is it: the final test. Nicola enters the portal to Level 3 and finds herself in a dark world filled with doomed souls and mocking skeletons. Armed with only a Stellar Staff Nicola approaches the ruthless Cinnabar in his lair... but it is hopeless. She is too weak to defeat him, and Cinnabar mocks her stupidity for even attempting to face him.

Nearly out of energy and health, Nicola roams the Underworld is search of a clue; something that will help her defeat the beast. Barely alive, she finally comes across three wraiths who are willing to help if Nicola would prove herself to them. Puzzles? Now? With hardly energy or health left? Nicola has no choice but to comply.

Armed with the protection of the three wraiths, Nicola returns to Cinnabar and does the one thing she knows would stop him. But we won't tell you what it was. See for yourselves.

Level 3 Complete!
Energy: 20%, Health: 10%

Phew, she made it. The island of the Kaomoji is once again populated by its kind and happy natives, and the good energies surrounding it will help Nicola get back home so she can once again play her computer games from a safe distance...

The Legend of Kaomoji is one of the most enjoyable missions I have played recently. This is no easy feat considering there has been a flood of excellent missions in the past few weeks (check the Missions Forum, there's lots and lots to play!)

The mission has a good balance between challenge and fun. The puzzles are creative, and the storyline is original. Most of the mission takes place in two spaces, which makes it very friendly for people with connection issues.

If you're a non-native English speaker, like me, or unlike me, a man/woman of few words, you'd be glad to hear that the mission has very little text to repeat (I counted 3 lines), and the instructions are simple to follow. So this really is a fun and creative mission that everybody can enjoy. I hope you'll give it a try.

Mission link: http://www.smallworlds.com/home/mysticalhearts/

Missions Forum link: http://forum.smallworlds.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21

Legend of Kaomoji mission was created by Jayne Genesis
Mission Review by Alfalfa Bokchoy