Before moving on, I have my look at Templar Games’ post on the Ko-Koro chapter, which is here if you want to see it in full. The images are still live this time. As usual, random points of interest follow.
Click me!
In the final game, Jala makes no mention of having sent members of the Guard to aid other villages. More interestingly, there is apparently significant animosity between Ta-Koro and Ko-Koro. The only remnant of this is Jala’s line that “They [the Guard outpost] watch against Rahi from the frozen heights. They also keep watch on [the] Ko-Koronans.”
While Jala bringing up the importance of Kini-Nui (here called the Temple of the Legend) is the same, the details are different. Here he expresses his intention to move the Guard there, while in the final game he essentially described Nuju’s plan in advance.
Instead of the Ensign, Jala gives the player a Firestaff. This isn’t just cosmetic: in the treatment, the player uses the Firestaff to unfreeze Kopeke instead of the Heat Stone.
The structure of the chapter in the treatment is a little different. Instead of reaching Ko-Koro, moving on to the Drifts, and then returning to Ko-Koro, all the gameplay is front-loaded (Matoro seems to already be in Ko-Koro in the treatment). I like this structure better, though I wouldn’t have minded some more puzzles.
Instead of gathering an alliance to defend the Toa, the purpose of traveling to Kini-Nui is because it is the safest place on the island, and all the Matoran will take refuge there.
I’m of two minds about this. I like it because it makes more sense than the final game, and is more dramatic as well. But I think what is essentially the mass-migration of six towns is a little ‘big’ for this game, and the necessity of animating crowds of hundreds of Matoran would have been a challenge. The final version is also more active and thematically meaningful, since it’s about traveling to protect the protectors, rather than finding a place to hide.
And as a final little note, in the treatment you don’t get the fast-travel Kewa until after Ko-Koro. I think…that’s much better than the final game.
I forgot to mention it in the update, but giving you the Kewa after Le-Koro is not good game design. There are six locations in this game. You’ve visited five of them. You get an item that can warp you to any of the six locations. This is a puzzle with an obvious solution - but that solution is wrong.
Last time, we got told to deliver a letter. This time…we deliver the letter.
Part 7: Journey to Kini-Nui (Click to expand)
The worst part of this game is the Battle in the Skies minigame from the Le-Koro chapter. But that’s only because the game runs too fast on a modern computer. In a larger sense, in the eyes of God, THIS is the worst part of the game.
Here it is:
The most surreal part of this whole escapade is that “Thank you, adventurer, for showing this to me. You are as noble as your reputation, and resourceful,” is already a line in this game. Onewa says it when you show him the infected Comet ball.
Once you’ve shown the letter to the other five Turaga, your inclination is probably to return to Nuju. That inclination, fortunately, is correct.
BGS: Ko-Koro
When you do, Kapura is there. Remember Kapura?
“You are the Chronicler. I have been looking for you. Vakama wishes to speak to you.”
“What does Vakama want?”
"I only know that it is a matter of great urgency.
And oh yes Kapura, one other little question…
“How did you get here?”
“I practiced, and became skilled. I now know the secret art of traveling great distances by moving very slowly. It is a small matter for me to be wherever I am not. It is a useful skill.”
And with that, Kapura hops into our backpack.
One thing I discovered while recording footage for the LP is that - appropriately for a being for whom space no longer means anything - Kapura doesn’t just show up in Ko-Koro.
He will also be waiting for you outside Ta-Koro…
In Ga-Koro…
And outside Po-Koro.
As far as I can tell, he doesn’t show up in Onu-Koro or Le-Koro for some reason.
But anyway, we’re going to see Vakama.
I started to play the Song of Fast Travel, but then I remembered there are some small things I have to show in Ko-Wahi. This in turn is going to let me show a strange property of the flute a little later.
First is the exit from Kopeke’s cave, behind the mask-matching puzzle. The notes on the wall here state the element each symbol represents (Fire, Water, Ice on the left, and Stone, Earth, Air on the right).
Second is the cablecar back to Ta-Koro. The channel I use as a resource for these videos has the cutscene of the return journey from Ko-Wahi to Ta-Koro, but not from Ta-Koro to Ko-Wahi.
VIDEO: Cablecar to Ta-Koro
“The Toa have left for the Kini-Nui, to begin their final quest. We must help them, but our villages are beset by Rahi on all sides. I ask that you pursue a mission of grave importance.”
“What are the Toa doing?”
“They have recovered the Golden Kanohi, and are en route to Kini-Nui. In the temple is a passage through which they will enter the Makuta’s dark realm.”
“Once inside, the Makuta will attempt to destroy them, and they will be beset by Manas: unimaginable terrors that guard his domain. They will face these fearsome challenges as the Toa Kaita, and there will be great battle.”
Matau didn’t know what the Toa Kaita are, but Nuju did. And Vakama frequently receives prophetic visions, so he’s presumably seen them in a vision.
“I fear he will attempt to seal the Toa in his underworld, imprisoning them there forever. Or, worse, should the Toa attempt to flee, he will set the Rahi to ambush them as they emerge through the passage. With the horrible Manas in front and the Rahi behind, the Toa are caught in a vice that will assuredly crush them.”
“What is my mission?”
“I know you are brave and resourceful, but even you cannot do this alone. You must assemble a fellowship. Of my left and right hands, Jala should remain here to command his Guard and defend Ta-Koro. My left hand is Kapura, who is with you now. He may seem slow and strange to you, but his simple words often carry a hidden wisdom.”
“Go first to the other villages. They are besieged, but I have talked with the Turaga. I’m certain that they can all spare at least one Matoran to aid in this task. Once your Company has been gathered, you must travel to the Kini-Nui. Its road begins where the river ends at Ga-Koro, and falls from a great height.”
Yes, after visiting all the villages, we now have to…visit all the villages again.
Well. We’d better get started.
Since, as Vakama said, our fetch quest is going to end in Ga-Koro, I decided to visit the villages in reverse order, from Ko-Koro backward.
This is where I happened to try out flute-buffering for the first time. This is a minor glitch only of interest to people who care about speedrunning tricks and those who like weird programming shenanigans (now that I think about it, most people on this forum probably fall into at least one of those categories).
As I’ve said before, every time you want to play the Song of Fast Travel, you have to click its Flutesong. You can think of clicking the Flutesong as turning the flute on. But once you turn it on, the flute doesn’t turn off until it’s used. You can put it away, change screen, watch cutscenes, etc, and the flute will still be ‘on’, waiting for you to finish playing the Song of Fast Travel. So you can play all but one note of the Song of Fast Travel, put the flute away, and then fifteen minutes later take the flute out again, play the last note, and warp to another village.
In a speedrun I believe you flute-buffer while riding Puku. In my case I just started fast-traveling, realized I didn’t want to, and decided to try out this trick I’d read about.
BGM: Ko-Koro Sanctum
“He sees that you are seeking a hero to join your Company. The Ko-Koronans try to stay out of the affairs of others, but this time they have no choice but to act. Nuju says to find Kopeke, his left hand. He dwells in a cave near the cablecar.”
“Kopeke will not offer great company, for he is hard and likes solitude; but you will find that what he lacks in cheer is made up for with strength and skill. He is our greatest sportsman, and also the most skilled in ice-craft. In his hands, a block of ice can become like anything in imagination, from a delicate crystal flower to a gleaming statue of Kopaka, perfect in every detail.”
…Nuju said foreshadowingly.
BGS: Quarry Entrance
Kopeke is his usual self.
“Will you join my party, and come to Kini-Nui?”
Two down, four to go.
BGM: Onu-Wahi - Digsite
If you pass through the Onu-Wahi tunnels on your way to Le-Koro, you’ll meet the Nightmare Triplets. They are invisible to most Matoran and can peer directly into the souls of the weak-willed.
They also have the power to cause a music glitch. Even after you leave this room and enter the jungle, the Digsite music will continue playing, drowning out everything else. The Kewa cutscene force-stops all music, so that fixes the problem.
BGM: A Walk in the Jungle (w/ ambience)
Le-Koro has already started preparing for the defense. The elevator up the tree has been removed, and it’s no longer possible to visit. Tamaru, however, is chilling on a flower.
“Oh – hello. Matau Singer and Kongu Pilot, uptree they are. Rama-swarm threatens and all good Le-Koronans fly defense. Highbranch home locked and protected. Downtree guard am I, set here because… I fly not.”
You may recall Tamaru was the one who fell out of the tree when the Le-Matoran came out of hiding. He also was the only Matoran not dancing during the celebration.
“Will you join our Company?”
Halfway there. Livin’ on a prayer.
BGM: Onu-Koro
Last time I said you only see the Ta and Le-Suvas. I was wrong, here’s the Onu-Suva.
“You are here to find Matoran that might join your quest. It is a hard choice, since the Rahi have been massing underground, and will attack us at any moment!”
“Onepu is brave and strong, and would be the best choice. But he and his Ussalry regiments are needed to defend the caves. Taipu, instead, should go. He is not, perhaps, the brightest Lightstone in Onu-Koro, but his strength is equalled only by his heart.”
“With all the work that goes on here, it is dangerous to let any go with you – let alone our strongest digger. But Taipu has spoken of nothing but you and adventure since his visit to Le-Koro, and so I feel it would be wrong to keep him here. You may take Taipu. He is in the Great Mine, hard at work, as usual.”
BGS: Onu-Wahi Tunnels
Taipu is indeed here, though I wouldn’t describe this as ‘hard at work’.
“Are we to go on another adventure together? I would like that very much. Mata Nui is truly a wondrous place. I should like to see more of it!”
“Will you join our Company?”
Next stop is Po-Koro.
BGM: Po-Koro
“It seems that dark times have fallen again across my village. Nui-Jaga, and worse, are secretly massing in the deserts outside town.”
Not very well-kept secret.
“I have heard of your mission. You are seeking Matoran to join your Company. These are trying times, and it is hard to part with even my least able craftsmen, but nonetheless I know of the importance of your task.”
"Huki I would send, but he is still recovering from his illness, and he is sorely needed here besides. So instead take my left-hand, Hafu.
Hafu is very proud, and does not always listen to wise counsel, but his digging and stone-craft are matched by none in Po-Koro. Take him with you. Doubtless he is out in the desert, caring for the waysigns on the road, and seeing that no harm comes to his masterworks."
BGS: Po-Wahi
Come on dude that sign is done.
“If you want to see my artwork, you should do so in Po-Koro. It is safer there, although I do not know for how long. Please don’t bother me. I have to finish my masterpiece before the Rahi attack.”
“Will you join our Company?”
The end of the end…
BGS: Ga-Wahi - Falls
Ga-Koro has also been preparing for the defense. The gate is guarded and there is a fence of stakes around the entire village.
BGM: Ga-Koro Rescued (w/ ambience)
“I confess I have feared your arrival. Kotu and Maku are very dear to me, so I am sorry to send them with you on such a dangerous mission. It is harder even to choose which one I would rather see go. Kotu, I think, needs to stay here with me and maintain the village’s defense. So it is Maku, my right hand, which you should take.”
“She has been told to stay in her hut until now, and her love of Huki and adventure has made it a hard punishment. I fear her cheer at being allowed to go outside will blind her to the dangers of your task. Yet, she is good with boats, and her agility and acrobatic training makes her a valuable warrior!”
“The way to the Kini-Nui lies behind the waterfall near our village. It is likely that Maku can find a boat to get through the falls. You will find her in her hut.”
“Good luck, Chronicler.”
All the members of the Chronicler’s Company are the left hands of their respective Turaga, except for Maku, who is the right hand, because Kotu doesn’t even appear in this game.
“I heard Huki was sick, and that you helped him become better. Thank you! I mean… that is, I’m sure the Po-Koronans are glad to have him back. I wish Nokama would let me go visit Huki, but the Rahi are going to attack again, and everyone is building barricades around the village.”
“Will you join our party?”
That’s everyone, which means we can now start our journey to Kini-Nui, the Great Temple. According to both Vakama and Nokama, the road to Kini-Nui begins at Naho Falls.
BGS: Ga-Wahi - Falls
As you might have suspected, we will encounter various obstacles on our way to Kini-Nui, and will need to have one of our party members use their unique skills to overcome it. In this case, we need Maku’s boat.
The other party-members typically have hints indicating whose services you will need.
“I can swim, if we need to cross the falls. But I’m not sure about the others. We need Maku to aid us here.”
“The waterfall is so beautiful! Like a million Lightstones tossed in the air!”
“By Pohatu! Horrid stuff, water. I wouldn’t in it if the Makuta himself were at my back, and don’t know how besides! Try Maku, she has skill in boatcraft.”
“…”
VIDEO: Through the Waterfall
BGS: Behind the Waterfall
There’s a cave behind the waterfall because, well, all waterfalls have caves behind them.
BGS: Quarry Entrance
Along with the hints your party-members give at each obstacle, they also have some generic dialogue. This is it:
“If you practice, you can move quickly.”
“It is good to be on an adventure with you again! I thought Nokama would keep me locked up in the village forever.”
“This land is a place of beauty, and also of sadness. There is no greater craftsman than Mata Nui!”
“Are we there yet?”
“With such Company, Makuta-beasts have much to fear!”
And of course Kopeke’s comment is…
“…”
BGS: Kini-Nui Jungle
Beyond the cave is a gorge. It used to be spanned by a bridge, but the bridge has been destroyed and it is no longer passable.
“That’s odd. There used to be a bridge here… what can have happened to it? Perhaps a flying Le-Koronan can figure a way across.”
“Whether by storm or some darker force, the bridge that stood here is gone for good. Not even I can craft a new one! I have heard tell, though, that Le-Koronans are good with heights and rope.”
“When I stand at the edge and look down, it makes me dizzy.”
Strangely, the 2006 version of the MNOLG is missing a significant portion of the optional dialogue for the journey to Kini-Nui. If I don’t post someone’s comment, that means it’s missing. For example, the one to cross the gap is Tamaru, but his comment is just an empty text box.
However, with recursive quantum algorithms, I believe I have recovered Kopeke’s dialogue for this scene. He originally said…
“…”
Anyway, Tamaru.
VIDEO: Bridging the Ravine
Screencap Edition
BGM: The Chronicler’s Company - Tamaru
Tamaru grabs a vine.
He judges the distance…
He leaps…!
Made it!
BGS: Kini-Nui Jungle 2
I’m impressed everybody in our party was able to cross on that vine. Even Taipu.
I’d originally intended to write the line “If this looks like Le-Wahi again, that’s because it is” and pulled out a map of Mata Nui and showed you the approximate route the Company takes, but in looking at said map I realized I’d gotten the locations of Ga-Koro and Ta-Koro flipped and this isn’t Le-Wahi at all.
We started in the top right at Naho Falls, and our destination is at the bottom left. Based on the terrain the Company crosses, I believe the route we take is something like due south, then due west, then due south again.
We come to the end of the forest area, and find our path blocked by an avalanche.
“I came this way once, and this rockslide was not here. Something calls forth the very earth to block our path! This is a fell sign. Both Hafu and Taipu might find a way through this, if they work together.”
“Digging in rock is what the Onu-Koronans do best. I will clear a route. But in the caves of my home, a Po-Koronan stonemason is often at hand, to cut and clear.”
“My stonecraft is great indeed, Chronicler! I can cut through these stones. But I should also need great skill at digging, such as Taipu possesses.”
VIDEO: Clearing the Rockslide
Screencap Edition
BGM: The Chronicler’s Company - Hafu & Taipu
Taipu gets to work clearing the rockslide.
Hafu has joined the battle.
Hafu engages in a comedic timelapse.
BGM: Silence
*laugh track*
We continue, crossing into Ko-Wahi.
A giant statue of a Toa head looms in the distance.
“This is the portal to the Kini-Nui. On the other side lies our destination! But I fear our long journey is for nothing, for our astrologer has spoken of these gates. They cannot be opened without the key!”
“These gates are ancient, and fashioned by a hand whose skill rivals even my own. I have not much hope for any who try [to] trespass without the key. Perhaps Kopeke can wield some ice-lore to get us past this place?”
I endorse the phrase “wield some ice-lore”. Kopeke’s comment, if there is one, is missing.
VIDEO: The Great Gate
Screencap Edition
BGM: The Chronicler’s Company - Kopeke
Kopeke sets out to find something to craft with.
He gets to work.
BGS: Kini-Nui Jungle
Kini-Nui is finally in sight.
These jungle screens are identical those from before the rockslide.
The Toa have already arrived, and are in conference about something.
VIDEO: The Toa at Kini-Nui
Screencap Edition
BGS: Kini-Nui Jungle
“This is where we begin our final task. If any of you question our choice, or doubt our chances if we work together, speak now!”
“I have doubted you in the past, Tahu, but no more. I think I speak for all when I say that our only hope is to work together.”
“So I cast my sword with yours, if you will have it.”
“I will have it gladly, Kopaka. You are all in assent?”
All the other Toa nod.
“Then it is decided! Together, the Makuta cannot resist us!”
“Wait, Tahu! Have you give no thought to our return? If the Rahi attack the Temple while we are below, how can we escape?”
“I do not know the answer to that question, Lewa. So grim is this task, that I have not thought it much use to consider anything beyond our meeting with the Makuta.”
“Hold! There is an intruder among us! But…what is this?”
BGM: The Meeting
“Stay your claws, Onua! It is the Chronicler, and his Company! Little one, you are brave indeed, to have come all this way. And I see you have gathered help from all the villages around! Tahu, it is as I hoped. These Matoran can guard the Kini-Nui while we descend, and see that no Rahi attacks us from behind.”
“The Rahi are fearsome. May their hearts prove greater than their size would suggest!”
“In truth it is said that great power can be found in small packages… and that aid can come from places least expected. And besides, we have few options.”
“So be it. Chronicler, it is your doom to remain here, and guard the Kini-Nui at all costs. This deed will be remembered as long as any remain to sing of it! Friends, we have much to do and little time. Let’s go!”
“Your struggles and those of your friends will be much to bear. I shall be with you in heart. Look for me in your dreams. I will come to you then, and speak to you of the things we see underground. Remember them.”
The Toa gather at the Kini-Nui’s altar.
Gold mask! For real this time!
What happens next was at the time somewhat unclear.
These are the Makoki stones. Each Toa got one in their level in BIONICLE: Legend of Mata Nui, but since that game never came out, this was a little mystifying. The six Makoki stones were apparently required to open the way to Makuta’s lair, the Mangaia.
In what isn’t supposed to be a comedic moment but totally is, the Toa all…fall?..in some unspecified fashion down into the Mangaia.
BGS: Silence
That was maybe a few more words than was strictly necessary. Brevity guys, brevity.
We now get a while to sit around and wait before the minigame begins. It’s time to defend Kini-Nui!
ME: Shock!
BGM: Big Drums
And the battle begins. Like the Battle in the Skies, the Defense of Kini-Nui is tricky on a modern computer, though not as much so. The gameplay is trivial: you just click on a Matoran (‘Tohunga’ was changed to ‘Matoran’ in all dialogue, but they missed changing the name here) and then click the Rahi you want them to attack. After a few seconds of charge-up time, they’ll attack. Naturally the Rahi will attack your party as well. The difficulty introduced by playing on a modern computer is that attacks will finish faster than you can start new ones, leaving some of your Matoran standing idle and not contributing to DPS.
Even against just one Nui-Rama - the weakest enemy - Kapura nearly got KO’d.
Between rounds, your party chat indicates which Matoran do well or poorly against which types of Rahi, so you can assign targets effectively. I’ll be honest, I don’t know what the advantage/disadvantage actually is - I assume they deal more or less damage, but I don’t know if they also take increased damage from bad matchups or not.
There is a slight wrinkle that both confuses things and makes them much easier: many of the Rahi the Matoran mention don’t actually appear in the minigame. The only Rahi to appear are Nui-Rama, Nui-Jaga, Tarakava (Water Tarakava specifically, since at least one party member mentions Sand Tarakava), and Muaka.
The guide on Speedrun Dot Com has a little chart explaining which Matoran are strong against what. Here it is:
As you can see, the matchups are a little…lopsided. Kapura and Taipu are strong against everything. Hafu has one good matchup against the weakest enemy, and Kopeke is strong against the two toughest foes, making him decently useful. Everyone else is either neutral or bad in every matchup.
There are four encounters total, with breaks in between, and your party members heal slightly between rounds. I think the encounters are semi-randomly determined, but each encounter is tougher than the last.
After each victory, the Chronicler will have a vision of the Toa battling underground. Instead of alternating between them, I decided to put all of the Kini-Nui story in this update, and all of the Toas’ conflicts in the next one.
If you lose an encounter, you just have to try again.
After you lose an encounter, the Company will start telling you their stats.
There is a stat chart both on Templar’s Tumblr post on the Kini-Nui chapter, and on BioSector01, listing the HP, Power, and Agility for each Matoran and Rahi. To be honest, I trust neither those charts nor the in-game party chat.
In short, just mash your way through this damn minigame.
My final fight was a clutch victory by Taipu over a Muaka.
VIDEO: The Battle of Kini-Nui (you should probably watch this, but you have to PROMISE to stop at 1:20, because after that is part of the Toa side of the fight)
Screencap Edition
BGS: Kini-Nui Jungle
Tamaru stands at the edge of the Company’s encampment.
A Muaka bursts from the forest, knocking him away.
ME: Darkness Sting
Maku helps him to his feet.
BGM: Threatening Strings
The Muaka is joined by a Tarakava.
Two Nui-Jaga emerge from the woods as well.
BGS: Droning Rama (this plays under the whole rest of the video)
And are accompanied by an entire Nui-Rama swarm.
BGM: Big Drums
The Chronicler’s Company prepares for battle once more.
“It’s horrible!”
“There must be hundreds of Rahi out there!”
“We’re doomed! Doomed!”
“I will stand by you, Chronicler. No matter what.”
BGM: Suspense 1
Something saved them? But what?
It’s a bird! It’s a plane!
It’s your boy!
The ground quakes with the anger of the people…
People riding crabs, that is.
The Ussalry make up for their utter lack of appearance prior to this point, tweening awkwardly into battle!
ME: The Guard Arrives (messy recording)
JALA: Quick, someone say “You and what army?”
JALA: This one!
The disks of the Ta-Koro Guard fly.
They land among the Nui-Rama, dropping many of them.
One lands on the Chronicler…
…knocking him unconscious.
Next time, the finale of the Mata Nui Online Game…The Battle Below.