Mata Nui Online Game: Difference between revisions

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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.templar.com/games/mnog/Player.html Mata Nui Online Game]
* [http://www.templar.com/games/mnog/Player.html Mata Nui Online Game]
* [http://templargames.tumblr.com/post/6254371419/storyboards-from-mnolg-2001 Templar Studios - Storyboards from MNOLG, 2001]
* [http://templargames.tumblr.com/post/6254371419/storyboards-from-mnolg-2001 Templar Studios - Storyboards from MNOLG, 2001] {{C|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160227213213/http://templarstudios.tumblr.com/post/6254371419/storyboards-from-mnolg-2001 archive]}}
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20060428075839/http://www.lego.com/eng/bionicle/newsDetail.aspx?lcp_bionicleNewsDetailPageItem1=4 Mata Nui Online Game Download], from the 2006 BIONICLE.com
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20060428075839/http://www.lego.com/eng/bionicle/newsDetail.aspx?lcp_bionicleNewsDetailPageItem1=4 Mata Nui Online Game Download], from the 2006 BIONICLE.com
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Revision as of 05:39, 20 January 2017

This page features semi-canon content

"There is no single, clear goal for you to accomplish -- finding your true purpose is up to you, and it may or may not be possible to 'win the game.'"
BIONICLE.com


Mata Nui Online Game
Online Game
Platform Online; BIONICLE.com
Controls Mouse


The Mata Nui Online Game, originally known as the Mata Nui Adventure Game and often informally referred to as the MNOLG or the MNOG, is the first BIONICLE online game. Developed by Templar Studios and released on BIONICLE.com in January 2001, the game played a pivotal role in the BIONICLE line's success. It was updated approximately every month throughout 2001 until it received its last update in December. In 2002 it received a small update allowing players to reset their game, and in 2003 a sequel, Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle, was launched. The game remained online until early 2004, when it was taken down to make way for new content. However, due to popular demand, it was re-released on BIONICLE.com as an exclusive download in March 2006. It was again removed in February 2009 to make way for new content. It was rereleased by Templar Studios in 2013.

Controls

  • Mouse - Navigate through the world and menus.
  • To access different scenes, the player should move the pointer all the way to the left or right until it turns into a stone circle with a red swirling arrow on it and then click.
  • To use an object or to present it to another character, the player should click on the backpack icon in the upper-right corner then click and drag the object out of the backpack and toward an object or character to use it.

Chapters

An old BIONICLE.com thumbnail of the game

The game unfolded in "episodes" that were revealed over the course of the following year at semi-regular intervals. This was accomplished by placing obstacles in-game that kept the player from reaching locked areas: having lava too hot to cross, closing the marina, a snow-storm in Ko-Koro, etc. The Great Telescope foreshadowed when new content would become available. The date shown at the bottom of specific panels at the base of the device were to be read and compared with a date on the telescope itself. When the two dates matched, the stars seen through the telescope would resemble those on the matching panel.

January 1

Players can only explore the beach outside of Ta-Koro. Tahu's Toa Canister lies on the beach, and a large stone totem can also be found here. On top of a cliff is a rock formation; there the player can view the legend of Mata Nui or watch the Wall of Stars through a telescope. The path to Ta-Koro is blocked by a lava river. A short cutscene of Tahu looking back at the player is shown.

February 1

The lava river clears, and players can cross over to Ta-Koro. Here they can explore the Charred Forest, where they can meet Kapura; visit the gatehouse, where they can meet Jaller; and explore the village itself, where they can meet with Vakama. There is also a cablecar leading to Ko-Wahi, but the Ta-Matoran guard will not let the player use the car without a guard insignia.

March 17

Ga-Koro after the rescue of the villagers

Macku appears on the beach. The player can use her boat to visit Ga-Koro, which is strangely deserted. However, by diving underwater, collecting a gear, and then placing it into a pump, the player can raise a sunken hut from the water. Inside are the Ga-Matoran and Nokama. Gali fights the Tarakava that trapped the villagers and then leaves. In Ga-Koro, the player can talk to Nokama, Macku, and Nixie.

May 9

The player can now travel to Po-Wahi. Here, an epidemic has spread via infected Kolhii Balls. A bit of scouting around reveals that the seller of the balls got them from a quarry. Traveling to the quarry initiates a fight between Pohatu and a Nui-Jaga. Upon winning the fight, Pohatu and the player flee from the quarry, and Pohatu resolves to help the Po-Matoran throw the Kolhii Balls into the sea. After the infected Kolhii Balls are disposed of, the Kolhii Ball trader seems to have disappeared.

July 11

The opened entrance in the Great Mine

The player can now travel to Onu-Koro. Here, a mining accident has caused a Lightstone shortage. Traveling to the main Lightstone mine reveals that a huge lava flow has flowed over the path to the mine's entrance, stopping miners from entering or leaving. The player can solve this by using a Lava Board and then by solving a small puzzle. The players also find out that there is an unbreakable rock layer at the bottom of Mine Shaft B. There, a disk lies planted into the ground. The player can travel to Ga-Koro to retrieve from Nixie a gnomon; the gnomon fits into the disk, revealing it to be a sundial. When light is shined on the sundial, it opens to reveal a small staircase that leads to a room containing a Golden Mask. However, there is nothing to do there.

August 18

Taipu and the other Onu-Koro diggers finish the tunnel to Le-Wahi. The player can now travel to Le-Koro but learns that Turaga Matau and many other Le-Matoran were kidnapped from the village and brought to a Nui-Rama hive. The player joins Kongu and helps rescue the Matoran.

October 10

Nuju and Matoro in the Sanctum

If the player goes back to Ta-Koro, Jaller tells them that Ta-Matoran guards have gone missing in Ko-Wahi and asks the player to join the guard. If the player does, they can access the Ta-Wahi-Ko-Wahi cablecar. The player can now travel to Ko-Koro. There the player meets and saves Kopeke and goes to Ko-Koro. There the player may want to talk to Turaga Nuju, but cannot because Nuju speaks only in a bird Rahi dialect. The player can climb Mount Ihu to find Nuju's translator Matoro and in so doing meet Kopaka. Back in the Sanctum, Nuju then asks the player to deliver a message to all the Turaga.

November 17

The Turaga gather volunteers to aid the Toa to Kini-Nui. The player then travels around the island gathering the volunteers and ultimately reaches the waterfall at Ga-Wahi. Then, the Matoran volunteers use their skills to get to Kini-Nui, where the player meets the Toa and agrees to defend Kini-Nui while the Toa venture underground to defeat Makuta.

The Chronicler's Company while facing Rahi

The Matoran begin defending the Kini-Nui from the Rahi, which begin coming in greater and greater numbers. Meanwhile, in Teridax's lair, the Toa Mata merge into the Toa Kaita, who defeat the Manas.

December 15

The Matoran are saved by the arrival of aid from the villages. During the commotion Takua—the player—sneaks into the Mangaia and witnesses the battle between the Toa Kaita and the Manas. After defeating the Manas, the Kaita are suddenly separated back into their component Toa. Takua watches as the six Toa encounter and defeat Teridax using their Elemental Powers. The Toa eventually return to the surface. Takua is left behind in the chamber, and Teridax sends a signal to awake the Bohrok. Takua escapes back to Ta-Wahi and finds Turaga Vakama, who leads the brave adventurer again to Ta-Koro.

Mini-Games

There are several smaller activities scattered throughout the main game. Completing these is necessary to advance the game.

Ga-Koro Gate

Ga-Koro's gate

On Ta-Wahi Beach, the player encounters a frantic Macku who claims that her village has been attacked by Rahi. The player agrees to help and is granted the use of the Ga-Matoran's boat. The player uses the craft to sail to the shores of Naho Bay near Ga-Koro. The player approaches the village's entrance but discovers a portcullis barring his entry.

The gate employs a weight-based mechanism to seal off entry to the village. On the left side of the mechanism hangs a large Mata Nui stone, and on the right hangs a shell that acts as a basket. Above the sealed archway is a circular stone bordered by a ring; both of these have a small, blue marker embedded in them. While the ring is static, the disk inside rotates based on the balance between the Mata Nui stone and the basket. Stones scattered on the ground around the gate are to be placed into the shell, thus raising the left side of the mechanism, lowering the right, and rotating the middle stone. When the weights on each sides of the mechanism are equal and the two blue markers align, the gate opens.

With the gate raised, the player can enter the floating village only to discover that it is in ruins.

Nui-Jaga Nest

Toa Mata Pohatu within the Nui-Jaga nest

Upon discovering that Ahkmou is selling infected Comet balls on behalf of Makuta, the player alerts Turaga Onewa, who sends for Toa Mata Pohatu. Pohatu and the player travel to the Po-Wahi Quarry where they discover a Nui Jaga nest filled with infected Kolhii balls. The resident Nui-Jaga blinds the Toa who turns to the player for guidance.

Pressing and holding the mouse button charges Pohatu's kick, and releasing it propels a Kolhii Ball forward. Should Kolhii balls destroy all of the nest's back pillars, the cave will collapse. The purple Nui-Jaga inhabiting the nest will try to block Pohatu's shots.

With Makuta's plan foiled, the Nui-Jaga retreats further into the collapsing nest. The player and Pohatu both escape, the latter using his Kanohi Kakama.

Lava Pump

The Cavern of Light, reopened after the player completes the puzzle

After using a Lava Board to cross a lava-covered tunnel, the player is presented with a control system for the lava pump. It consists of nine buttons that need to be pressed at the same time.

Pressing a button reverses the state of that button and all of the buttons adjacent but not diagonal to it. For example, pressing a corner button reverses that button and the two buttons to its sides.

After the player completes the puzzle, the pipes leaking lava are closed, and the corridor becomes navigable by foot again.

Flute Playing

Having entered the seemingly abandoned Le-Koro, the player find a Flute fitted with a Flutesong.

Clicking the cyan tab on the flute causes a sequence of green keys to light up. Following the pattern plays a song.

After the song is successfully played, the Le-Matoran hiding throughout Le-Koro come out of hiding and greet the player.

Nui-Rama Battle

Aerial battle against the Nui-Rama

While the player is in Le-Koro, Nui-Rama attack the village. As the other members of the Gukko Force prepare for aerial battle, Kongu asks the player to be his second. The player agrees and flies alongside Kongu to the Nui-Rama Hive.

During the journey, the player must throw disks at attacking Nui-Rama by clicking in the appropriate direction.

After the player successfully fends off the Rahi, Kongu's Kahu bird reaches the hive and flies inside.

Ko-Koro Gate

While journeying to Ko-Koro, the player enters a room with a sealed door.

The blocks that are found in the chamber have depictions of the six Toa Mata's Great Kanohi as well as the Turaga's Noble Kanohi. These blocks must be properly arranged on the grid-like walls of the room. In the bottom row sit pre-set blocks bearing the symbols of each of the six Koro. The Great masks should be placed across the top row and the Noble masks should be placed across the middle row such that the masks occupy the same columns as their respective Koro.

After the player correctly arranges the blocks, the door opens, allowing passage to the village.

Kini-Nui Defense

The Chronicler's Company battling Rahi

When the Chronicler's Company reaches the Kini-Nui, the Toa ask the group to defend the temple against Rahi. Battle with the Rahi begins shortly thereafter and occurs in regular bouts.

During combat, clicking on a Matoran and then clicking on a Rahi causes the Matoran to fire his or her disk at the Rahi, injuring it. Doing so repeatedly prompts the Rahi to retreat and to drop its mask. Meanwhile, the Rahi also attack the Matoran, who sometimes dodge the attacks and are sometimes struck. The Matoran are forced to retreat when they lose all their health. The player cannot control whether or not the Matoran successfully dodge the attacks.

Following each successful battle, Takua has a short vision of the Battle of Mangaia.

At the end of a few battles, a great number of Rahi besiege the temple and defeat seems imminent. At this point, Matoran from the different villages appear and rescue the Company.

Continuity

Although the game was not approved by the BIONICLE story team, the fanbase still considers it part of the BIONICLE canon. Initially, Greg Farshtey said that certain elements of the game, such as Pewku being a "taxi crab," were not canon, although the game has gradually been accepted into the continuity. Another point of interest is that Matoro appears to use the power of his Kanohi Akaku despite being a Matoran; it has since been stated that Matoro's mask had a built-in "zoom" feature unrelated to the Akaku's power of X-ray vision. In the later story, it was revealed that when Nuju was a Matoran and a Toa, his own mask was outfitted with a telescopic eyepiece. Additionally, certain events in the game, such as Gali's mental link with Takua, have been referenced in unquestionably canon material, suggesting that the events in the Mata Nui Online Game are indeed canon.

Contest

The floating mask

The floating gold Kanohi Hau beneath the Great Sundial was part of a BIONICLE contest run in 2001. The word shown above it is "RAHI." Contestants were to find words both online and in print that were written beneath gold masks in the Matoran script. By decoding these messages, writing them down on an official entry form, and mailing in the form, contestants entered into a sweepstakes to win a 14-karat solid gold Kanohi Hau.

Re-Release

The game was made available for download from BIONICLE.com in March 2006. The game then featured a more user-friendly interface; the player could not save their game, but they could choose to continue playing from a certain "chapter" of the game. There were nine chapters, and the Book of Chronicles could also be viewed from this new title screen. There was a small help window that discussed the most basic features of the game, and the game could also be played in German. The game itself was mostly unchanged, except that the word "Tohunga" was replaced with "Matoran." However, characters like Jaller and Macku were still referred to by their original names (Jala and Maku respectively), the word "Tohunga" was still used during the Battle for Kini-Nui, and the word "Koronan" was still used instead of "Matoran." Also, instead of gathering a backpack and Lightstone in gameplay, Takua automatically has them when the game begins.

In addition, the LEGO Group released a brand-new walkthrough that serves as a step-by-step guide through the game. It caused much excitement among the fanbase as it is presented in the form of a story supposedly written by Takua himself.

The game was removed from BIONICLE.com once again in 2009, but the rereleased version was made available online in 2013 by its creators, Templar Studios.

Walkthrough

See Mata Nui Online Game Walkthrough

Items

See Items in the Mata Nui Online Game

Trivia

  • The song played when the Le-Matoran prepare to attack the Nui-Rama Hive is "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner.
  • At various points in the game, Matoran script can be read in the background (a few of these messages foreshadow the Bohrok storyline of the following year):
    • A carved stone at the Po-Matoran trader's stall reads: "My friend went to Po-Wahi and all I got was this lousy rock."
    • There is a rock in Le-Wahi, off to the right as one travels from Le-Koro to the tunnel entrance, with Matoran writing upon it that reads "Wake one and you wake them all."
    • There is a rock carving in the Wastes inscribed with the text "Beware the Swarm." The player must brush snow off the rock to read the message.
    • The walls of the Sanctum include packaging information from a LEGO set and a quote from Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series: "What do you get if you multiply six by nine?" The translation of the packaging information is "Made by Lego; Produced by CH 6340 Baar Switzerland; Distributed by the Lego Group; DY; 7190 Ailluni Denmark; (c)2001 Lego Group."
  • The entrance to the Cavern of Light has a sign above it reading "Cavern of Light." However, while all other entrance signs are written in Matoran, this one is written in English (or German, if the player is playing in that mode).
  • The Great Mine elevator's lever will occasionally be in the wrong position.
  • Even if the player does not talk to Onewa after defeating the Nui-Jaga (and thus does not receive the Po-Koro Chisel), Takua still uses it to escape the Bohrok at the end of the game.
  • The animation style of the mini movies made for BIONICLE's 2015 reboot was inspired by the Mata Nui Online Game.

See also

External links