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    Per Landin
    Written By
    Per Landin
    Published
    1/19/23

    Start a New Story: Parkour

    From sloppy zero to acrobat hero

    Parkour, the art of movement, is an incredibly popular genre in Minecraft – so popular, in fact, that even Mojang Studios’ own employees play it on a regular basis. Personally, I prefer Per-kour: the art of stumbling between my chair, kitchen, and bed (where I tend to remain for an unforeseeable future). However, since it’s a brand-new year – and the year of the rabbit – I’ve decided to challenge myself and take a giant leap into a new story in my Minecraft career. Today, I’m testing parkour.

    As a practitioner of parkour, you scale buildings and urban obstacles with artistic-gymnastic maneuvres, making you look unstoppable. What’s even more remarkable: parkour is a genre within Minecraft and it’s almost as old as the game itself! Through countless numbers of specially constructed maps, players utilize dash runs, crouching, and precise boost jumping to navigate impossible courses full of obstacles and traps. These maps really put your coordination and agility to the test – or at least that’s what people have told me. The only genre ever I play is skyblock PvP!

    INTO THE SPIRAL

    From the creators of Parkour Spiral and Parkour Spiral 2 comes... Parkour Spiral 3 (didn’t see that one coming, did you?) which is the map I will be exploring my newfound activity. With such a big focus on parkour, one could think that this series would spiral out of control at this point, but no – Hielke Maps' jumping simulator is a labor of love to the athletic training discipline, with meticulous course detail down to the very last pixel and where every jump needs to be executed to perfection.

    Loading into the game together with my Minecraft.net co-worker, Cristina Anderca, I notice that Parkour Spiral 3 starts in the meanest way possible – by placing you on a small lobby island in front of the massive, towering spire that is our challenge. It is tormenting to see just how much I will have to go through in order to reach the top. Give me a few hundred years and I will be done in no time!

    Why I brought Cristina along is a mystery. Maybe it had something to do with the fact I wanted to enjoy this activity in multiplayer, as a shared experience is a better experience. Then again, not only is she nimble and quick-footed – she wins everything she sets her mind to. Meanwhile, I'm inflexible, clumsy, lack coordination, and have no patience.  

    Busy contemplating my decision, I notice Cristina is already gone, working her way through level 3 of the spiral. Driven by rage and sheer determination, I set off as well, jumping from pole to pole while constantly falling into the water below – and this isn’t even a level, just the practice area towards the spire! My journey has begun and so has my frustration.

    When Per invited me to play Parkour Spiral 3 with him, I expected it to be some form of a race, but I never saw him? I did however hear a lot of strange, primal screams coming from the lower levels. Very weird!

    Cristina

    While Cristina is miles away, I slowly but surely begin to realize what Minecraft parkour is all about: the journey itself! Not only do the many differently themed courses put my acrobatic skills to the test – but they also force me to use my head to solve all sorts of topographical puzzles. The way from point A to B isn’t always linear. Instead, I must figure out what the designers intended by constantly searching for alternative paths forward. It involves a lot of trial and error, with an emphasis on the latter. I’m not even close to being a Spider-Man or a rabbit.

    My experience is not all doom and gloom though. Far from it, actually! While parkour maps like Parkour Spiral 3 may be played as a race, I soon learn to appreciate the relaxing activity of tackling these challenges at my own pace. Despite having played Minecraft for years, I realize I've only tapped the surface of its control scheme and movement potential. I learn about precise slime block jumping, how to scale walls using amethyst clusters, and much more. It is as if Hielke Maps has incorporated every block into their course design – and it is turning me into a better player.

    Two hours later, I’m at my limit, and nowhere near Cristina nor the top of the spire. And yet, I can’t help but feel satisfied with what I’ve just gone through. Did I curse and bang my head against a block whenever I failed a jump or accidentally fell into lava? Absolutely, but the challenge, the adrenaline, and the feeling of finishing a really challenging level made it all worth it, and I happily log off, feeling like a more skilled and accomplished player. All respect to skyblock PvP, but from now on, I’ll be working on my blocky nimbleness! If you want to try your hand at Parkour Spiral 3, you can grab it now on Minecraft Marketplace!

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