Mynci Beach Volleyball: The Power of the Pawkeet

Mynci Beach Volleyball is a game that has taunted Neopians for years and years. It can get so frustrating at times, you really do feel like you have sand in your pants! What was TNT thinking in making a game that could cause us to lose our sanity? But don't fret! Past the anger and frustration are ways to dominate the game and show that Mynci who is boss. In this guide I will start off with the very basics of the game, then dive into the more difficult secrets you will need to know if you want to achieve that avatar or trophy.

The Basics

The simplest way I can explain this game is basically to score more points than your opponent. Just the same as classic volleyball, you hit a ball over the net and try to make it touch the ground on the opponent's side. Easy, right? Well, when you have a determined Mynci on the other side of the court, it can be quite a challenge. The game consists of 6 rounds, each needing 12 points to get to the next. However, in volleyball you must score at least 2 points more than your opponent, which could make a tight match quite interesting. If you were to finally get that 12th point, but your opponent has 11, it isn't over yet! That Mynci still has a chance to come out on top, which means you need to score another point to beat it. Make sure though that your opponent doesn't reach 12 points in a round before you do! As soon as that happens the game is over.

Scoring is mostly consistent throughout the rounds. For every point you score more than your opponent, you get 10 points at the end of that round. So say if you were to get 12 and your opponent 5, you would receive 70 points for that round. This applies to all six rounds. In addition to these points, at the end of each round you get 50 points simply for defeating your opponent. However, this only applies to rounds 1-5. If you manage to beat the 6th and final round, you are instead granted 250 points for making it to the very end.

Of course the game wouldn't be that much fun if you were just simply hitting the ball back and forth. That is why many times during the game you will see what looks like a green puff ball floating above your heads. This Pawkeet will grant special abilities throughout the game if either you or your opponent hit it with the ball (but don't worry, it doesn't really hurt... much). These abilities will have a big impact during the game and can either make it or break it for you.

Power Ups & Using Them to Your Advantage

Giant Ball: You might need a little more arm strength for this because the volleyball has just grown a few times its normal size. The larger size makes it easier to hit and the extra weight slows it down slightly which can be a good thing for people who get frazzled by a high speed game. However, easier to hit also means harder to score. With a giant ball it is likely you will be hitting back and forth for a while before someone slips up and makes a mistake or a different power up is brought into the mix. Just be patient and sooner or later things will start to get more exciting again.

Small Net: When the net shrinks down to the size of your little Mynci, that leaves a lot of air space for that volleyball to travel. This makes it easier to get the ball over to the other side of the court for both you and your opponent. While your opponent can benefit from this, much observation has shown that he does not utilize many of the strategies that can be used to get some serious points. If you are serving while having a small net, after hitting the ball up in the air you should take a couple of small steps back so when the ball falls down, it is at the Mynci's forhead or nose. Make a jump for it and try to work out an angle that causes the volleyball to shoot nearly straight across towards the back end up the opponent's court. Often times the ball will move too fast and your opponent's reaction time is not fast enough. The ball will glide over their head and land in the sand before they have time to move. This can still be done while the ball is continually being hit back and forth, however, it just might take a little bit more time for the ball to arrive on your side at an angle where you can nail the perfect spike.

Big Net: Having to tilt your neck backwards to get a look at the top of the net that seems to stretch into the sky must be a pain for both of those Myncis on the sand, and it surely is for you as a player. Taking up much available space, it can sometimes be quite a challenge to finally get that ball over the towering net. Overall, from the viewpoint of both you and your opponent, this is a bad thing. However, something that is bad for your opponent means it is good for you since they will be having the same struggles. I wouldn't rely on my opponent's mistakes for this one though, and would try to rid of it as soon as possible. Often times when trying to make it over to the other side, the ball will just end up hitting the net and come shooting back towards you. Be prepared for this and the trouble it can cause. Do your best to try to steady the ball in the center of your court and aim for high shots off the top of your head with little angling involved. While in this position, your focus is less on scoring and more on keeping the ball from hitting the ground on your end of the court.

Supersize: Perhaps someone has been taking their vitamins because suddenly you are now at least three times your normal size. Being bigger means less ground space for the ball to land in your court and more ease in hitting it over to the other side. This is a power up that you definitely want to get and keep. But wait, doesn't that mean you're in trouble if your opponent gets to become supersized? Wrong! Dare I say it, I even cheer when my opponent becomes supersized. While your opponent may be covering up much more of the court with their enlarged body, it is where you aim that makes all the difference. And supersize has a weak spot that is just dying to be exposed. When serving or hitting the ball over, your aim is to get the ball to land in the very back corner of the opposing side's court. When becoming enlarged, your or the opposing Mynci's body is unable to touch right against the bottom of the back wall, so once the ball is there you are out of luck trying to push it upwards. Do your best to angle your shot so it glides just above the Mynci's head without touching it and lands in the back corner without hitting the wall, causing a bounce. You'll be racking up those points in no time!

Superjump: Despite being a Mynci, super jump makes you feel like you've got the hop of a cybunny. Going high in the air might seem like fun, but there are grave consequences that can come with it. While you are enjoying the view from the sky, there is a good chance that the volleyball is hitting the ground on your side of the court. Once you jump, gravity takes somewhat of a backseat since it takes a few seconds for you to get back to the ground. If you jump to hit the ball and it doesn't make it back over the net, the ball is going to hit the ground a lot faster than you'll be there to save it. My suggestion is to only jump when you feel safe and confident that the ball will make it over the net without complication. If you manage to get a hold of the ball while waiting to serve it, just hang onto it for a little bit longer until the Pawkeet appears and you can aim for it to try to get rid of this cursed jump. When your opponent ends up getting Superjump, just continue playing the game like you normally do and eventually the problems will come on their own to the other side and you will get your points.

Superspeed: To some people this is a blessing, and to others a curse. It all depends on how you are able to handle it. When you are zipping around, it can be easy to lose control and accidentally pass up the volleyball as it is headed your way. Use it right and you'll be there to hit back every serve that comes your way without miss. This is one power up I always hope to get since often times it is only a split second that makes the difference between saving the ball and letting it fall to the sand. Unfortunately for those who aren't a fan of having the additional pep in their step, this power up is one that stays with you until the very end of the round. Make sure not to hold down the arrow keys as long as you normally would; otherwise, you'll go flying from end to end. With a little practice and adjustment, many have found this to greatly benefit their game play. On the opposing side, superspeed is not something you want them to get. That rival of yours seems to get the hang of their newly found speed right away and certainly uses it to their advantage. There are some occasions where your opponent takes a couple extra steps too many and will miss hitting the volleyball, but this is generally an uncommon occurrence. To get through this, you will just have to stick it out and play to the best of your ability.

Watch the Turdle: First hitting Pawkeets with projectiles and now stepping on Turdles? These little petpets sure do put up with a lot. If you are lucky enough to get this power up, a Turdle will appear on the opposing player's side. When stepped on, it leaves you rooted in that spot and unable to move for a few seconds – plenty of time to get that ace hit in. Sometimes the timing just doesn't work out and you're unable to get the volleyball over the net quick enough while your opponent is stuck, or the ball will land straight on him, letting him get the hit anyways. When this happens you just have to play on and wish for better next time. When the time comes and you're the unfortunate one with a Turdle on your end, be prepared. If you see your opponent is somewhat struggling to get the volleyball out of their zone, head for the Turdle (maybe say you're sorry while you're at it), and there is a chance those few seconds will be just enough for you to be prepared when the ball comes your way again. Otherwise, just hope for the best and after the game possibly write a letter to the editorial to let them know about the petpets causing trouble out on the beaches.

I guess whoever said big things come in small packages did know what they were talking about. This little Pawkeet is definitely capable of bringing big changes to your game. Just remember to be gentle! You wouldn't want our little green friend purposely bring out a bunch of superjumps now, would you?