What is Code Island?

Code Island is a single-player game in Adventure Academy which can teach you how to code as you guide a dragon companion to the end of a level through coding!

 

How to Play and The Basics

• How do I play Code Island?
• How many levels does Code Island have?
• What is the goal in each level of Code Island?
• How to I unlock the locked levels?
• How do I exit a level?
• Can I change which dragon companion I help guide in a level?

Gameplay Tips and Advice

• What do all of the code actions in Code Island do?
• What do all of the blocks in Code Island do?
• Are there any tips for playing Code Island?

Rewards

• Will playing Code Island give me a reward?
• Is there a way to increase your rewards?

How to Play and The Basics

How do I play Code Island?

There are two ways that a you can play Code Island.

• By opening the Games menu.
• By going to the Dragon Statue in the Commons

To play Code Island via the Games menu:

1. Select the Games icon at the top of your screen.
   
   
   
   
2. When the Games menu opens, select Quick Game in the Code Island section.
   
   

To play Code Island through the Dragon Statue in the Commons, you will need to navigate to the Commons area. The Dragon Statue is near the fountain, which is located towards the center of the Commons.

How many levels does Code Island have?

Code Island has 100 levels for you to complete.

What is the goal in each level of Code Island?

• In each level, your goal is to help your dragon companion collect Stars by guiding them with code.
• There are three Stars in each level. Some levels may have Stars grouped together or separate. You need to collect at least one Star in order for the level to be marked as complete.
• You can always play a level again later to try and get more Stars.

How do I unlock the locked levels?

• Every time you complete a level, you unlock the next level (e.g., completing Level 4 unlocks level 5).
• Remember, while you can get a maximum of three Stars in a level, you only need a minimum of one Star to complete a level.

How do I exit a level?

To exit a level, simply follow these two steps:

1. Click the Home icon in the upper-right corner.
2. When prompted to confirm if you'd like to quit the level, select Quit.

From there, you'll be taken back to the Level Select screen.

Can I change which dragon companion I help guide in a level?

When you play Code Island for the first time, you will be prompted to select one of three dragons to guide through a level. After completing the first level, you can change the dragon on the Level Select screens.

Here’s how to change your dragon companions:

1. Be on any of the Level Select screens for Code Island.
   
   
   
   
2. Click/tap the Dragon icon in the bottom-left corner.
   
   
   
   
3. You'll then be taken to a screen where you can choose which dragon you’d like to switch to.
   
   
   
   
4. Select Choose underneath the respective dragon companion you want.

Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to the Level Select screen. The dragon that was chosen will now occupy the Dragon icon and will appear in the next level you play.

Gameplay Tips and Advice

What do all of the code actions in Code Island do?

When you play a level in Code Island, you’ll need to use code actions that will guide the dragon companion to collect Stars. Code actions are available in the Inventory section of a Code Island level, and can be used when placed in the Workspace section. You will only be able to use code actions a certain number of times, per the number assigned to a code action type. As you add and remove code actions to the Workspace section, it will reflect on the number counters in the Inventory section.

The beginning levels of Code Island will only have a few code actions for you to use while the higher levels will feature more. When a new code action becomes available for the first time in a level, you will be introduced to what it can do to familiarize yourself with it.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of code actions:

• Walk–This will direct the dragon to walk in the selected direction: forward or backward. Additionally, this action will allow the dragon to push moveable blocks like the Box Block.
• Jump–This will direct the dragon to jump in the selected direction: forward and backward.. Jump allows the dragon to jump on top of blocks, but is also another way to move the dragon to different block. 
• Turn–This will direct the dragon to turn in the direction chosen: right or left. Turn is a stationary action, so the dragon will remain on the block they are currently standing on as they turn. 
• Break–This will direct the dragon to break a breakable block, if they are standing in front of and facing the block. If the block is not breakable, this action will have no effect. Break is a stationary action, so the dragon will remain on the block they are currently standing on as they break a breakable block.
• Repeat–This will direct the dragon to repeat the selected action(s) for the selected number of times: one, two, three, four, five, or infinite.
• If on–This will direct the dragon to do the selected action(s) when the dragon is standing on the selected block type: Red Gem Block, Blue Gem Block, Green Gem Block, Box Block, and Sand Block.
• Repeat until on–This will direct the dragon to repeat the selected action(s) until they stand on the selected block type: Red Gem Block, Blue Gem Block, Green Gem Block, Box Block, and Sand Block.

What do all of the blocks in Code Island do?

The blocks in Code Island serve two purposes: they allow the dragon companion to traverse along the level and act as obstacles to overcome to retrieve the Stars.

As you progress through the levels, you’ll be introduced to new blocks that make the levels more challenging.

Here's a quick breakdown of the different types of blocks:

• Sand Block–A normal block that dragons can move across. Typically, these serve as the "ground" of the levels.
• Box Block–A block that looks like a box. Dragons can push, jump on, break, and walk across them depending on their placement.
• Stone Block–A block that looks like stone. Dragons can jump on, break, and walk across them depending on their placement.
• Gem Block–A block that has colored gem shards attached to it. Dragons can jump on and walk across them depending on their placement.
• Portal Block–A block that has a portal on one side. Dragons will teleport through these to a corresponding portal of the same color if they walk, jump, or fall through the portal-facing side.
• Freeze Ray Block–A block that emits a freeze ray beam of energy. Dragons will be frozen if they pass through the freeze ray, which stops them and ends the level. Depending on their placement, the dragons can jump on and walk across the tops of them.
• Steel Box Block–A stronger version of the Box Block. Dragons are unable to break these, but they can push, jump on, and walk across them depending on their placement.
• Ice Block–A block that is made of ice. Dragons will slip and slide across them as they walk across. They can also jump on, push, or break them depending on their placement.

Are there any tips on playing Code Island?

Yes. The goal of each level is to collect Stars by using code. With that in mind, here are some tips to consider when playing:

• If you notice that you made a mistake or are going to miss a Star or two as your code sequence plays, you can stop it before it ends and make adjustments.
  • By pressing the Stop button, you'll return to the Edit Mode and can make changes to your code sequence to try again.
• Sometimes, to solve a problem you need a change in perspective, and adjusting the angle of your camera to look at a level from all sides might help!
  • Use the right half of the screen to move the camera around the level.
• The number of Commands listed next to On Start in the Workspace is a clue for how many Commands you need to get through the level. See how many Commands you have left or have used against what’s listed as a frame of reference.
  
  • Keep in mind, you can still complete a level even if you go over the number listed for the Commands Limit. You just won't earn the reward bonus.
• Remember, you only need one Star to complete a level and unlock the next one. So if you’re struggling with a level, aim for getting at least one Star–you can always try the level again later to get the others!

Rewards

Will playing Code Island give me a reward?

Yes. You will receive a reward of Coins and XP when they complete a level. The number of Coins and XP earned will vary depending on the following:

• How many Stars you collected in the level.
• If the level was completed without going over the Commands Limit, a bonus is added to your rewards.

If you complete the level with all three Stars, your rewards will be bigger. If you earn one or two Stars, your rewards will be smaller.

 

Is there a way to increase your rewards?

You can replay levels to try and get all of the Stars in order to get the full rewards.

As for the Commands Limit, you will earn a bonus on your rewards if you use the exact or lesser number of Commands listed.

• If you use four Commands when the Commands Limit lists four, you’ll earn a bonus. When you get all three Stars and earn the bonus, your Stars turn blue on the Level Complete screen.
  
  
• If you use more than the noted Commands, you won’t receive the bonus and will have the typical Gold Stars on the Level Complete screen.
  
  

Note: going over the number listed in the Commands Limit will not prevent you from completing the level–it will simply prevent you from earning the bonus rewards.