Jamal arrives in Jumanji.
Jamal landed with a splash in chest-high water. Moments later, blinking and spitting out fluid, he tried to get a sense of where he was and what had happened to him.
He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the water and was astounded. No longer was he a chubby, unathletic teenager – he'd somehow been transformed into a Rambo-esque figure with slicked-back hair, bulging muscles and copper skin. Clad in a stretchy black singlet, deep brown combat trousers and laced leather boots, a massive semiautomatic rifle was now strapped across his back, giving him the appearance of a classic action hero.
Looking around, Jamal suddenly realised that he was on the banks of a flowing blue river. To his amazement, a small military vessel came speeding over to where he was, and its ruggedly dressed driver stood up to greet him.
"Welcome to Jumanji!" said the man enthusiastically. "Mr John Knight, I've been so anxious for your arrival!"
"Are you talking to me?" asked Jamal incredulously. This strange man must have him confused with someone else.
"I sure am, Mr Knight!" replied the man. "Come on board! We have an urgent mission for you!"
Warily, Jamal climbed onto the small motorboat. Once aboard, he found a dirty green towel and began drying himself.
"Gabriel John Knight, the One-Man Jungle Army!" declared the driver again. "Nigel Billingsley at your service – I've been so anxious for your arrival!"
"For the record, sir, my name is Jamal," answered the boy sardonically, "and secondly, I don't have the faintest clue who you are or what the h*ll you want!"
"Have no fear, my good man!" answered Nigel cheerfully. "As your Jumanji field guide, I'm here to answer all your questions! Your name is John Knight, expert in firearms and enemy of evildoers everywhere! Jumanji is in desperate need of your exceptional talents, to end the menace of Murray Van Pelt!"
"Um, okay?" replied Jamal with some uncertainty. This madman didn't have a clue what he was saying, but for now he decided to play along.
"Van Pelt landed in Jumanji several months ago," Nigel explained. "Like his father and brother before him, he believed he'd make his fortune coming to this sacred land. Searching for gold, ivory and precious stones, he sought to destroy the jungle and plunder its riches for himself!"
As Nigel spoke, the world changed into a cutscene around Jamal. In it, he saw Murray Van Pelt, a young British colonist, step off a boat and dust off his khaki trousers. He had a proud, cruel look on his face, with a marvellously curly moustache which he twirled whenever he had an evil thought. Behind him, soldiers began unloading crates of supplies and equipment onto the Jumanjian beach.
"This island will be the key to our future," Jamal heard him say, clutching a handful of sand and letting it trickle out. "I'll find every last ounce of gold, silver and copper it has to offer and bring it all back to England. When I'm done, the Van Pelts will never have to work another day. Bwahahahahaha!"
Jamal rolled his eyes listening to the man's monologue. The guy was a Disney villain ripped out of a cartoon; one he'd seen countless times before. Still, he spoke the words with such conviction and passion that the teenager couldn't help but be mesmerised anyway.
"Van Pelt has already gone deep into the Jumanjian jungle," explained Nigel, "and stationed his soldiers everywhere. Your mission is to infiltrate his operation, find out what his next move is and put an end to his plans. To help you in your quest, you're going to need one of these."
Nigel reached into his pocket and took out a dazzling white jewel. It shone with all the colours of the rainbow and seemed to have a mystical aura about it. Dropping it into Jamal's hands, the guide proceeded to explain its significance.
"This is a Jawhari," said Nigel, "a rare gem mined from the slopes of Mt. Tur. The mountain is sacred to the local Sawad tribe, and only a few individuals have ever been allowed to possess one. You must protect this stone at all costs, for without it you will not be able to save Jumanji. Remember:
"Guard the gemstone with all your heart,
For every adventure is a brand-new start.
If you wish to save the game,
Hold out the Jawhari and call out its name."
Suspiciously, Jamal took the gem from Nigel and placed it inside his trouser pocket. The rabbit hole he'd found himself in was getting deeper and deeper, but he wasn't going to turn down free treasure that was offered to him.
The small boat had reached its destination by now: a beach front littered with crates and dead bonfires. Van Pelt's men had camped here, Jamal realised. Leaping off the vessel, the young man landed softly upon the sand. He removed his rifle from its sling and began moving forward like a hunter on the prowl. Behind him, Nigel turned the boat around and sped off in another direction.
Slowly, Jamal made his way deeper into the jungle. He heard a few ominous noises here and there, turning his weapon sharply in the direction of the perceived threat. But no being, human or animal accosted him, and after fifteen minutes Jamal started to relax. He was starting to get the hang of this thing.
Suddenly, the woods cleared, and Jamal found himself beside a small stream. He knew instinctively that it was a good idea to stay close to it, as it was a valuable source of fresh water. After drinking a few handfuls, he resumed his journey and penetrated further inland.
Before long, his sharp nostrils detected the smell of smoke and he paused. Where there was smoke, there was fire; and where there was fire, there were people. Stealthily, he picked his way through the undergrowth, keeping his eyes peeled for the slightest sign of human activity.
He was not disappointed. Ten yards ahead of him lay a small army camp, occupied by Van Pelt's khaki-wearing soldiers. The men were cleaning their weapons and repairing their vehicles, presumably in preparation to move on. In the heart of the camp stood a temporary shelter, larger than all the others. Jamal suspected that whatever it was he needed to progress was to be found inside that tent.
The young man spent a few moments sizing his enemies up, planning his best course of attack. Glancing down at his weapon, he instantly knew its unique strengths and weaknesses, and decided that the way to go was to ambush his victims with bullets.
With a sudden burst of gunfire, Jamal began mowing down the unsuspecting soldiers. His plan worked perfectly – Van Pelt's soldiers reacted too slowly to their hidden attacker, failing to draw their weapons in time. Within a matter of minutes, the camp was empty of living occupants.
Jamal marched triumphantly into the main tent, finding a large treasure chest inside. Opening it, he found a giant green mushroom, a heavy machine gun, a map and a handwritten note. The note read:
Greetings, intrepid adventurer!
Welcome to JUMANJI! You have completed this most educational tutorial.
Now's the moment when the real game begins. Feast on the Mushroom to regain your health, upgrade your Weapon to a better one and find your way around with the Map. Discover your Strengths and Weaknesses by tapping on your chest.
There are many places to explore in JUMANJI, and many exciting adventures to be had. If you get stuck at a particular level, you can always save the game by following the instructions I gave you.
Best of luck,
Nigel Billingsley
Nigel again, thought Jamal with mild annoyance. That NPC's eternal exuberance was beginning to grate on him, and he couldn't wait to buff his stats so he could give the guide a piece of his mind. Still, it had been a decent start to a new game, one that blew League of Legends out of the water. Perhaps he and his mother could come to an agreement after all.
Jamal took the Jawhari out of his pocket and held it before him. It was time to see if he could 'log out' of the game. Taking a breath, he spoke the word aloud.
"Jawhari."
Nothing happened. The gem remained static and lifeless, totally unresponsive to his command.
"Jawhari. JAWHARI!"
The magical jewel refused to work, despite Jamal shaking and shouting at it. The young man let out a frustrated yell. Why wouldn't the confounded stone just do as he told it?
Suddenly, a calming thought came into his mind. Of course! he said to himself. How could he have been so clueless? There was another way to interpret Nigel's words.
Once again, Jamal held the Jawhari out before him. He was sure he knew the magic word this time.
"JUMANJI."
A moment later, Jamal found himself in his old body, in his own bedroom, with the cooling Jawhari in his hands.
In case you haven't already guessed, Jamal's new avatar is ALSO played by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson!
Like Mortal Kombat, Jumanji makes use of palette swaps too. John Knight is the Sub-Zero to Smolder Bravestone's Scorpion... King.