What is jegichagi?
Jegichagi is a Korean traditional game in which a jegi, an old coin wrapped in paper with a long paper tassel, is kicked into the air again and again, and whoever keeps it up for the most kicks in a row wins. It was a courtyard game for Lunar New Year and is still played at holiday gatherings and in school sports classes.
This game takes place in a hanok courtyard seen from the side. Press start and the doll tosses the jegi up from its hand; from then on you must kick it back up every time it falls. The tassel makes it drift left and right rather than fall straight, and the wind in the courtyard pushes it as well. The longer the wind arrow at the top right, the stronger it blows. When the jegi lands, the run ends and your streak is recorded.
Does it matter where on the foot the jegi lands?
Yes. Hit it with the middle of the foot and it goes almost straight up; hit it near the toe or the heel and it flies off at an angle in that direction. Standing directly under the jegi is the safe choice, and kicking with the edge on purpose lets you move it where you want.
| Where it hits | What the jegi does |
|---|---|
| Middle of the foot | Straight up. The next kick is easy |
| Toe side | Angled forward. You have to chase it |
| Heel side | Angled backward. Turn around or use a heel kick |
| Kicking on the run | Carries a little extra in the direction you were running |
| High kick | Goes very high, giving you a breather while it comes down |
The foot connects at about knee height. Press kick just before the jegi reaches that height and the foot rises to meet it. Press too early and the foot is already on its way down; press too late and the jegi hits the ground.
How do the both feet, heel kick and high kick techniques work?
There are no separate buttons for techniques. They come from which side of the body the jegi falls on and which kick you press. When a technique lands its name pops up, and the result screen counts each one.
- Single foot: the basic kick. When the jegi falls in front of you, the front foot kicks.
- Both feet: when the jegi falls slightly behind the body, the back foot swings instead. Alternating front and back foot counts as a both feet kick.
- Heel kick: when the jegi has gone well behind you, pressing kick lifts it with the heel and it sails over your head back to the front.
- High kick: Shift or the small button sends the jegi very high. You get time to reposition and catch your breath, but the longer flight gives the wind more time to push it.
How does the match against the computer work?
In a match you and the computer take turns, one run each; the longer streak wins the round, and the first to win two of three rounds wins the match. You always go first, and as soon as you drop the jegi the computer takes its turn.
| Level | How the computer plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | Fluffs a kick roughly every five or six tries |
| Normal | Usually manages ten or so in a row |
| Hard | Streaks of twenty or more are common |
The computer kicks in the same courtyard with the same physics. The doll waiting its turn stands beside the jars and watches. An equal streak makes the round a draw, and if the round wins are level after three rounds the match is drawn.
Are there ranks for long streaks?
In solo mode the result screen shows your streak together with a rank name. Under 5 is First steps, 5 and up is Backyard kid, 10 is Courtyard player, 20 is New Year champion, 40 is Jegi master and 70 is Jegi immortal.
Your best is saved in this browser and shown on the title screen, and the moment you pass it during a run the screen flashes to let you know. Every ten kicks gets a little celebration, and as the streak grows the sway and the wind pick up a little.
Tips for a longer streak
- Get into position as the jegi starts to fall from its peak. It does not sway on the way up, so moving early buys you time.
- Straight kicks with the middle of the foot are the foundation. Vertical kicks, not fancy ones, build the count.
- Watch the wind arrow. If the wind blows to the right, the jegi drifts right as it falls, so stand half a step that way.
- If it goes behind you, do not panic: heel kick. When there is no time to turn, just press kick and the heel comes up.
- Use the high kick to reset. Send it up, get directly underneath and find your rhythm again.
Controls
- Keyboard: ← → or A D to move, Space · ↑ · W to kick, Shift · X · ↓ for a high kick. On the title and result screens Space or Enter starts right away.
- Mouse: the doll follows the mouse sideways; click to kick. Right click or Shift+click is a high kick.
- Phone: drag anywhere to move the doll by that much. A short tap or the big button at the bottom right kicks, and the small button is the high kick.
Records stay in this browser and are never sent to a server. All sounds are synthesised in code and can be muted with the button at the top right.