Hey I got back into all this after not having played JJ1 and JJ2 for a couple of years. I went through both games and remembered how much I loved it.

However, there's a thing that I apparently haven't known ever since I first played JJ1 in '97. The Holidaius secret level. Could anyone please give me hints? Or, a spoiler. I tried about everything and couldn't find it, then I searched the net for it and all I found was people saying that it exists and that it was well-hidden. Help would be appreciated!

It's not in direct sight. You can't just shoot it. Use TNT.

If you still can't find it I can directly point you towards it, if you want.

I'll give it one more go after one more question: it's on the first level, right?

I first thought it would be similar to the Deserto puzzle and I got a lot of TNT via the cheat, but naaah. Then I thought about searching everything on an air board, but I'm afraid of randomly turning into ash, which happened when I did the same on Pezrock.

It's definitely in the first level. Near a blue spring

Just realised there's a level editor (god, for how long have I been away?) and having found the spot, I think I'm surprised, as I thought one couldn't blast that place. Really clever! Wish the others have been this obscure, it just adds to the fun.

I managed to blast it by standing on the tile next to the spring, ducking and then using TNT.

I had no idea there was a secret level there at all. I used J1E to figure it out.

Just what I did right now. And my, it needed a lot of TNT. Not like the Nippius one which shortens the time on the level that triggers it to about 15 seconds.

The funny thing is how it's not accessible from the side, where I tried the same technique, but it's almost a hint, symetry-wise that it will be where it is.

I agree. You would expect there to be a secret tunnel in the narrow pit the bonus gem is in. Maybe they just forgot?

Could be.

Still not madder than the JJ2 secret level that loops itself.

That's a bug in the event, not the level design, though. I actually figured out a way to use that event without that happening the other day, was quite exciting.
As for your Pezrock mishap, you ought only to randomly turn into ash if you hit the bottom of the level.

For the first thing...I assume I'd have to open up JCS and edit the event?

For the second thing, well, I was too curious and since I was resisting to use cheats for 12 years, I had to give it a go, but I had no idea that such a thing happens, as it obviously doesn't in JJ2.

But nothing's as buggy as Dreempipes, I think I completed that only 4-5 times without getting randomly stuck in places that looked normal.