This is another of my favorite games for the Atari 2600 as well as games from one of my favorite video game companies "Activision". "Activision" was one of the very first star companies and it's not hard to see why as they were on a winning streak on the "Atari 2600" most of the games they put out were real quality games and thankfully this game is one of them.
This game was one of the very first platform action games and still one of the best in my book, it's fondly remembered as certain modern games have taken inspiration from this game. And was even homaged in an episode of "South Park" which shows how timeless this game truly is.
Really like the concept which was obviously inspired by "Raiders of the Lost Ark" but also the "Tarzan" book series. You are simply this Indiana Jones like adventurer named Harry who has to simply go one direction the whole time to find and get the treasure you seek while surviving the entire time.
That's it in a nutshell nothing deep which I'm fine with and I like that no nonsense, no bullcrap just all about taking action.
The gameplay is sort of like the arcade game "Donkey Kong" as you have your basic functions running and jumping. And like with "Donkey Kong" you have obstacles to jump over for this game it's rolling logs that just roll from out of nowhere's ville right onto your pathway. However, what makes this different from "Donkey Kong" is "Donkey Kong" was more contained action as each level took place in one space, but this game you have a huge area.
I really like this because it really gives the game an adventure feels to it, as you go from point A to B the screen changes and you have another area to traverse. Each screen is always something different which give the game an unpredictability and challenge as you just never know what to expect next and have only mere seconds to orient yourself.
Really like the design as the game consists of two planes from the one from the surface to the underground. You always given the choice to use either, going underground makes things simpler as you can go past most of the obstacles on the surface and there is even treasure sometimes. However, it's not a permanent solution as there are some set dangers underground like a snake or scorpion. But also, you run into a wall which puts your trip underground to a halt and you have to come back to the surface.
The surface plain I really love as that is where most to all the action in the game is. It's pretty much one big boot camp like obstacle course as you have to constantly move with limited time on you side. Each of the obstacles are different and consist of different ways to get past, from the rolling logs I mentioned. Pitfalls (hence the title) that drop you on the underground plane could be a problem as it can either set you back from where you were going or drop you straight onto the snake or scorpion stationed there.
The lake as well as a lake which consist of alligators. The way to safely cross them is to land on their heads and never their mouths as they'll gobble you up. Though the one I always dread the most is that moving quick sand, that one can be a little tricky as you see it as a small moving diamond that moves left and right on the screen but then at a certain time just opens up and becomes quicksand; in a way you can say this could be like the Graboid's on "Tremors" just constantly moving underground ready to gobble anyone that moves above them.
The highlight of the game no doubt is the swinging vine, which is cool as you grab hold of it you swing from point A to B but as you do that you then make this strange Tarzan like cry. I could easily imagine how people back then must have been blown away to be able to swing on vines, covering a large amount of distance on the game and to hear that sound effect, which to me is just music to my ears.
This vintage classic like any uncovered relic is worth discovering but also like any relic now in a museum for any video game historians, vintage game enthusiasts/collectors is worth admiring then and now.
Rating: 4 stars.
This game was one of the very first platform action games and still one of the best in my book, it's fondly remembered as certain modern games have taken inspiration from this game. And was even homaged in an episode of "South Park" which shows how timeless this game truly is.
Really like the concept which was obviously inspired by "Raiders of the Lost Ark" but also the "Tarzan" book series. You are simply this Indiana Jones like adventurer named Harry who has to simply go one direction the whole time to find and get the treasure you seek while surviving the entire time.
That's it in a nutshell nothing deep which I'm fine with and I like that no nonsense, no bullcrap just all about taking action.
The gameplay is sort of like the arcade game "Donkey Kong" as you have your basic functions running and jumping. And like with "Donkey Kong" you have obstacles to jump over for this game it's rolling logs that just roll from out of nowhere's ville right onto your pathway. However, what makes this different from "Donkey Kong" is "Donkey Kong" was more contained action as each level took place in one space, but this game you have a huge area.
I really like this because it really gives the game an adventure feels to it, as you go from point A to B the screen changes and you have another area to traverse. Each screen is always something different which give the game an unpredictability and challenge as you just never know what to expect next and have only mere seconds to orient yourself.
Really like the design as the game consists of two planes from the one from the surface to the underground. You always given the choice to use either, going underground makes things simpler as you can go past most of the obstacles on the surface and there is even treasure sometimes. However, it's not a permanent solution as there are some set dangers underground like a snake or scorpion. But also, you run into a wall which puts your trip underground to a halt and you have to come back to the surface.
The surface plain I really love as that is where most to all the action in the game is. It's pretty much one big boot camp like obstacle course as you have to constantly move with limited time on you side. Each of the obstacles are different and consist of different ways to get past, from the rolling logs I mentioned. Pitfalls (hence the title) that drop you on the underground plane could be a problem as it can either set you back from where you were going or drop you straight onto the snake or scorpion stationed there.
The lake as well as a lake which consist of alligators. The way to safely cross them is to land on their heads and never their mouths as they'll gobble you up. Though the one I always dread the most is that moving quick sand, that one can be a little tricky as you see it as a small moving diamond that moves left and right on the screen but then at a certain time just opens up and becomes quicksand; in a way you can say this could be like the Graboid's on "Tremors" just constantly moving underground ready to gobble anyone that moves above them.
The highlight of the game no doubt is the swinging vine, which is cool as you grab hold of it you swing from point A to B but as you do that you then make this strange Tarzan like cry. I could easily imagine how people back then must have been blown away to be able to swing on vines, covering a large amount of distance on the game and to hear that sound effect, which to me is just music to my ears.
This vintage classic like any uncovered relic is worth discovering but also like any relic now in a museum for any video game historians, vintage game enthusiasts/collectors is worth admiring then and now.
Rating: 4 stars.