AN OLD THEME GAINS A NEW LIFE IN WINDOWS 95
A Review of Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
by Derek F. Tarvin
Many older gamers, when thinking back to exactly what got them hooked
to video games at home, will fondly remember their Atari 2600. One of the
biggest games to ever hit the home video console of old was Pitfall!. The
graphics were large Lego blocks in limited colors, and the sounds could be
accomplished by the PC speaker. Regardless, the game was entertaining for
its era and most players can remember spending countless hours swinging from
vines, jumping on crocodiles and avoiding scorpions. Activision has brought
back their classic from 1982 and given it a 90's look which runs in the
90's operating system, Windows 95. Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is the continuing
saga which excels as a side-scroller action game.
The story begins as Pitfall Harry Sr. and his son Harry Jr. enter the Mayan
jungle. Harry Sr. is kidnapped, and you, as Harry Jr., must navigate the
levels of the jungle to rescue him from the Mayans. Fourteen levels and four
bonus rounds await with the treacherous forces of the jungle standing
between you and saving your father.
You're equipped with a number of
weapons found about the jungle including sling shots, boomerangs, exploding rocks,
and the all-handy whip. You need all the help you can muster against vicious
snakes, monkeys, jaguars and an assortment of other obstacles. The jungle is
most assuredly alive and it doesn't seem to be overly friendly to visitors.
As a young Indiana Jones look-a-like, you'll swing on vines over bubbling
tar pits, climb ropes, and bungee jump to name just a few of the ways you'll
explore the jungle. The jungle is laced with jewels, coins and weapons (including rocks
for your sling shot), which will aid you in your quest. Your journey
sends you deep into the jungle moving through ancient ruins, waterfalls,
rainforests and temples.
Pitfall is no typical game in the scrolling graphics department. Every
detail, from the goofy monkeys to the stone markings in the ruins, is
exquisite.
Activision has hired one of the best movie production studios
to create this game's graphics.
Kroyer
Films, whose work includes Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, has taken the
technology of cel animation and applied it to every aspect of this game's
graphics. If this type of effort results in this kind of exceptional graphic
quality, let's hope more vendors employ the same. The animation gives
Harry and company a cartoon feel, which is quite pleasing to the eye. The
background of jungle vegetation, Mayan stones, moving clouds and various
other environments, cascaded by highly detailed bats, jaguars, and other
creatures, show attention to detail in the highest degree.
Along with superior graphics, Activision has also joined forces with the
Academy Award-winning Soundelux Media Lab to accent all of Pitfall's
sound. Soundelux Media Lab's movie projects have included Cliffhanger and True
Lies, as well as the riveting sound effects for one of this year's hottest
games, MechWarrior 2.
The jungle is brought alive with a deep forest
heartbeat, breathing and rustling with the vibrant life that most people
would associate with a rainforest in Central America. The background music
beats to the tribal drums of the Mayans, while the tropical birds chirp and
the monkeys annoyingly grunt. Harry yells with enthusiasm as he swings from
a vine or screams "whoa" as he teeters on a small stone high above the
ground. Harry's whip snaps crisply as it defends its owner from the jungle
hostiles. From the bubbling tar pits, to the wind on top of the temples,
Pitfall's sound effects and music are pulsating with an Indiana Jones type flair.
With awesome sound and great graphics, only gameplay stands in Pitfall's
way. At first mention, an action game that is scrolling-based doesn't raise
much more than a partial eyebrow.
Using a joystick, keyboard or preferably a
gamepad, Harry's movements and attacks are easily executed. The manual
doesn't give you any insight into Harry's moves because all of them are
intuitive enough to figure out, for the most part.
Dodging spitting snakes,
jumping from bungee cords, bolting over fire traps, and swinging over
boiling tar pits, are par for the course for Harry. All you need to control
is how Harry runs, jumps, and uses his weapons. With all the deadly forces
around you, you wouldn't want controlling Harry to be any more difficult.
Gameplay is fast-paced and new obstacles are around every corner. Having a
gamepad to control precisely timed movements and attacks is key. Though the
keyboard and joystick can be used, the gamepad is easily the controller of
choice, as it is with most home cartridge-based systems.
There are enough areas, everywhere from the heights of the trees to the
multi-level temples, that should keep any gamer interested. Most puzzles are
fairly simple, but as the levels progress, passing to the next one becomes
more of a test in technique. As a special addition, even the old Atari 2600
version of Pitfall is included as a bonus level. For those wanting to relive
the gaming of yesteryear, a full level from the 1982 game, complete with
authentic blocks and beeps, is included. Pitfall proves to be full of
action, which is smooth and easy to dive into, even for the less
seasoned game player.
The game installs flawlessly and takes advantage of Windows 95. Starting
the product is as simple as inserting the CD: it automatically starts.
If your system lacks the processing power needed for the detailed 256-color
graphics in 640x480 full-screen mode, lower the graphics to 320x200. If
this still doesn't prove successful, the sound quality can also be lowered
from the ambient surround-sound effects to ordinary music tracks. Regardless
of the settings used, having a computer that is well equipped for Windows 95
and having a fast video card is essential for non-stuttering gameplay.
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a well presented arcade action game in a
side-scrolling atmosphere. Everything about the game is smooth and
well done.
The only major drawback is that it is still just a game like
Donkey Kong Country or Prince of Persia, in that it's a linear concept
that's been done before.
Also note, the only game saving feature is to
"continue" from key points within a level after dying. Otherwise, you have
to start the level all over with a new game. At least no annoying password
is required to enter completed levels. Once you complete a level, you can go
straight to that level via the file menu bar. Activision has taken a flat
theme from a decade old classic game and given it the 90's flair of
impressive graphics and a soundtrack few others can compete with. If you are
a gamer from the good ol' days you'll welcome the chance to play a
modern version of an 80's classic.
Copyright 1996 by Derek F. Tarvin for InfoMedia. All rights reserved.
Gamer's Zone Scorecard
| Product: |
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure |
| Company: |
Activision
|
| Cost: |
$49.95 |
System Requirements:
Minimum:
IBM PC Compatible, 486/33, Windows 95, 2X CD-ROM,
8MB RAM, 20MB HD space, SVGA video card(full 256-colors),
Windows 95 compatible soundcard
Preferred:
Pentium 90 for SVGA, fast VLB or PCI video card,
12MB RAM, gamepad.
Breakdown:
Fun Factor 4
Interface 4
Replayability 3
Graphics 5
Sound 5
Overall Score:
Copyright © 1997 InfoMedia, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.