Game Review Data
 
Game Title
Pitfall
Publisher
Majesco Inc.
Features
1 Player. Continues.
Format
Platform/Adventure
Reviewer
Andrew Blanchard


RATING

Good!


Ratings Scale:

Excellent!

Good!

Playable!

Ho-Hum!

Yuck!


Archived Game Reviews:

From A - Z

 

 
Introduction

Pitfall was basically introduced as the computer game industry's answer to Indiana Jones although this GBA outing is not the first time we've seen it on a computer or console. In fact, the original appeared on the Atari system (ask your parents!) and has since popped up in one form of another on just about everything. Only a few years ago it even made an appearance on the humble GameBoy Color thanks to CRAVE Entertainment. So does the new version do justice to this classic or should it have remained a classic?

Screen Shots

GamePlay

You play the part of Harry Jr in a quest to find out what happened to your father. It's the usual story of travelling across varied terrain and defeating foes in order to reach your final goal. What makes Pitfall different, however, is the way you go about this.

Your quest takes you through 6 different lands although you will visit some of these on more than one occasion. The variety here is one of the aspects that set this title apart from similar ones. Every level or area has a theme. What it looks like, what you do and how you go about solving it. The mine-cart sections alone will have you coming back for more. There are no impossible jumps either but some element of timing is needed to swing from ropes. Always look around you. It may be that the cobweb next to you can be bounced on or the tree you're standing on has a secret opening. The levels are very well designed and the puzzle elements can be quite challenging. You'll hardly ever get to the 'this is impossible' stage but if you do get stuck there's always a little help on hand.

The game screen itself has you right in he centre. The wide screen appearance of the GBA is helpful here as you can see trouble a little earlier. Other information on the screen includes your score, weapons, treasure count(for extra lives) and your health bar which features a wonderful graphic of a crocodile catching up with Harry Jr. Once he's got you. That's it. You are encouraged to explore everywhere rather than just race through the levels as bonus items are placed in various places around the screen. These can be important as some of them you'll need to complete the level. Caution will also help. Yes, this is a 'thinking' platform game.

Finally, one aspect of the GBA that seems to be becoming very important is the save game feature. Is it password or battery backup? Well here it's neither. Keeping with the original theme of this game you just have 'continues'. Again this doesn't spoil the game and it's still a joy to play but if you are finding you're getting nowhere make sure it's on 'normal' and not the 'hard' setting.

Controls

The control system on the whole is quite a simple affair but does get a little complicated when trying to launch some of the weapons. Everything is used here, even the shoulder buttons. With a little playing and practice, though, the whole thing becomes quite instinctive. If, however, you're still having a little trouble there's always the options menu where you can switch the controls around.

Graphics

This game looks incredible! Harry Jr is beautifully animated regardless of what you make him do. Running, jumping and swinging from ropes are all performed with some of the smoothest animation I have seen from a handheld. The other 'on screen' characters too move with ease and there are plenty of them. The backgrounds are also very well conceived and look and feel a great deal different over the various levels that span the game.

Sound & Music

From the start of this adventure the sound fully immerses you in your environment and really helps to deepen the atmosphere of the gaming experience. Jungles sound like you'd expect them to with a whole host of animals calling out and running around. In complete contrast the Mine levels add an incredible feeling of being in a cave or deep underground. Incidental sounds and the background music complete what is a great sounding game.

Final Comments

If you've played this before then you'll recognize that this is a faithful and very well crafted reproduction of what has always been a great game. The developers at Pipedream Interactive have taken great care to include all the aspects that made this title such a classic in the first place. If you haven't encountered it before but you enjoy platformers with a puzzle twist then go and buy this now. There are hours of gameplay here which all makes for a fully satisfying experience.

@ EAGB Advance 2002. All rights reserved.