Pitfall II: Lost Caverns, 1984 Activision/David Crane (20 From Atari 2600 #1)
12Finally! We finish off my list of top 20 Atari 2600 games with a doozy-- the sequel to David Crane's classic adventure game. This improves upon it in so many ways.. the long adventure, the vertical scrolling, the new enemies, the new treasures, an actual GOAL in the game, and best of all-- you can't die!!! You can, however, be punished for touching an enemy; you will be sent back to the last "save point" (a brown plus symbol) and lose points. You can also lose points for dropping down one or more floors (100 points). Your goal is to reach your niece Rhonda and mountain lion friend Quickclaw which are trapped in the caverns, awaiting rescue. You will actually see Quickclaw at the beginning of the game one floor below you! Of course, it's not that easy.. you must go the LONG way around to reach him. Along the way, there will be bats, buzzards, frogs, scorpions, and electric eels to contend with. Bats have a fairly easy flight pattern to avoid since they just bob up and down. Buzzards are more difficult-- they swoop slowly up and down and one brush from their wing means you head back to the last save point. Frogs will leap over holes in the floor near ladders. You will want to not get too antsy climbing ladders near them-- just wait until the coast is clear, or get off the ladder and wait. Pushing up too soon on the ladder may make you touch the frog in mid-jump. The nasty scorpions from the first game are back, but it kinda seems the game makes it easier to jump over them than before. The scorpions often seem to "guard" ladders in this game. Electric eels are only seen in the water segments and bob up and down, so they are rather easy to avoid (Harry can't drown in these areas). One of the neatest additions to the gameplay in this sequel are BALLOONS! Yeah, that doesn't sound like much, but here the balloons let you float up to higher levels instead of having to climb your way around. Bats patrol this area though, so watch out-- though letting them touch your balloon will pop it so you can fall to the ledge of your choice. The map of Pitfall II is vast-- 8 columns and 15 rows wide! Peppy music will keep your spirits high, and when it slows a bit you can pick up treasure (or Quickclaw or Rhonda) to return it to its more upbeat tempo. A runaway winner for #1 game for a great system of the 2nd generation of gaming! And coming soon, folks.. my tribute to-- and later top 20 from-- THE MATTEL INTELLIVISION! Thanks for watching folks, and I hope you join me for the next series!