Pitfall II: Lost Caverns is a platform game originally released for the Atari 2600 by Activision in 1984.[2] It is the sequel to Pitfall! (1982). Both games were designed and programmed by David Crane and star jungle explorer Pitfall Harry. Pitfall II adds a much larger world with vertical scrolling, swimmable rivers with deadly eels, music, and balloons for floating between locations.
Published after the video game crash of 1983 when interest in the 2600 was waning, Pitfall II was one of the last major releases for the console and one of the most technically impressive. The cartridge contains a custom "Display Processor Chip" designed by Crane, for improved visuals and four-channel music instead of the two the system is normally capable of.[4]
In Pitfall!, Pitfall Harry avoids crocodiles, scorpions, cobras, bats and quicksand across a series of horizontal screens. Lost Caverns dramatically expands the scope of the environment, as Harry descends into a deep, vertically scrolling underground. Unlike the first game, Harry has unlimited time and lives, making it impossible to die or lose. When Harry touches a dangerous creature, he loses points as he moves back to the last continue point (marked with a red cross) he touched along his journey.[5]
The start of the game (2600). The cross on the ground is a continue point.
Pitfall II has 27 horizontal levels. These levels span eight screens in width but are not openly accessible all the way across; some portions are blocked by cave walls that force Harry to travel through other areas in order to progress. Quicksand and tar pits are replaced by rivers and chasms. Balloons let Harry ascend to new areas.[5]
Two characters debut in Lost Caverns: Quickclaw, Harry's cowardly pet mountain lion, and Rhonda, his adventure-seeking niece. Both characters were created for the Saturday Supercade cartoon based on Pitfall! a year before this game was released. Upon collecting Rhonda, Quickclaw, and a diamondring, the game ends.[5] Optional items can be collected for points. The maximum possible score is 199,000.[6]
Musical cues act as subtle rewards and punishments for performance. The main theme plays for a short while before reaching a loop of acoustic music. When Harry collects a treasure, the main theme begins again. When Harry returns to a continue point, a slower, minor key version of the theme plays. If Harry ascends using the balloon, Sobre las Olas ("Over the Waves") is played.
Portsedit
Adventurer's Edition second level (Atari 8-bit)
The Atari 5200 and Atari 8-bit computer versions, called the Adventurer's Edition on their title screens, contain additional content. Programmer Mike Lorenzen reused David Crane's code from the 2600 version and added an entirely new level to the game, which was playable after the initial game was finished.[7] Marketing would not allow the two versions to be different so the new level was relegated to an Easter egg.[8]
Receptionedit
Computer and Video Games magazine rated the ColecoVision version 81% in 1989.[9] In their list of the top 25 Atari 2600 games, Stuart Hunt and Darran Jones listed Pitfall II: Lost Caverns in the number one spot.[10] The two writers found the game far more ambitious than the original and that the game was "as playable today s it ever was."[10]
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns for the Atari 2600 at Atari Mania
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns at Lemon 64
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
The Atari 2600 version ofPitfall II: Lost Caverns can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
David Crane explains how the DPC sound chip works
October 26, 2023
pitfall, lost, caverns, confused, with, arcade, title, arcade, game, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources,. Not to be confused with the arcade title Pitfall II Lost Caverns arcade game This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pitfall II Lost Caverns news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pitfall II Lost Caverns is a platform game originally released for the Atari 2600 by Activision in 1984 2 It is the sequel to Pitfall 1982 Both games were designed and programmed by David Crane and star jungle explorer Pitfall Harry Pitfall II adds a much larger world with vertical scrolling swimmable rivers with deadly eels music and balloons for floating between locations Pitfall II Lost CavernsAtari 2600 cover artDeveloper s ActivisionPublisher s ActivisionDesigner s David Crane 2 Programmer s Atari 2600David CraneAtari 8 bitMike Lorenzen 2 TRS 80 CoCoSteve Bjork 3 Platform s Atari 2600 Apple II Atari 5200 Atari 8 bit ColecoVision Commodore 64 MSX IBM PCjr SG 1000 TRS 80 Color Computer ZX SpectrumReleaseAtari 2600 NA February 10 1984 1 TRS 80 CoCo 1985Genre s PlatformMode s Single playerPublished after the video game crash of 1983 when interest in the 2600 was waning Pitfall II was one of the last major releases for the console and one of the most technically impressive The cartridge contains a custom Display Processor Chip designed by Crane for improved visuals and four channel music instead of the two the system is normally capable of 4 Pitfall II was ported to the Atari 5200 ColecoVision TRS 80 Color Computer Apple II Atari 8 bit family MSX Commodore 64 and the IBM PCjr as a cartridge In 1985 Sega released an arcade game titled Pitfall II The Lost Caverns with a new visual style and gameplay elements from both the Atari 2600 Pitfall games It was ported to the SG 1000 console in Japan The game s plot was loosely remade into Super Pitfall for the Famicom NES Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Ports 3 Reception 4 References 4 1 Sources 5 External linksGameplay editIn Pitfall Pitfall Harry avoids crocodiles scorpions cobras bats and quicksand across a series of horizontal screens Lost Caverns dramatically expands the scope of the environment as Harry descends into a deep vertically scrolling underground Unlike the first game Harry has unlimited time and lives making it impossible to die or lose When Harry touches a dangerous creature he loses points as he moves back to the last continue point marked with a red cross he touched along his journey 5 nbsp The start of the game 2600 The cross on the ground is a continue point Pitfall II has 27 horizontal levels These levels span eight screens in width but are not openly accessible all the way across some portions are blocked by cave walls that force Harry to travel through other areas in order to progress Quicksand and tar pits are replaced by rivers and chasms Balloons let Harry ascend to new areas 5 Two characters debut in Lost Caverns Quickclaw Harry s cowardly pet mountain lion and Rhonda his adventure seeking niece Both characters were created for the Saturday Supercade cartoon based on Pitfall a year before this game was released Upon collecting Rhonda Quickclaw and a diamond ring the game ends 5 Optional items can be collected for points The maximum possible score is 199 000 6 Musical cues act as subtle rewards and punishments for performance The main theme plays for a short while before reaching a loop of acoustic music When Harry collects a treasure the main theme begins again When Harry returns to a continue point a slower minor key version of the theme plays If Harry ascends using the balloon Sobre las Olas Over the Waves is played Ports edit nbsp Adventurer s Edition second level Atari 8 bit The Atari 5200 and Atari 8 bit computer versions called the Adventurer s Edition on their title screens contain additional content Programmer Mike Lorenzen reused David Crane s code from the 2600 version and added an entirely new level to the game which was playable after the initial game was finished 7 Marketing would not allow the two versions to be different so the new level was relegated to an Easter egg 8 Reception editComputer and Video Games magazine rated the ColecoVision version 81 in 1989 9 In their list of the top 25 Atari 2600 games Stuart Hunt and Darran Jones listed Pitfall II Lost Caverns in the number one spot 10 The two writers found the game far more ambitious than the original and that the game was as playable today s it ever was 10 Gamasutra included it as an open world game in their Game Design Essentials series 11 References edit Pitfall II Registration Number PA0000276113 United States Copyright Office Retrieved 6 June 2021 a b c Hague James The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers Boyle L Curtis Pitfall II Tandy Color Computer Games Description of the Pitfall II cartridge Biglist com Retrieved 2013 02 11 a b c Pitfall II Lost Caverns Atari 2600 manual Activision 1984 AtariAge Atari 2600 Manuals Pitfall II Lost Caverns Activision Reminiscing with David Crane Archived from the original on 2007 12 24 Retrieved 2007 11 07 Brad Fregger 2020 10 24 The world s greatest videogame easter egg DOESN T EXIST for legal reasons Pitfall 2 Atari 800 Event occurs at 6 56 Retrieved 2020 10 24 Complete Games Guide PDF Computer and Video Games Complete Guide to Consoles 46 77 16 October 1989 a b Jones amp Hunt Gamasutra Game Design Essentials 20 Open World Games Sources edit Jones Darran Hunt Stuart Top 25 Atari 2600 Games Retro Gamer No 46 p 33 External links editPitfall II Lost Caverns for the Atari 2600 at Atari Mania Pitfall II Lost Caverns at Lemon 64 Pitfall II Lost Caverns at SpectrumComputing co uk The Atari 2600 version of Pitfall II Lost Caverns can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive David Crane explains how the DPC sound chip works Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pitfall II Lost Caverns amp oldid 1180999358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
