Pitfall II: Lost Caverns

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Swing into this marvel for the classic Atari
By David Barna

June 9, 2001

Quickclaw is shaking in his paws waiting to be saved.   One of the more fascinating graphic effects is the waterfall.   A daring young man and his flying balloon! This is one of the most exciting sequences in the game.   Here's Rhonda just standing around, not even trying to rescue herself...

Have you stayed up late searching for the end of the game in Pitfall? Well search no more, you will be fulfilled in Pitfall 2: Lost Caverns! Pitfall 2 picks up where part one left off, with Harry swinging on vines and leaping over scorpions. The real adventure begins when you discover the Lost Caverns just after you fall several stories and swim past the deadly electric eels. Can you find the diamond ring, your niece, or the nervous wolf Harry calls a partner? Ever wondered what it would be like to explore the deep jungles of Peru? Dodge bats, and condors? Or avoid deadly frogs? Give it a try, you never know where your imagination and 10k can take you.

The gameplay is exactly the same as Pitfall. It’s all about timing, timing, and more timing, especially when you are trying to run underneath those mean condors. The only major difference is, you do not have to worry about killing yourself. Because Harry never dies in this game! As you progress, you pass red crosses on the ground. These serve as markers and if you touch one of the evil creatures, Harry returns to the last marker you passed. So much for killing yourself when you cannot pass a screen, and having Harry drop down on the other side….

Much like the original Pitfall game, your goal is to collect all the treasures. The hidden treasures in this game are: Gold Bars (don’t waste your time), the Raj Diamond Ring, Harry’s niece Rhonda, and his scared wolf-like partner Quickclaw. This game is the only one I can think of for the 2600, that actually has background music. It's a very catchy tune that has a circus/adventure feel to it, that only Activision could capture. The music slows down as you die, and energetically speeds up again when you collect a treasure. You know you have played this game too much when you cannot get the tune out of your head.

I recommend this game for anyone who has ever felt the urge to fall down waterfalls, flirt with scorpions, and ride a huge balloon through underground caverns. Overall I give this game a 95%.If only it could have been a little longer…So pack your bags and apply the bug repellent, its time to go on an adventure.

Game Data		Scores
Title	Pitfall II: Lost Caverns	Graphics	90%
Publisher	Activision	Sound/Music	100%
Genre	Adventure	Gameplay	100%
System	2600	Control	N/A%
		Overall	95%