Pitfall II: Lost Caverns

 

Pitfall II: Lost Caverns is considered to be the best 2600 game by many fans. I would have to agree. Excellent and colorful graphics, challenging gameplay, a musical background. David Crane really outdid himself with the cartridge. He took the original Pitfall theme and expanded on it. The game takes place in the mountains of Peru, where Harry, his niece Rhonda, and cat Quicklaw are trying to find the Raj diamond. Both of your companions are lost and you must find them. Along the way you will encounter scorpions (same as in the original game), condors, bats, eels, and frogs - all which must be avoided. A stone-aged rat also protects the cavern. A tip: the rat can only be can only be restrained from behind.

There are rumors that Pitfall II included a super chip inside it. I am unsure if this is true as I have never opened my cartridge. It is one of the few 2600 games that can proudly stand up to the Pitfall II computer versions that were also made. It’s just as good as the Atari 8-bit computer version. The music in this game has always impressed me. I think it adds charm to the game. The tune also changes when you grab the hot air balloon.

One drawback in Pitfall II is that once you lose a life, the game "puts you in reverse" and takes you all the way back to the starting point. The starting points in the game are healing crosses, so if you touch a bat, for example, you are transported back to the nearest healing cross. I find this to be quite frustrating. I wish David Crane would have had the player start from the location near where contact was made with the enemy. Crane diverted away from the usual "lost life" feature, which is common in most games. Harry only has one life in this game, but he does have the healing crosses. I guess in a way it makes the game a little more realistic.

Tips and the solution to Pitfall II were published in issue #10 (May / June 1992). For some reason, I overlooked it as a nomination for the Atari 2600 cartridge Hall of Fame. Don’t you think it should be inducted? My interview with David Crane was published in issue 12 (Sep / Oct 1992).

Back in the 1980s, Activision used to give out embroidered game club patches if you got a high score, took a picture of your TV screen, and mailed it to them. Here is the high score to shoot for and club name:

Cliff Hangers: 99,000 points

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