Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure

I can't say enough about Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure. It has to be experienced to be understood, and most have played this game on some 16-bit console. However, if you are one of the few that have slipped through the cracks, find a copy (preferably the Sega CD version) since it features all thirteen stages, unlike the ports to other consoles that only feature ten stages. Seriously, this is one of my favorite games of all time. Most other ports have flaws to some extent and are missing stages, but this version has perfect graphics, CD quality sound, and perfect gameplay. No matter how hard I try to find flaws, I can't find a single one so grab this and enjoy.

Now that you've seen the commitment that Activision has put into restoring this classic game, you almost want to see what it'll do with River Raid, it's other smash for the 2600. But until then, you'll have plenty of fun with this title, which is challenging and entertaining at the same time. While other action/adventure games stumble, Pitfall doesn't take a pratfall.

I can't say enough about this game. It has to be experienced to be understood. Most have played this game on some 16-bit console but if you are one of the ones that have slipped through the cracks, find a copy (preferably the Sega CD version) and enjoy.

A big ball of fun. No full-motion video anywhere in the game! The developers have pushed the Sega CD format to it's highest capacity. Absolutely refreshing. A platform game that scrolls all over the place. You get to fight snakes, monkeys, huge mosquitoes, cheetahs, porcupines, all kinds of creepy crawly things. As Harry Jr., swing from tree to tree, climb rocks and scale waterfalls. A lot of detail went into those jungle backgrounds and into Harry Jr's. animation. He swings, jumps, runs, ducks and climbs with such alacrity. He's a very limber boy. Look for new stages that weren't in the cartridge versions.

What's even cooler is the fact that the scorpions from the original game will occasionally escape from the "past" and appear in the new game. Seeing a pure white, pixel-blocky scorpion crawl into a 16-bit world of lush colors and superb animation is the ultimate example of just how far video games have come in the last decade.

Yep - times have changed, but gaming purists will be thrilled to discover that the 16-bit, 16-meg world of Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure brings the same level of challenge and excitement to your SNES and Genesis as Activision's classic Pitfall! did to your Atari 2600 over ten years ago.

Control difficulties shouldn't keep fans of non-stop adventure games out of this jungle - they'll find Pitfall to be a challenging addiction to their gaming library. With heart-pounding action and a slick appearance. Pitfall should please the platform purists.

Long and exciting, this well-crafted disc is one of the best platform games. While it may be too difficult for younger gamers, to everyone else, Harry's a hero.

Mit Spielen wie Pitfall wird sich Windows 95 schneller ausbreiten, als Bill Gates seine Milliönchen in den Geldspeicher karran kann. Die drollige Plattform-Hopserei mit dem verführerischen Indiana Jones-Touch ist ein Motivations-Brocken sondersgleichen, den man ohne Einschränkungen weiterempfehlen kann.

Pitfall is one of the more unique and fun platformers I've played this year. It's Aladdin quality animation, teamed with mega play mechanics, amazing backgrounds and realistic sound effects, make Pitfall an adventure every Genesis owner should take. The legend continues!

Do you remember the original Pitfall for the Atari 2600 which was released a little more than a decade ago by Activision in 1982? Well hold on to your hats as the game has jumped into the 90's being released simultaneously with Windows 95 and specifically designed for use with this platform. That's right, the legendary side-scrolling game "Pitfall" is back bringing ultimate arcade-action to your PC in "The Mayan Adventure"!

Schon die Mega-Drive-Fassung heimste verdientermaßen einen 'GAMERS-Star' (Test in GAMERS 12/94) ein, auf dem Mega-CD gibt es sogar noch einige Verbesserungen zu vermelden. Zu den bekannten zehn Leveln sind drei neue hinzugekommen, und die CD-Musiken überzeugen auf der ganzen Linie. Zwar wurden für die zusätzlichen Level keine neuen Grafiken gezeichnet, sondern nur bereits existierende farblich anders gestaltet, der Levelaufbau ist aber jeweils durchweg gut gelungen. An den positiven Dingen (aufwendige Animationen, abwechslungsreiche Level mit vielen versteckten Extras) hat sich selbstverständlich nichts geändert, leider bleiben uns auch die wenigen Schwachpunkte erhalten: Bei einem 'normalen' Pad müssen die drei Waffen durch kurzen Druck auf die Start-Taste umgeschaltet werden, was in brenzligen Situationen zu viel Zeit kostet.

Ce nouvel épisode des aventures de Pitfall bénéficie d'une réalisation nettement au-dessus du lot, surtout dans le domaine de l'animation, quant à elle irréprochable. Si vous aimez les jeux de plates-formes et que vous possédez une configuration musclée, foncez !

Pitfall – The Mayan Adventure ist ein sehr gelungenes Jump n’ Run, das seinem Namen mehr als gerecht wird und ausgezeichnet unterhält.

Pitfall ist neben Rayman das derzeit beste Jump'n'Run für ATARIs Raubkatze. Es ist zwar grafisch nicht so beeindrukkende wie Rayman, bietet aber vom Spielprinzip mehr Abwechslung, wer also Rayman gelöst hat sollte mal ein Auge auf Pitfall werfen...

In fact, this version plays like Indiana Jones in fast-forward, as Pitfall Harry Jr. executes his derring-do amid lush jungle backgrounds, stirring music, and pumped-up sound effects.

The game injects replay value through the hidden original game and a side-quest involving the letters of the word "PITFALL". Finding every letter assumedly gives you an extra ending (I've never found them all...). There is also a Simon Says minigame to find and play. The huge wealth of hidden items will also keep you searching. This is a great game, a real joy to get through. Definitely worth a rent, if not a purchase.

Perhaps the best thing about the game is the way it maintains the feel of the original classic yet is very much a game released 12 years later. You're still fighting and jumping over jungle animals, for instance. There are even times when you'll have to jump on the heads of crocodiles to pass, just as in the original. And if that's not enough, the original Pitfall! is even included -- if you can find it. But even if you can't, you probably won't worry about it. You'll be too preoccupied just trying to survive your way through Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure.

Spelet är lätt att installera och arbeta med, och ger höga förhoppningar om framtida Win95-spel. Rekommenderas.

Fun, challenging and addictive are three words to describe this game. It features a variety of game boards, great graphics and non-stop action.

But possibly the most impressive feature is that the background sound effects have been recorded in an especially deep version of surround sound. If you've got a setup that can take advantage of it, the sound mix is nothing short of startling.

Jag Pitfall is a fun, colorful action adventure - just like Sega CD Pitfall and the 16-bit Pits. It's no breakthrough, but it's no bungle in the jungle, either.

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a well presented arcade action game in a side-scrolling atmosphere. Everything about the game is smooth and well done. The only major drawback is that it is still just a game like Donkey Kong Country or Prince of Persia, in that it's a linear concept that's been done before. Also note, the only game saving feature is to "continue" from key points within a level after dying. Otherwise, you have to start the level all over with a new game. At least no annoying password is required to enter completed levels. Once you complete a level, you can go straight to that level via the file menu bar. Activision has taken a flat theme from a decade old classic game and given it the 90's flair of impressive graphics and a soundtrack few others can compete with. If you are a gamer from the good ol' days you'll welcome the chance to play a modern version of an 80's classic.

All in all, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventures is a blast to play and in my opinion one of the system's best games. It is somewhat hamstrung by the lack of level variation and an overly animated control. Don't let this dissuade you though. It was released the same year as two Sonic titles, which must have hurt sales, and thereby its popularity quite a bit. Nowadays it can be found for less less than $5 so there is no reason not to try it out.

Im Prinzip ein schönes, erstaunlich intelligentes Jump-and-Run - aber leider nicht perfekt. Das Level-Design ist zwar frei von Sackgassen, aber reich an Umwegen. Wer einmal die entscheidende Liane verpaßt, wird oft ein Stück zurückgeworfen und muß immer wieder die gleiche Passage aufs Neue meistern.

The storyline is nothing new and neither is the side-to-side jumping and swinging action. However, Pitfall does have large characters, rich backgrounds, intense music and several new twists that put Pitfall a level up on many games of this kind.

Fans (and owners) of the 2600 game will definitely want to see this 16-bit upgrade of the Atari-system classic! For nostalgia, the original game has been included in this version. This game features good gameplay, huge levels (I especially like the Mine Cart Race Stage) and lots of technique to learn to survive the jungle.

Falling just short on graphics, originality and action keep Pitfall from being the great game it could have been. There is, however, a secret level that contains the original Pitfall game, in all it's glory. Take a stroll (or a vine swing) down memory lane, for old times' sake. Since the new game is just a technically advanced version of the original, I'm sure you're gonna enjoy the new game as well.

Pitfall was always a favorite on the Atari 2600 and this version totally upgrades the adventure theme. Huge levels, excellent animations and nice sound effects make this one an action/adventure winner.

In the end, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a strange game. It certainly has allot going for it – great graphics and sound, a good story and some outstanding gameplay at times. There is no doubt, I wanted to like it so much more, but its annoying flaws like quirky control and inconsistent level design, kept me from doing so. For $8.00 on the Wii Virtual Console, I can’t say you won’t enjoy TMA at all. It’s a very like-able platformer. Just one that has a few aggravating flaws - that unfortunately for Harry Jr, keep his adventure just shy of being a great one.

Hmm, what to make of this game? I sort of have a love/hate relationship with it. I love Pitfall and side-scrollers in general. I hate how frustrating, annoying, and difficult this game can be. Although my review may have sounded more negative than positive, this really isn’t all that bad of a game; it’s just VERY challenging and can be frustrating and annoying at times. Its nice graphics and beautiful animation are wonderful eye candy and actually add to the challenge too. I would not recommend Pitfall for the type of person who wants (and expects) to beat it the first time around or someone who doesn’t like to play for long periods of time (unless you don’t mind using cheat codes) which is why I give this game a score of 75.

Yes! He's back in the long awaited 16-bit version! Harry has been given a completely new (and better) look! Tons of technique, killer animation, (not to mention one of the funnier stand-still character movements in recent memory) and challenging levels make this a pleasant experience. A game for any action fan.

While this isn't a bad game by any means, it is getting kinda old. There's some smooth animation and bungee jumping is always fun, but this game has been out for over a year. You can still play the original game, though!

Deep pain is all you'll find here. It's odd that this game came out so bad when the 16-bit versions were so good. I never thought I'd see something like this on the 32X: Framey movement on the screen. I mean, even the 8-bit NES moves the background image at 60 fps. What happened? The gameplay is still the same, but the jerkiness factor destroys it. Too bad.

Pitfall Harry, star of the legendary Atari 2600 game, has spawned, and when Dad goes missing on a South American expedition, it?s up to Harry Jr. to find his pop. Challenging both in terms of difficulty and convention (you do more than just run to the right), Pitfall looks gorgeous on the small screen, especially its fluid character animation, while the controls respond well and the sounds are sharp. Sure, it?s a little old, but it was a best-seller in its day for reasons that become evident immediately after you pick it up. Your Mayan Adventure awaits?

Jaguar owners rejoice! Now you too can enjoy the fine look and playability of Activision's Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure. Play Harry Jr. on an adventure to save Harry Sr. The look and sound of this game are an improvement over other versions. With more colors and sound capacity, the game jumps out and grab you. Also it is said that the playability has been enhanced, but I couldn't tell.

An excellent game with few notable flaws, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure has just the right level of difficulty for any gamer. The only reason I didn't rate it higher than I did is because Crack Dot Com's Abuse is looking and sounding even better! An extremely enjoyable game and a great way to show off Windows 95, this one's worth buying.

Hier gibt es ein echtes Highlight. Ein alter Klassiker lebt wieder auf und präsentiert sich in toller Grafik. Das Gameplay ist hervorragend, abwechslungsreich, witzig und auch recht knifflig. Der Held hat einige Moves drauf und wird mit sehr lebendigen Bewegungen dargestellt. Nettes Jump´n´Run für zwischendurch.

What's the difference between this game and the Genesis version? I really expected to see more from this 32X version. Sure, the game itself is good, but why is it only marginally different from the supposedly inferior Genesis? Anyway, I liked the pace of this game; Do what you need to do with a minimum amount of fuss and move on. This is how video games should be, regarding their gameplay. I found no difficulty getting into this one.

This is another game along that does the Jaguar absolutely no justice what so ever and should have never have been released for the next generation console (along with Ruiner and Fever Pitch Soccer to name but two). The SNES can do as good.

If you already own a version of this, you don't need this one and if you don't own it, you still don't need this one.

The 32X version gives you a measly extra level which isn't huge and 3D or anything, so you definitely won't feel the 32-bit experience with this game. One could easily chalk it up to being another useless 32X title. In fact, I could barely see the difference between this version and the others at first. The background and colors still look pretty drab in most levels, and the sound effects and music are Genesis standard, which is always disappointing. To be fair, though, the 32X version does look better than the Genesis or Sega CD version. The graphics are cleaner, shinier, more detailed, higher resolution, and the animation is even a bit more realistic. And of course, the original 2600 game is hidden in the title screen as well, but it's hard to recommend tracking this game down unless you just really want every 32X game. It's just another of three Pitfall!s that's virtually the same as the others. One of the classic reasons why SEGA confused us all.

Encore un jeu qui n'est qu'une conversion d'un titre 16 bits. Cette version déçoit particulièrement parce qu'elle n'apporte rien de vraiment intéressant par rapport au titre original, ni sauvegarde, ni meilleur dosage de la difficulté. La réalisation manque de lisibilité et le jeu a un air de déjà vu.

Pitfall will enthrall anyone who hasn't played the original Genesis, SNES or Atari 2600 game. Everyone else has been through this jungle before.

As I said before, Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure wasn't considered a ground breaking game when it was released almost seven years ago. Not only hasn't it aged well, but the times have changed enough to make the lack of a "save" a real minus for a game like this. And, with so much excellent platform competition surrounding it on the shelves, there's really no excuse to pick it up now.

Fan of the past Pitfall titles or not, be cautious about picking the game up. If you do, just make sure you have enough patience, time, and attention to play through the game. While Majesco wanted and achieved bringing an accurate port of the SNES/Genesis game, this title might have been better of staying in the past, without the inclusion of the original Pitfall. With other old school games out, and more on the way, you might be better served elsewhere.

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is one of those retro revivals that really serves no purpose but remind you of the original game's genius. Whereas the first Pitfall was a trailblazer, this sequel takes care not to tread outside the footprints of 16-bit platformers before it. The addition of a zillion enemies with no thought toward pacing is especially frustrating. This 32X edition adds nothing more than an extra zip line stage. Otherwise the production values are on par with the other versions of the game. Build your 32X collection with other games.

The remake of a classic becomes a remake on the GBA...good and bad, it's just like the original.

I'm really not sure who is to blame for this lackluster soft. Was it Activision who created it or Imagitec who didn't seem to improve it in the Jag conversion. Of all the games Activision could have ruined, why Pitfall? I had such fond memories. Maybe I'm not doing my math right, but this game sucks!

Fans of the series might be able to enjoy Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure on a nostalgic level if they can grit their teeth through its serious flaws.

The original Pitfall! was special because it was different. This is just another platform title without anything to separate it from the rest. If animation is something you're interested in, you can always pick up Aladdin for the Genesis. This series needs a dose of David Crane.

Your enemies are mainly jungle creatures like monkeys and snakes, and they are constantly regenerating and irritating you. Golden idols serve as checkpoints, and the cartridge does contain a save feature. Sorry, but good graphics do not make a good game.

Most of your adversaries are tiny, annoying creatures like bats and monkeys which regenerate as fast as you can kill them off. The control are erratic, and too often I found myself slipping off ledges. But instead of plunging to your doom, you're sent way back to repeat the last section (I'm not sure which is worse!) Mayan Adventure's confusing level design necessitates the use of gold idols scattered throughout the game which literally point you in the right direction. There is no save function, just a few continues. Perhaps the coolest feature is the Atari 2600 Pitfall hidden somewhere in the game. Despite its fancy graphics and sound, Mayan Adventure really only succeeded in making me want to go back and play the original Pitfall.