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Activision's Super Pitfall -Nintendo NES
Retro Gaming Review
 |
| Title: | Super Pitfall |
| Manufacturer: | Activision |
| Platform: | Nintendo NES |
| Release Date: | 1987 |
| Part #: | NES-PI-USA |
| Rating: | 1.5 out of 5 |
| ESRB Rating: | N/A |
Rating: 
Activision's Super Pitfall Screenshot: 
Many of us got our first taste of Pitfall! on the Atari 2600. The franchise has been updated across many consoles and computers, but the original is still a great game. In fact Activision's Super Pitfall for NES kind of makes us want to play the Atari classic instead.
The music gets fairly monotonous and the "updated for NES" graphics fairly standard like almost every other side scroller. The 2600 version was quite plain by comparison, but offered such a comparatively unique gaming experience. I feel the NES update doesn't deliver much of an update beyond running on the NES.
Super Pitfall tries to add a lot of features from a bright blue outfit to a gun. As an explorer out in the wild, a gun sounds like a good idea, but this weapon's accuracy is underwhelming at best. Jumping is also a bit of a tough task.
Super Pitfall Story Arc
Your job is to help Harry navigate the mazes in search of the Raj diamond, Rhoada, and Quickclaw. This journey requires finding hidden items required to complete all the goals and bring the diamond back. Unmarked transportation ports exist that will take Harry instantly to other areas. Some of your enemies are frogs, spiders, bats, vultures, and some random cavemen.
Super Pitfall Game Play
When speed is vital to success, you can't waste time trying to fight against the controller. Suffice to say, the controls are pretty bad. Getting bright-blue Harry to maneuver through obstacles is far more difficult than it should be.
Holy shit! Check this out...
Super Pitfall sounds like a SNES title, but it was Activision's first game for Nintendo's first console. It was based upon Activision's earlier Pitfall! series for the Atari 2600. While many successful games are ported to a variety of platforms, Super Pitfall was ported to the TRS-80 Color Computer. A sequel, Super Pitfall II, was planned, but was never released - likely due to the poor reception of this game.
Super Pitfall sounds like a SNES title, but it was Activision's first game for Nintendo's first console. It was based upon Activision's earlier Pitfall! series for the Atari 2600. While many successful games are ported to a variety of platforms, Super Pitfall was ported to the TRS-80 Color Computer. A sequel, Super Pitfall II, was planned, but was never released - likely due to the poor reception of this game.
Jumping is fairly erratic, especially from ledges. Learning to master swinging on vines can use up a lot of lives. Lets just say the physics of this game need some work. You may want to label Harry as "clumsy", but sprites don't generally have such qualities. None the less, he often falls off ladders as you wait for enemies to clear out below.
If you simply enjoy exploration in video games, there's a lot of terrain to cover, but most of us are glad that Activision was able to bring the franchise past this version. The Mayan Adventure games tend to offer better gaming experiences. In the end, Pitfall is best enjoyed on the Atari 2600. :)
Final Judgement:
This version really inspires one to play the Atari 2600 version and relive it's awesomeness. Super Pitfall offers very little, especially to those who've played the unique original.
Activision's Super Pitfall
has a lot of issues that prevent the seamless transfer from Atari to Nintendo. Both graphics & music don't do it justice and the control is poor enough to cause a fair amount of unnecessary frustration.This version really inspires one to play the Atari 2600 version and relive it's awesomeness. Super Pitfall offers very little, especially to those who've played the unique original.
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