Reviewed on: Super Nintendo
Content Rating: T
Grade: B
Pitfall is one of those games where, even after you play it, it's difficult to remember that it exists. This was actually the first video game I ever played, and I remember it being too hard for me to pass the first level. I've now managed to play through the whole thing, and I just want to say that this game is okay. Just okay. It's not particularly good, it's not particularly bad; it's just a passable adventure game.
The story of Pitfall revolves around a guy who goes out exploring a Mayan jungle with his father, and when the guy's not looking, his father gets kidnapped by unseen forces. Now he has to embark on this journey to save him. What follows is ten levels of snapping enemies with you whip, trying to find the exit to the level and move forward. I'd also like to note there are only five environments; once you reach level 6, it's just the same environment again, just different level design. Also, most of the bosses in this game are jaguars.
Playing as this guy does feel pretty smooth, and the animations are really a sight to behold, especially with the skeletons, but the game can feel pretty repetitive, and I wasn't particularly interested in revisiting any of the levels once I finished the game. It's really short; it takes only about an hour to finish the entire thing, and I do love the reveal of who the father is, but I've already forgotten most of the game already.
Pitfall is a pretty standard adventure game with nothing really going for it. It's not great, it's not terrible, it's just a serviceable adventure game. Nothing really special about it.