Adventure

• Release Date: 1980
• Genre: Action
• Style: Action Adventure
• Similar Games: The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo Entertainment System), Haunted House (Commodore 64/128), Haunted House (Atari Video Computer System), Haunted House (TRS-80)

Game Description

In Adventure players navigate a 2D maze-like world to locate and return the Enchanted Chalice to the Golden Castle. A number of helpful items can be used along the way: a bridge, a magnet, a sword, and keys to the castles where the chalice might be hidden. Standing in your way are three different colored dragons: Yorgle the Yellow Dragon, Grundle the Green Dragon, and Rhindle the Red Dragon who are of various speeds and ferociousness. There is also a black bat that enjoys stealing objects.

Adventure has three levels of play. Level one provides a basic layout of the Kingdom and only contains two castles and two dragons. Level two is more difficult and larger and has all three dragons, but objects will always be in the same place. Level three randomly scatters all objects and dragons around the kingdom, which provides varying degrees of difficulty.

The difficulty settings can also be adjusted. The left difficulty switch controls the reaction speed of the dragons (the A position means they will bite down faster), and the right difficulty switch controls the dragons' fear of the sword (in the A position, the dragons will run from the sword, making it more difficult to kill them).

Review: Overall

In Adventure, players explore labyrinths, three castles and dragon's lairs in search of the Enchanted Chalice that will bring peace to the kingdom. Obstructing your quest are three dragons of varying colors and ferocity, mazes, an item-swapping bat, and hidden objects such as a sword, keys to the castles, a magnet, and a bridge. Rich gameplay more than makes up for the game's rudimentary graphics and sounds, and three different games, including a variation that randomly scatters the objects around the kingdom, guarantees maximum replay value. Adventure is one of the first video games to feature a hidden "Easter Egg." Fueled by Atari's policy of not giving programmers credit, Warren Robinette created a secret room that contained his name in flashing lights.

Production Credits