Release Date: 1981
Publisher: Atari
Controller: Joystick
Players: 1
Genre: Adventure
Alternate Title: N/A
Model #: CX2654
Rarity: 2
Programmer: James Andreasen
This is a nice spin on the tried and true Adventure style gameplay.
In the small town of Spirit Bay there lies a house that has stood for over a century. Locals believe this twenty-four room mansion to be haunted, but that doesn’t deter you from entering the estate in search of the valuable Urn.
When you begin your set of eyes will be at the entrance of a darkened floor. With a touch of the button you’ll be able to illuminate your surroundings, which is vital to finding items that will help you on your quest, as well as the three pieces of the Urn. Your goal is to explore the house while avoiding enemies, and picking up the Urn pieces one at a time and bringing them back to the entrance where they can be assembled and you can emerge with your prize.
You aren’t alone in the house, as scattered about are tarantulas, vampire bats and ghosts. They will pursue you with great vigor, and if they come into contact with you one of your nine lives will be sapped away. However if you stumble across a scepter and are carrying it, then they are powerless to stop you. Unfortunately you can only carry one item at a time, so you’ll have to choose wisely. The other item that you can pick up will be the master key, which will unlock doors that block your way.
The first game variation is by far the easiest, as all the walls are illuminated so it’s easy to find your way (however you still need to light a match to see the items). The rest of the games take place in a darkened mansion that will only occasionally lit by lightening strikes. The rest of the variations gradually increases the difficulty by adding the number of enemies pursuing you and hiding the master key deeper inside the house.
Overall the gameplay is fun and engaging. While it would have been nice to have some more difficult gameplay variations that included a lit house, there is still plenty to enjoy here. If you loved Adventure and want another game that is similar in style, this should be on your list.
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Derek began playing video games in the early 80s, cutting his teeth on every Atari 2600 game he could get his hands on. This kickstarted a lifelong love of games, which continues to this day. No matter how advanced the systems and games become, the love for Atari remains supreme, which is why the Atari 2600 Encyclopedia project was done. With this massive project completed, Derek looks to begin work on another system encyclopedia, hoping to pay tribute to the games that shaped his childhood.
