Page 24 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #3

Riddle of the Sphinx

Created by: Imagic
Designed by: Bob Smith
Platforms: Atari 2600
Released: 1982

Travel through the Valley of the Kings collecting Egyptian artifacts, while
avoiding getting stoned (not that kind of stoned!) and robbed. Once you get to
the Sphinx himself, you must make the proper offering to win the game.
When this was released, Imagic ran a contest with a prize of $1000 to the
first person who could solve the “Riddle of the Sphinx.” It was eventually won
by a guy by the name of Charles Compton. He presented his answer on Pa-
pyrus-like paper, illustrated with authentic Egyptian hieroglyphics, including a
way ancient Egyptians might have written “Imagic” if the company had existed
back then. He was 30 at the time, which is bad news for all of us who thought
we just might outgrow our dweebiness at some point.
Riddle of the Sphinx
Memorable moments: The instruction manual informing you that you had to
kiss Isis’ filthy, sandy feet. Reaching the Sphinx and not having a clue what
to do.

Overall Rating: B- Venture
Created by: Coleco
Platforms: Arcade, Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Intellivision
Released: 1982

Guide Winky (a smiley face sporting a bow and arrow) through monster-
infested halls and enter creature-plagued rooms in order to capture the
treasures held within. If you take too long to collect the treasure, the Hall
Monsters will come in the room to kill you. So snap it up!
Venture was another arcade “sleeper” brought home for the ColecoVi-
sion. Coleco also had a propensity for creating feeble versions of their
games for other systems, so don’t even bother with the Intellivision or Atari
2600 versions.
The ColecoVision version features three levels of simple, colorful graph-
ics and a collection of unusual music and sound effects. Venture will keep
you challenged if played at the higher difficulty levels.

Memorable moments: Wondering what would happen when you collected
all l the treasure. Learning nothing happens when you collect all the treas-
Venture ure, except the game starts over.

Haunted House Overall Rating: A

Produced by: Atari
Platforms: Atari 2600
Released: 1981

Haunted House was the follow-up to the immensely popular “Adventure.” While
it didn’t quite measure up to that masterpiece, it isn’t too shabby. You begin your
quest with 9 lives and an unlimited supply of matches to explore a dark, drafty
mansion in search of a golden urn. Why a person would desire a cup filled with
some old man’s ashes is beyond me.
Hindering your mission are ghosts, bats, and tarantulas whose deadly touch will
cost you a life. The trick is to see how few matches you can use while you search
for the treasure.
Haunted House is an excellent “atmosphere game.” The darkness, combined
with wind and lightning flashes, can actually spook you a bit if played in the proper
setting. So turn off those lights, pop in the cartridge, and turn up the volume!

Memorable moments: Having your match blown out by the wind. Completing the
game without losing any lives. Haunted House

Overall Rating: B
Classic Gamer Magazine Spring 2000 24