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Developer:
Atari Games
Publisher: Atari
Games
Release date: 1982
Programmed by:
Howard Scott Warshaw
Graphics by:
Jerome Domurat
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Technical Info:
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Platforms:
Atari 2600 |
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Genre:
Adventure game |
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Mode(s):
Single-player |
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The early eighties
Oh the memories. Saturday morning cartoons, Big
Wheels, Star Wars
toys, and the iconic Atari 2600 with its so-seventies
wood paneling and orange-buttoned joysticks. In
comparison with the consoles of today, the Atari
2600 is primitive and mock worthy. In its day
however, the Atari 2600 was a gaming mainstay
for thousands of children across America.
The opening
scene. |
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Towards the end of its run, just
before the advent of the legendary Nintendo Entertainment
System and their famous high jumping plumber,
the developers of software for the old 2600 started
taking advantage of movie tie-ins and produced
five movie based games. These titles were Superman,
Star Wars: Jedi Arena,
Star Wars: The Empire
Strikes Back, E.T.
The Extra Terrestrial, and Raiders
of the Lost Ark.
Raiders
of the Lost Ark was the first licensed
Indiana Jones video game and to date is the only
game dedicated exclusively to the first film in
the Indiana Jones series. All other games that
incorporate elements of Raiders
are usually compilation games like Indiana
Jones' Greatest Adventures for the Super Nintendo
and the Williams Indiana Jones pinball machine
which play through the whole trilogy rather than
honing in on a single film. |
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The Story
The game follows the plot of the
film, but VERY LOOSELY. The whole game is an early
attempt at a Zelda-type
adventure scenario. The game begins with Indy
(rendered in beautiful 2 bit graphics) being lowered
into the Well of Souls with the Ark of the Covenant
below him. When he reaches center screen, the
Ark and the elevator he comes in on disappears.
From there, you had better hit the orange joystick
button or Indy will be killed by snakes. Once
the button is pressed, Indy is magically transported
to what can only be described as "the entrance
screen." On this screen, there is a rock,
and Indy's whip waiting behind it.
From here on out in the game it
is "Indiana Jones and His Adventures In Wonderland."
Forget about the film. With the exception of Indy
himself and the search for the Lost Ark, there
are no similarities. For the remainder of the
game, Indy traverses sparse, surreal screens collecting
items and braving the perils of such locations
as "The Valley of Poison" and the "Room
of the Shining Light" to find the Ark. Forget
about Belloq and Nazis. They are absent from this
game. There is a "Thief" that could
be Toht, but "could be" is as close
as it comes to the film.
The Cairo
chase scene (left), and Indy chased by a black
Thief (right). |
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Conclusion
For a gamer used to the video games
today which have graphics that are capable of
rendering recognizable objects and backgrounds,
Raiders of the Lost Ark
will be a very frustrating gaming experience.
The graphics are surreal rather than realistic
and it takes an experienced "Atari-eye"
to discern what is what in Indy's 2 bit surroundings.
"Is that a bag of coins or a grenade?"
I found myself asking on many occasions. The play
control is also frustrating because one joystick
is used to control Indy while the other is used
to select items from his inventory. See if you
can run away from the Thief AND fumble for your
revolver at the same time with that kind of game
play.
For all Indiana Jones fans this
game is a collector's item because it is a vintage
piece of the Raiders
merchandising machine in the early eighties and
THE FIRST Indiana Jones video game. It also has
Raiders artwork
on the cartridge and the box that has not been
seen anywhere else. For those two reasons, it
makes a great display piece in an Indy collection.
If you are looking for a game that really engages
you with the feel of Indiana Jones style adventuring,
I recommend Indiana
Jones and the Temple of Doom arcade game (from
Atari) or Indiana
Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. However, if
you are looking for a nostalgic gaming experience
with your old Atari, by all means PLAY AWAY! (MF) |
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Game Chapters
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Entrance Room |
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Marketplace |
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Temple of the
Ancients |
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Room of Blinding Light |
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Room of the Giant Spider |
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Treasure Room |
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Mesa Field |
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Interior Mesa Chamber |
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Well of the Souls |
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Bog Field |
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Map Room |
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Thieves Den |
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Black Market |
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