Difference between revisions of "Adventure (1980 video game)"

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[[Image:Adventure - Box.jpg|thumb|200px|Box art.]]
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[[Image:Adventure - 2600 - USA.jpg|thumb|200px|North American box art.]]
  
'''''Adventure''''' is a fun adventure game for the [[Atari 2600]]. This is one of the first video games I ever played (around age 6), although it wasn't until my teens that I beat it on all difficulty levels. People often hail it as a pioneer game, and for console systems, it was, but like many people who fixate on consoles, they overlook the pioneering computer games that predate it on DEC and PLATO computer platforms. In fact, the game's developer, Warren Robinett, has explained that he wanted the game to be like [[Colossal Cave Adventure]], but since the Atari didn't have the memory to handle enough text, he had to make it a more abstract graphical game. The awe this game caused in me combined with the quirkiness of the box art and game manual made this an instant favorite despite its flaws.
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'''''Adventure''''' is an adventure game developed by [[Warren Robinett]] and published by [[Atari]] for the [[Atari 2600]] in 1980. Robinett wanted to create a game similar to [[Colossal Cave Adventure]] found on [[DEC]] and [[PLATO]] systems, but, since the Atari didn't have the memory to handle enough text, he had to make it a more abstract graphical game, which pioneered the graphical action adventure genre.
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This is one of the first video games I ever played (around 1985-86), and part of not knowing what was possible in the game created a sense of awe, which, when combined with the quirkiness of the box art and game's manual, made it an instant favorite. Being able to find new rooms by using the bridge near walls made me think the game was much bigger than it really was. Now that I know more about how the game functions, I'm less enamored with it.
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One interesting strategy I found was how to kill the red dragon who is immune to the sword while you're wielding it. If you drop the sword and trick the dragon into running into it, it will kill itself!
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
I have beaten all three levels, but I have yet to uncover the Easter egg.
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I have beaten all three levels, and have used the microdot to see the Easter egg.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
Overall: 4/10
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* '''Overall:''' 4/10
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* '''Best Version:''' Atari 2600
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
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* At the time, this was the only adventure game for the console market, so it was quite the pioneer.
 
* I like how the game world uses a non-Euclidean map system where you don't simply move from room-to-room, but rather warp around. This keeps the map unpredictable.
 
* I like how the game world uses a non-Euclidean map system where you don't simply move from room-to-room, but rather warp around. This keeps the map unpredictable.
* The pack bat is a very clever nemesis.
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* The pack bat is a clever and creative nemesis.
 
* The use of the bridge and magnet is especially creative.
 
* The use of the bridge and magnet is especially creative.
 
* I like the fact that when the dragons eat you, you can be seen inside their bellies.
 
* I like the fact that when the dragons eat you, you can be seen inside their bellies.
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* The pack bat, while clever, is really obnoxious to the point of throwing a joystick!
 
* The pack bat, while clever, is really obnoxious to the point of throwing a joystick!
 
* The dragons look like ducks. While this is funny, it takes away from the thrill of the game.
 
* The dragons look like ducks. While this is funny, it takes away from the thrill of the game.
* Level 3, rather than being harder than level 2, is just the same map with the starting position of the items randomized.
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* Level 3, rather than being harder than level 2, is just the same map with the starting position of the items randomized. Kind of a let-down.
* The mazes, while difficult at first, quickly become memorized.
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* The magnet and bridge, though creative, are entirely unnecessary to beat the game.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* The game is unfortunately very short. Even without any prior knowledge, you can sit down and beat all three difficulty levels in less than an hour. I understand that this is a constraint of the system, but it really hurts the game.
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* The game is unfortunately very short. Even without any prior knowledge, you can memorize the entire map, and beat all three difficulty levels in less than an hour. I understand that this is a constraint of the system, but it really hurts the game.
  
==Gallery==
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==Box Art==
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Although the box doesn't match the game very accurately, it does give a good impression of what the game will be like. The hopelessly lost people from the castle getting lost in the hedge maze while a mischievous dragon holds a key hostage is fantastic. I also like the out-of-view character stealing the crown.
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<gallery>
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Adventure - 2600 - USA.jpg|North American box art.
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</gallery>
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==Documentation==
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The game has a nice manual which describes the quirks of the program as good and bad magic. Interestingly, on page 3, the writers try to explain the idea of moving from one screen to another to a generation that isn't used to multi-screen adventure games telling players to move "off" the screen.
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<gallery>
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Adventure - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
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</gallery>
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==Maps==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Adventure - Accurate Box.jpg|A more accurate box title.
 
 
Adventure - Map 1.png|A map of the first level difficulty.
 
Adventure - Map 1.png|A map of the first level difficulty.
 
Adventure - Map 2-3.png|A map of levels 2 and 3.
 
Adventure - Map 2-3.png|A map of levels 2 and 3.
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Adventure - Difficulty 3.png|Map 2 and 3 with walk-through.
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</gallery>
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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Honest Video Game Titles - Adventure.jpg|Honest title.
 
Adventure - Monsters.png|The monsters in the game.
 
Adventure - Monsters.png|The monsters in the game.
 
Adventure - New Sprites.png|Fan art sprite replacement.
 
Adventure - New Sprites.png|Fan art sprite replacement.
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Adventure - 2600 - Decompile.zip|Decompiled source code.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-2600/adventure mobygames.com/game/atari-2600/adventure] - MobyGames.
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_%281979_video_game%29 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_%281979_video_game%29] - Wikipedia.
 
* [https://atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=964 atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=964] - Atari Age.
 
* [https://atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=964 atariage.com/software_page.php?SoftwareLabelID=964] - Atari Age.
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/atari-2600/adventure mobygames.com/game/atari-2600/adventure] - MobyGames.
 
 
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/atari2600/584543-adventure gamefaqs.com/atari2600/584543-adventure] - GameFAQs.
 
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/atari2600/584543-adventure gamefaqs.com/atari2600/584543-adventure] - GameFAQs.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_%281979_video_game%29 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_%281979_video_game%29] - Wikipedia.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yINb5Huh0C4 youtube.com/watch?v=yINb5Huh0C4] - Postmortem.
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* [http://atariage.com/forums/topic/154984-hack-project-thread-galaxian-arcade-double-dragon-xenophobe-etc/ atariage.com/forums/topic/154984-hack-project-thread-galaxian-arcade-double-dragon-xenophobe-etc/] - Enhanced Adventure Hack.
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* [http://atariage.com/forums/topic/262567-adventure-kingdoms-a-new-functional-graphical-hack-of-adventure/ atariage.com/forums/topic/262567-adventure-kingdoms-a-new-functional-graphical-hack-of-adventure/] - Adventure Kingdoms Hack.
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* [http://atariage.com/hack_page.html?SystemID=2600&SoftwareHackID=94 atariage.com/hack_page.html?SystemID=2600&SoftwareHackID=94] - Several more Adventure hacks.
  
  
[[Category: Game]]
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: Atari 2600 Games]]
 
[[Category: Adventure]]
 
[[Category: Adventure]]
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[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Fantasy]]
 
[[Category: Fantasy]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
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[[Category: Favorite]]
 
[[Category: Favorite Games]]
 
[[Category: Favorite Games]]

Revision as of 12:01, 1 March 2018

North American box art.

Adventure is an adventure game developed by Warren Robinett and published by Atari for the Atari 2600 in 1980. Robinett wanted to create a game similar to Colossal Cave Adventure found on DEC and PLATO systems, but, since the Atari didn't have the memory to handle enough text, he had to make it a more abstract graphical game, which pioneered the graphical action adventure genre.

This is one of the first video games I ever played (around 1985-86), and part of not knowing what was possible in the game created a sense of awe, which, when combined with the quirkiness of the box art and game's manual, made it an instant favorite. Being able to find new rooms by using the bridge near walls made me think the game was much bigger than it really was. Now that I know more about how the game functions, I'm less enamored with it.

One interesting strategy I found was how to kill the red dragon who is immune to the sword while you're wielding it. If you drop the sword and trick the dragon into running into it, it will kill itself!

Status

I have beaten all three levels, and have used the microdot to see the Easter egg.

Review

  • Overall: 4/10
  • Best Version: Atari 2600

Good

  • At the time, this was the only adventure game for the console market, so it was quite the pioneer.
  • I like how the game world uses a non-Euclidean map system where you don't simply move from room-to-room, but rather warp around. This keeps the map unpredictable.
  • The pack bat is a clever and creative nemesis.
  • The use of the bridge and magnet is especially creative.
  • I like the fact that when the dragons eat you, you can be seen inside their bellies.
  • The game's Easter egg is a nice touch.
  • The game's box art is great.

Bad

  • The pack bat, while clever, is really obnoxious to the point of throwing a joystick!
  • The dragons look like ducks. While this is funny, it takes away from the thrill of the game.
  • Level 3, rather than being harder than level 2, is just the same map with the starting position of the items randomized. Kind of a let-down.
  • The magnet and bridge, though creative, are entirely unnecessary to beat the game.

Ugly

  • The game is unfortunately very short. Even without any prior knowledge, you can memorize the entire map, and beat all three difficulty levels in less than an hour. I understand that this is a constraint of the system, but it really hurts the game.

Box Art

Although the box doesn't match the game very accurately, it does give a good impression of what the game will be like. The hopelessly lost people from the castle getting lost in the hedge maze while a mischievous dragon holds a key hostage is fantastic. I also like the out-of-view character stealing the crown.

Documentation

The game has a nice manual which describes the quirks of the program as good and bad magic. Interestingly, on page 3, the writers try to explain the idea of moving from one screen to another to a generation that isn't used to multi-screen adventure games telling players to move "off" the screen.

Maps

Gallery

Links