You start off with some cash, and then you must buy supplies for your adventure to find the Lost Dutch Man Mine. I did know that a legend concerning the “Lost Dutch man Mine” existed so when I was trying to find information for this game, I was rather surprised to find that this mine supposedly existed in a place around the state of Arizona. For some reason I had always thought this mine was either in one of the Dakota’s or in California!! OK enough of my rambling let me get back to critiquing the game.
You must start off in town, where you will need to buy all your necessary supplies. Remember you will be going in to the remote areas of gold country and will not have a seven eleven handy if you run out. So make sure you have the mining equipment (you will need picks, axes, pan to name just a few of the items), weapons, ammunition, food, clothing, a pack donkey to carry all the supplies, medicine, fishing equipment, and anything else you have the money to purchase you needs. There are ways for you to make the money you will need. You can make money panning for gold in the rivers, being a bounty hunter, doing odd jobs etc.
You can purchase more than
one donkey to help you carry stuff, as you are only one mere man remember. Remember most mines did not have partners because partners wanted you to share or murdered you to keep the mine for themselves. More donkeys will enable you to take more food. You can also find more food by going fishing in rivers, looking for berries; some of the plants are edible, stalking and killing game and stuff.
There are always dangers when on a journey to find a goldmine - snakebites (you’re going to need a doctor), Indians, claim jumpers (other people with big guns that want to kill you for your map), bandits who want to steal your supplies, and getting lost or suffering from lack of water, food.
I was really surprised that this game is still around. I don’t remember it being one of the hit games when I was playing in the 80’s. I would think that this is a pretty unheard of game, and I could not really find any up to date or current information on it! It was a pretty neat adventure game and one I would not have a problem playing with my grand children (both of whom are girls). This violence is not graphic in nature and it is an adventure game which will make them use their minds and logic. Anything which promotes logical thinking is a plus in my book. I would hope more people would play this game in order to broaden the games exposure.
So you can play it yourself or have a great deal of fun with your children or grand children. Not only will it keep them occupied it will keep them from saying “I am bored, there is nothing to do”. The game will also show them consequences for not making the correct choices. For example if you do not have a gun and ammunition you can be killed. A snake bit will require a doctor, not enough food and you will have to return to town and all of your time and effort will have been for nothing.
