Pitfall II: Lost Caverns is a classic 2D old-school sequel that will leave you yearning for your joystick. This game takes Pitfall Harry on another adventure through treacherous and uncharted jungle terrain. An overall good game, it resembles its predecessor in certain ways, with classic ladder-climbing, croc-jumping, vine swinging, treasure gathering action. A few new elements include new enemies, constant music, multi-leveled maps, and swimming, to name a few. Experienced Pitfall players may find the new content frustrating, leaving them reminiscing of when jumping across crocodile heads was the most challenging aspect of the game.
The enemies will keep you reacting to their unpredictable placement as each new screen reveals a creature that will often give you less than a split second to adjust your strategy and avoid them accordingly. Flying enemies like, bats and hornets, keep your finger off the jump button as you dash for the nearest pit or just try to pace yourself and time your moves precisely. Land enemies are often indistinguishable, ranging from what appears to be giant scorpions to aggressive mice. Even the new swimming-in-water areas aren't safe from attackers like electric eels. You can't hurt any of these creatures, or even defend yourself, so dodging and avoiding them all are your only chances. If you do touch them, you lose massive
points as you are sent way back in the game to an older area.
The new terrain looks same-old at first, but you will soon happen upon water pools to swim in (where drowning isn't an issue). The multi-leveled maps will often allow you to ascend and descend several stories in some places, with varieties of enemies, treasures, and obstacles along your choice of paths. Following the apparently more difficult paths will often curse you with frustration and reward you with fun, a higher score, and often a good deal of shiny treasure.
Perfect timing and good luck are must haves for this game, as there is no way to use force to get you through any tough spots. This game is an absolute must-have for any hardcore old-school platformer fans out there, and a useful tool for novices looking to tune their skills in a fun and challenging way.
