Hands-On: Pitfall: The Lost Expedition

[Metal Mario]

*Source: IGN


You can't rightfully call yourself an explorer unless you've actually explored something. Although we've received reports from Activision and have even seen demos of Harry's adventure, we knew that we'd only fully understand our subject if it was studied first hand. So, we set off on a Lost Expedition, braved the terrors of digital quick sand pits, alligator jaws, and irate apes so that we could present you with field notes from our recent hands-on adventure.

While we've only spent a short time with Pitfall: The Lost Expedition -- completing a couple objectives and encountering our first "boss" battle -- we've been able draw a few conclusions. The most important is that this isn't just another run of the mill platformer. Taking cues from works like Tak and the Power of Juju or Banjo-Kazooie, the developer Edge of Reality has infused Lost Expedition with a healthy dose of humor.

Harry tries to seize the role of a charming adventurer like Indiana Jones, but due to his comic disposition doesn't quite fill the same heroic shoes. However, even if he doesn't possess the same suave manner as Indy, Harry is able to make up the difference with a fair amount of luck (which often knocks women off their feet and into his lap). However, this luck doesn't extend to his mode of transportation. Harry's plane crashes in the midst of a dense jungle, and it's his responsibility to find the other survivors and in the process rescue a damsel.

Although Pitfall is filled with humorous cut scenes -- like Harry's encounter with a scaredy-cat jaguar or his rescue of a dorky scientist -- the campy charm extends to the actual gameplay. Harry can be swallowed by an alligator and pry himself out of its jaws. Monkeys or natives can be pushed into fly trap-like pits while Harry watches in feigned horror as they're chewed up. He might be chased down by a pack of piranhas, or sink into a pile of mud. Harry will encounter native "scarecrows," whining explorers trapped behind spider webs or in cages. The savages even employ camouflage netting to hide their village from Harry's prying eyes.

While Pitfall isn't doing anything that's necessarily new, it does have one very interesting mechanic. You can control Harry's right arm with the right analog stick. That's correct, his arm is possessed by you -- his arm raises when you push up, falls when you push down, and can move side to side. Besides for the comic effect this creates when you run up to monkeys and attempt to slap them (sadly it doesn't register as a hit), this control actually serves a purpose.

The most basic and frequent use of Harry's right arm is to grab objects he finds in the wilderness. Early in the game, these are totems that you can find hidden throughout each area or are awarded for rescuing trapped explorers. These totems serve as money with the local shamans, who will sell you more powerful moves and extra life. The other obvious use is that Harry actually pulls switches. Simply walk up to a lever, swing your arm at it to grab on, and then push the control stick in the correct direction to open a gate.

As Harry progresses through the game, he'll pick up new uses for his arm. A short way into your excursion, you're given a canteen. This (and other items) can be assigned to a direction on the control pad for quick access. Once Harry pulls it out of his pack, walk over to a fountain (which serves as health) to fill up your canteen by holding it under the water. Your health can now be quickly replenished by raising the canteen to Harry's lips. This same principle is applied to Harry's sling -- he'll fire shots when you press up (symbolizing a throw) and reload when you press down. Later in game you'll acquire a torch which can be used to burn away spider webs or light your way in dark places. If you want to investigate a particular nook, point your torch that way with the control stick. This feature, which appears gimmicky, actually works quite well. It's much more fun to wave Harry's arms around to flip a switch than just pressing a button. Hopefully, this feature will be applied with even more depth later in the game.

From what we can tell, Harry's adventure will take place primarily in the jungle. The jungle is divided into several different sections. Within each area you'll find "secret" areas that hold totems, passages you won't be able get through, and objects you can't interact with until you've found certain items. You might need the super fist attack that propels you higher in the air than a double jump to reach some ledges. Your sling might be used to spin the propeller of your plane to the correct position so you can use it as a platform. TNT is required to get through blocked off passages and you'll need to find a gas mask to enter poison filled areas.

Poison isn't the only danger. Harry encounters his fair share of apes, natives, and porcupines (at least in the beginning of the game). Each of these foes needs to be dealt with in a certain way. Some tribesmen and monkeys will perish from a couple of Harry's punches, but other natives and the porcupines will have to be swept off their feet before being hit (the porcupines' spines even get stuck in the ground). Harry accomplishes this by rolling into a ball (which also allows him to get through small places) and then attacks from this position to perform a sweeping kick. Harry can also tiptoe past sleeping enemies (usually monkeys), perform a spin kick -- useful for knocking down trees to form bridges -- and stun enemies with his sling.

This same premise applies to boss battles. You'll have to exploit individual weaknesses in order to defeat your opponent. In the boss we faced, Harry was separated from his dynamite flinging foe by a river of mud. To dispatch him, Harry had to use his sling to knock the supports out from under the platform his enemy was standing on in order to dump him into the muck.

Of course, with all the action and antics found in The Lost Expedition, Pitfall hasn't lost its roots. Edge of Realty made sure to include plenty of the original's platforming staples -- swinging on vines, jumping over rolling logs, and hopping on alligators. Other platforming puzzles include climbing up trees, exploring ancient ruins, and avoiding booby traps in temples. Harry encounters the famous collapsing floor tiles in one of the early temples -- if he doesn't jump on the colored tiles the floor crumbles beneath his feet. There are also spikes to be jumped over or rolled under and switches that need to be hit in order to activate platforms so that Harry can reach ledges.

So far we do have a few gripes -- the most prevalent is that the game seems far too forgiving. There are plenty of checkpoints within each level so if you happen to die, you'll regenerate nearby. You can escape from the jaws of an alligator. You're spat out of the pits with minimal damage. If you fall to your doom, you'll reappear near where you fell. It doesn't mean Pitfall is without challenge, but you're never punished for dying. Occasionally the game's collision detection is off, such as Harry might not quite hit an enemy with a punch or his sling. This build also suffers from some framerate dips and occasional stutters. Hopefully Edge of Reality is addressing these issues before the title's release.

Problems aside, Pitfall is turning into quite a charming game. Hopefully, its employment of "arm control" and humor will keep it from becoming just another platformer.