Pitfall Harry’s Survival Guide

Pitfall Harry hails originally from Pitfall, a game developed by Activision for the Atari 2600 console. The new update, Pitfall®: The Lost Expedition™, has given the franchise a brilliant new lease on life, with addictively fun gameplay and delightful humor. And, when they say this game is rated “E for Everyone,” they really mean it. Pitfall Harry has appeal for gamers of all types.

The game opens with Harry on a plane with another archaeologist, Dr. Bernard Bittenbinder, and (naturally) a beautiful lady scientist, Nicole, who spurns his roguish charms. When the plane is struck by lightning and crashes in the jungle, it’s up to Harry to survive and find the others—and maybe pick up some precious artifacts along the way. The Jungle is a dangerous place, though, so here are a few tips to help you keep Harry alive.

Go on an adventure with your pal, Harry.

The gameplay begins in a place that surprises you at first. Harry encounters a mystically charged fiery jungle cat beast in a field of volcanic lava and rock. Like it or not, you’re in it now. You can use the left thumbstick to move Harry around, and that’s exactly what you’ll want to do first, as the creature will charge at you and swat you like an insect. You can avoid it if you’re fast. Run directly away from the beast, while waiting for it to charge. Then, as soon as he begins to move forward, cut to one side and run like mad. He should just miss you. While he recovers from the charge, you can run in and attack him using the X button. Then, run away and repeat this a few times. Keep moving, Harry!

One of the critical skills you’ll need to master in navigating the jungle is swinging on vines. It’s a lot of fun, and a very cool and unique part of this game. Simply leap out toward a vine to grab it. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell exactly how far away a vine is, so it’s always safest to double jump when going for a vine. Just tap the A-button to jump, and tap it again in mid-leap for a little extra boost. This will often put you high up on the vine, but you can use the right thumbstick to climb up it or slide down it. Don’t worry about sliding off the bottom of the vine, though. Harry is a pro. He’d never do that. You can slide down to the very bottom of the vine to get the maximum amount of swing, which translates to distance when you jump off at the apex. (This is Playground Physics 101, kids.)

As journey through the jungle, try to climb up from time to time. Sometimes there will be treasure up there for you to find. Harry is all about exploring, so let him do his thing. On the same note, there are places where your way may be blocked by rows of totem poles. The spaces between are too small to get through, but you can often simply go around them on the side.

Journey through the jungle.

Also, don’t hesitate to use violence as a necessary adjunct of the job. There are plenty of places where you won’t be able to proceed without placing a swift kick against some breakable object. So, if it seems you’ve reached a dead-end, try giving surrounding objects a good beating with the X-button.

You’ll encounter a Shaman early on, and he’ll have some good stuff to sell you in exchange for the idols you can gather. Make sure to get the last item on his list of available goods. The Mystery Item is Free and well worth checking out. If you can, pick up a canteen, too. The fountains you’ll find placed liberally around the jungle will restore all five of your lives instantly, and the canteen lets you take a little of that magic with you.

One last thing … Although I shouldn’t have to tell any of you this, I feel that it’s important, as it impacts not only this game, but life in general: The monkeys are not your friends.

Armed with this valuable information, you and Harry should do well in your early explorations. I trust you’ll learn fast on your own and bring Harry back alive.

By Shane Marshall