Review By:  Siou Choy
Developer:	Pipe Dream
Publisher:	Majesco Sales
# of Players:	1
Genre:	Platform
ESRB:	Everyone
Date Posted:	7-23-01

The levels are also on the confusing side - it's not always clear as to which way you have to head to complete the level. The game seems to predicate itself on depth as well as length and width, and sometimes you have find your way to ropes and vines that appear to be on the same spatial plane but which in reality are behind or in front of you.

The second mine level has precious little to do with "skill" in any form, but rather more to do with twitch reflexes. In this stage, you have to ride a mine cart through some old abandoned tunnels while being chased by large spirit heads. Not exactly the most challenging gimmick ever devised, but the itchy fingered gamer will end up re-starting the level more often than would be desired. In fact, many of the levels in The Mayan Adventure prove to be more about reflexes than skill, and while this can provide a bit of mindless "excitement" now and again, it's hardly conducive to extended replay value.

The sound in The Mayan Adventure is decent, if unspectacular. There is some nice jungle ambience to aid in suspension of disbelief, making the game feel a bit more "authentic". Harry Jr. tends to make the same noises regardless, making sound useless as an indicator of health.

The bosses in the game seem to have no real pattern to their attacks, which serves to make them tougher than they should be. The jaguar in the first level seems to actually wait until you've jumped in the air to leap after you. Worse, once the jaguar has knocked you down, by the time you get up he's already pouncing on you again. Harry Jr. also tends to spaz out once he's been hit, which doesn't allow you enough time to regroup and prepare for the next attack. A health bar would have been nice to let you know the how well the fight against the boss is progressing or if your attacks are causing any damage. Probably the most annoying part of all this is that when you die while fighting some bosses, instead of starting you at the beginning of the fight, the game tends to put you significantly further back in the level, usually next to an enemy (which causes the annoyed gamer to lose valuable hit points before even reaching the boss again).

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure had the potential, on its release several years ago, to be a truly standout revisitation of one of home gaming's early classics. Sadly, as those who have experienced any of its sundry releases are well aware, the game (while respectably entertaining in its own right) never really lived up to that promise. It's a shame that Majesco didn't try to fix some of The Mayan Adventure's existing bugaboos rather than opting for an almost direct port. One can only wonder how good this game might have been, if so. Regardless, all we have to work with is what's right here in my hands. And all told? That just isn't saying much.

Highs:

• Cute graphics. That's about it.

Lows:

• Levels are a bit too confusing at times
• Far too dark, making it difficult to see enemies or obstacles

Final Verdict:

If you're looking for something along the lines of the original Atari 2600 Pitfall, then keep looking. The game looks nice, if you can see it, that is; since the screen is so damn dark. While the overly lush, densely efflorescent levels can get complicated and confusing, rest assured, it looks good while you stand there wondering just who the hell attacked you or exactly why it is that you're sinking into the ground. I'd suggest the original Pitfall (cheesy sub-4 bit graphics and all) over the graphic excesses of Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure any day.

Overall Score: 4.0

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