Super Pitfall (1986). Play online

Summary

Super Pitfall burst onto the NES as a sprawling non‑linear platformer, thanks to Micronics' programming despite the title screen crediting Pony Inc. Activision used it to become the first third‑party publisher on Nintendo’s console, releasing the Japanese version in September 1986 and the U.S. launch in November 1987. Players navigate roughly 270 interconnected screens, moving left‑right, climbing, swimming, and firing a pistol with the A and B buttons while the D‑pad controls direction. Hidden items—sometimes shaped like playing‑card suits—unlock rock doors, while extra pistols and temporary invincibility boost combat, and points from shooting foes, bars of gold and items yield extra lives at 50 k and 80 k scores. Early reviews praised its ambition, but critics later noted the graphics and design felt a step down from the classic Pitfall titles, especially alongside Super Mario Bros. A 2016 fan remake by Nesrocks refreshed the visuals, re‑designed levels and added a new scoring system, keeping the game alive for modern retro enthusiasts.

Storyline

In Super Pitfall, the player controls Pitfall Harry, now armed with a gun, as he delves into a massive underground complex beneath the Andes Mountains. He must navigate treacherous platforms, hidden traps, and hostile creatures while searching for the legendary Raj diamond.

His mission is to retrieve the priceless Raj diamond while also rescuing his niece Rhonda and his feline companion Quickclaw the Lion, both of whom are trapped deep in the caverns. The cavernous maze hides clues and power‑ups needed for the rescue.

Harry discovers that Rhonda has been turned to stone and Quickclaw is immobilized, each requiring specific items to free them. To find the way back to the surface, he must locate a photograph of the Underground Kingdom, which serves as the key clue to the entrance.