History VideoGame / Pitfall

The series was revived on the Platform/{{SNES}} and Platform/SegaGenesis in 1994's ''PitfallTheMayanAdventure'' a platformer in the same vein as ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''. Two more revivals came later, this time in 3D: 1998's ''VideoGame/Pitfall3DBeyondTheJungle'' on the Platform/PlayStation, and 2004's ''VideoGame/PitfallTheLostExpedition'' on the Platform/{{PS2}}, Platform/{{Xbox}}, and Platform/NintendoGameCube (and ported to the Platform/{{Wii}} in 2008 as ''Pitfall: The Big Adventure''). All of these games include the original ''Pitfall!'' as an EasterEgg; ''Lost Expedition'' and ''Big Adventure'' contain ''Pitfall II'' as well.

The series was revived on the Platform/{{SNES}} and Platform/SegaGenesis in 1994's ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure,'' a platformer in the same vein as ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''. Two more revivals came later, this time in 3D: 1998's ''VideoGame/Pitfall3DBeyondTheJungle'' on the Platform/PlayStation, and 2004's ''VideoGame/PitfallTheLostExpedition'' on the Platform/{{PS2}}, Platform/{{Xbox}}, and Platform/NintendoGameCube (and ported to the Platform/{{Wii}} in 2008 as ''Pitfall: The Big Adventure''). All of these games include the original ''Pitfall!'' as an EasterEgg; ''Lost Expedition'' and ''Big Adventure'' contain ''Pitfall II'' as well.

* ActionizedSequel: ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure'', as the movements are snappier, the protagonist can fight back, and there's a lot of enemies.
* AdaptationExpansion: The arcade game, strangely enough produced by Sega, featured enhanced versions of the overworld of the first ''Pitfall'' and the underworld of the second, and added MinecartMadness and TempleOfDoom stages. The Atari 800 computer version of ''Pitfall II'' was also expanded.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: In ''The Mayan Adventure'', if you make Harry Jr. jump into a quicksand, he ''waves goodbye at you'' while being sucked down.

* ClassicCheatCode: On the Sega Genesis version of ''The Mayan Adventure'': the level select cheat was B, Right, A, Down, Right, Up, B, Left, A, Up, Right, A. Which, of course, makes one wonder just who Brad and Laura are...
* ContinuityReboot: ''The Lost Expedition''.

* DungeonBypass: It's possible in ''The Mayan Adventure'' to jump your way through the arenas where the second and third bosses are fought and get to the exit without triggering the boss fight (though this was removed in at least the Sega CD version.)

* FlameSpewerObstacle: ''Mayan Adventure'' has sections on the wall that are on fire and shoot out flames regularly.

* {{Mayincatec}}: ''The Mayan Adventure''

* MinecartMadness: The third area in the arcade game.
** Two stages in ''The Mayan Adventure'' have a gimmick around this. The first of the two, Tazamul Mines, has a skate car which Harry Jr. can make go fast or slow by hitting the brakes. The second one, Balankache Mine, is more of a traditional runaway mine cart level.

* ParentsInDistress: In ''The Mayan Adventure'', the objective is for Harry Jr. to rescue his kidnapped father, who appeared in the original games during the 8-bit era.

* PrecisionGuidedBoomerang: Subverted in ''The Mayan Adventure''. Boomerangs are one of three weapons in the game, follow an improbably far-reaching curved path, and float around in the air upon return. They do disappear if you don't grab them again, however... and they ''don't'' return if they hit an enemy.

* {{Retraux}}: In ''Mayan Adventure'', when Harry Jr. finally finds his dad, [[spoiler: Harry Sr. looks exactly as he did during the original 8-bit games. As in, literally a few featureless pixels in the rough shape of a man, using only four colors. Strung up on a highly detailed, realistically shaded 16-bit altar. (And remarks "What took you so long?")]]

* SimonSaysMiniGame: ''The Mayan Adventure'' has a similar game involving pull-levers in some bonus levels.
* SmallReferencePools

* SuperDrowningSkills: Played straight in the first game.
* SuperMode: The pepper in ''Mayan Adventure'' gives extra speed and high enough jumps to ''flip''.
* SuperNotDrowningSkills: ''Pitfall II'' had elaborate parts where you swim -- and this is an Atari 2600 game.
* TempleOfDoom: If you're indoors in a ''Pitfall'' game, you're probably inside one of these. The arcade game had one for its final stage.

* VideoGame3DLeap: ''Pitfall 3D''

* MickeyMousing: The second game was the first example of a full soundtrack that also changed based on activity. The normally light-sounding background music changed to a heroic theme if an item was collected and a sad version of that same theme if Herry was injured.

** Also in the original game, when you lose a life, the [[Franchise/{{Dragnet}} "Danger Ahead"]] theme plays.

* StockMoneyBag: In the original game, there are money bags with $ symbol on them, waiting to be collected.

The only real sequel followed in 1984, also for the 2600; ''Pitfall II: Lost Caverns'' introduced elements like exploration, true scrolling, and an [[MickeyMousing interactive soundtrack]] that reflects how well you're doing. It also received an arcade adaptation by Creator/{{Sega}} in 1985, which was a hybrid of the first two games with two completely new areas added. ''VideoGame/SuperPitfall'', a sequel/loose remake of ''Lost Caverns'', was released in 1986 for the Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem. All that needs to be said about that game is that ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEXpsDB2XQ has reviewed it.]]

** Also a stage in ''The Mayan Adventure''.

A classic Creator/{{Activision}} franchise created by David Crane. The original ''Pitfall!'' was released on the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} in 1982 and established the foundations of the multiscreen {{Platformer}} genre: running and jumping over obstacles as you travel from left to right.

The only real sequel followed in 1984, also for the 2600; ''Pitfall II: Lost Caverns'' introduced elements like exploration, true scrolling, and an [[MickeyMousing interactive soundtrack]] that reflects how well you're doing. It also received an arcade adaptation by Creator/{{Sega}} in 1985, which was a hybrid of the first two games with two completely new areas added. ''VideoGame/SuperPitfall'', a sequel/loose remake of ''Lost Caverns'', was released in 1986 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem. All that needs to be said about that game is that ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEXpsDB2XQ has reviewed it.]]

The series was revived on the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} and UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis in 1994's ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure,'' a platformer in the same vein as ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''. Two more revivals came later, this time in 3D: 1998's ''VideoGame/Pitfall3DBeyondTheJungle'' on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, and 2004's ''VideoGame/PitfallTheLostExpedition'' on the UsefulNotes/{{PS2}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, and UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube (and ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} in 2008 as ''Pitfall: The Big Adventure''). All of these games include the original ''Pitfall!'' as an EasterEgg; ''Lost Expedition'' and ''Big Adventure'' contain ''Pitfall II'' as well.

* SoNearYetSoFar: Can happen in ''VideoGame/{{Pitfall}} 2''. You only need to pick up three things to finish the game: Quickclaw, Rhonda, and the diamond ring. The game automatically ends when you pick up the last one of these. Quickclaw is visible from the beginning of the game, right below your starting position, but you have to go around the long way to get to him, making Quickclaw the last thing most people pick up.

* CowardlySidekick: Quickclaw, though it was more of an InformedAttribute in ''Pitfall II'', since all he did was stand in one place.

* CorridorCubbyholeRun: ''Pitfall II'' has at least ten "floors" in a row which entirely consisted of walking across the screen as a bat flew towards Harry and having to run Harry under the bat ''only if the wings were flapping up''.

* DarkReprise: If Harry dies in ''Pitfall II'', a slower minor-key version of the ThemeMusicPowerUp plays.

* WhipItGood: In ''Mayan Adventure,'' Harry Jr. uses a sling like a whip.

* [[ExcitedShowTitle Excited Game Title!]]: The original game. (Standard for Activision games at the time, really)

[[quoteright:304:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pitfall.jpg]]

* RecursiveAdaptation: The Pitfall segments of ''Saturday Supercade'' were based on the original Pitfall, and then Pitfall II was based on the Pitfall segments of ''Saturday Supercade'' (importing Rhonda and Quickclaw, and even some of the incidental background music).

* PublicDOmainSoundtrack: In the second game, the background music would change to the generic carnival tune "Over the Waves" if the player collected a balloon.

* InteractiveSoundtrack: The second game was the first example of a full soundtrack that also changed based on activity. The normally light-sounding background music changed to a heroic theme if an item was collected and a sad version of that same theme if Herry was injured.