Super Pitfall
Typed out by Robert Ferguson
SUPER PITFALL
Pitfall Harry is back, ready to embark on the most dangerous, most
impossible mission he has dared to attempt so far. All alone, with only a
gun and his wits for protection, he must recover the priceless Raj diamond
from a vast subterranean dwelling high in the Andes Mountains. And to
complicate matters, he must also rescue his beloved niece Rhonda and feline
friend Quickclaw the Lion, both trapped in the dark, damp depths below.
This is no weekend caving adventure. With no map to guide him, Harry must
find his own way through the cave's endless passages-over 270
screens-infested with poisonous frogs, bats, snakes, scorpions, tarantulas,
cavemen, lava pits, deadly condors, falling rocks, and other evil creatures
and hazards.
Care to join Harry in his quest? He could certainly use some assisstance.
GETTING STARTED
Insert the Super Pitfall cartridge in your Nintendo Entertainment System as
instructed in your owner's guide.
Turn on your game system and TV or monitor. The Super Pitfall title screen
will appear. After a few seconds, you'll see a brief game demonstration.
Press the Select button to switch between the one and two player game
options. Release the button to make your selection.
Press the Start button to begin the game.
During play, you may press the Start button to pause at any time; press it
again to resume play.
Press the Reset button on your Nintendo Entertainment System at any time to
restart the game from the beginning.
DIRECTING HARRY
The directional arrows keypad controls Harry's movements. Press the right
arrow to move him to the right, and the left arrow to move him to the left.
Press the up arrow to help Harry climb or swim upward; press the down arrow
to help him climb or swim downward or duck.
Press the A button to make Harry jump in place. Press the A button and the
right arrow to make him jump to the right, or the A button and the left
arrow to make him jump to the left.
Press the B button to fire Harry's gun in the direction he is facing.
PLAYING THE GAME
Your job is to move Harry through the mazes, find the Raj diamond, Rhonda,
and Quickclaw, and then return to the starting point without getting bumped
off by the life-threatening creatures or hazards that await our hero. To win
points and special congratulations, make sure that Harry also gathers as
many gold bars as possible along the way.
Harry's journey is not easy. At times his pistol seems useless against the
endless hordes of creatures that come after him. If he manages to reach
Rhonda, he'll discover that the poor girl has been turned to stone and that
the only antidote to this horrible condition is a flask of medicine, located
somewhere in the cave. And, if it weren't enough, before he can rescue
Quickclaw, Harry will need to uncover a hidden key.
Even returning to the starting point is no easy task. To do so, Harry must
find a photograph of the Underground Kingdom, which contains the only clue
to getting back- the location of a launching site from which he can jump
back to the beginning. Only then will you win the game.
Fortunately, Harry is basically an optimist and, more importantly, a pretty
agile fellow. He can walk along rocks and ledges, climb up and down ladders,
jump over pitfalls from rock ledge to rock ledge, swim through subterranean
lakes, and swing from rope to rope.
STAYING ALIVE
Invisible Objects
Besides the medicine and the key he needs for rescuing his allies, Harry
will discover many other items hidden in the cave that will give him special
powers to help him in his mission. Among them are crystal balls with a
heart, spade, diamond, or club inscription, useful for opening up rock
doors; spare pistols; and objects that can make Harry invulnerable to his
enemies and help him earn points. The only way he can get hold of these
items is to jump up and grab them at just the right moment. Since they're
invisible, Harry should jump frequently as he wanders through the cave.
He can open rock doors, but only if he first unlocks them with the crystal
ball whose symbol matches the keyhole.
Spare Pistols
At the beginning of his mission, Harry is armed with one pistol loaded with
20 bullets. Inside the cave he'll find invisible spare pistols, each with 20
additional bullets. The number of total bullets remaining-including the
spares-is displayed at the top left corner of the screen.
Instant Travel
At various places in the caverns, Harry can instantly transport himself from
one cave to another by jumping at a particular (but unmarked) spot.
Spare Harry's
You'll begin the game with three Harry's. If Harry touches any of the
dangerous creatures or hazards, he's a goner. A screen will quickly display
the number of Harry's you have left, and a spare Harry will replace him at
the very spot where the first one met his doom.
If Harry dies three times before you've earned 50,000 points the game is
over. At 50,000 points, you'll earn a fourth life, at 80,000 points a fifth
life, and additional lives thereafter. You'll also gain an extra life if
Harry jumps on [graphic-an eyeball with eyelash thingy] when it appears.
Invulnerable Harry
Each time Harry first appears-both at the beginning and in the middle of the
game- he'll flash for a few seconds. In this state he is invulnerable to his
enemies.
STRATEGY TIPS
The best way to get through the cave is to explore it.
Try to discover the shortest route. You might just uncover an unexpected
shortcut in the process!
You can accomplish your mission even if you use up all of your bullets.
Crouch or jump to avoid the bats.
Be careful on the ladder. Harry may miss his step.
SCORING
Shoot a frog.........................................500 points
Shoot a vulture....................................1,000 points
Shoot a snake......................................1,000 points
Shoot a bat........................................2,000 points
Shoot Caveman Gary.................................3,000 points
Shoot Caveman Norm.................................3,000 points
Shoot Caveman Arnie................................2,000 points
(It takes more than one shot to kill Gary, Norm, and Arnie)
Run over a gold bar................................3,000 points
Grab a spare gun..................................10,000 points
Grab a star.......................................10,000 points
Grab a cross......................................10,000 points
Grab a crystal ball...............................10,000 points
Grab the Raj Diamond........................................???