Pitfall II (5200 version) perfect score!

[the 5th ghost]

After many failed attempts, I finally did it! A perfect score on Pitfall II for the Atari 5200...504,000 points! 8-)

As you may know, the 5200 version has a second maze that you enter, once you've completed the first maze and captured Quickclaw.

The perfect score in the first maze is 199,000 points. This score will always be displayed at the top left of the screen. Once you begin the second maze, a second score is displayed at the top right of the screen (starting at 199,000)

From that point, as you accumulate points, those points are added to the new score. The second maze has a maximum of 305,000 points. Thus, a perfect score will end up 504,000 points, the total scores of both mazes.

The second maze is very difficult to complete without losing points. The route is not as straightforward as the first maze, and took me awhile to determine where everything was, and then to find the best route to get everything, minimizing the risks.

Also, there are different, and more difficult, enemies to deal with. The ones that got me the most were the jumping frogs that follow you across the screen. Also, most of the treasures are guarded by the creatures, so you have to deal with one of them just about every time you find a treasure!

As for time, there is no built in game clock, but the timer on my VCR indicated that it took me 11:43 to reach Quickclaw in the first maze, and 21:38 to reach the "Rope Charmer" in the second maze. So in all, the game took 33 minutes and 21 seconds to complete.

I'm curious to know how many other people have maxxed the score in this one? One thing is for sure, when I last spoke to Todd Rogers about it, he admitted that he has not done it! :eek 2:

Here's the screenshot that I posted on AtariAge, where I originally posted about my quest to max this one.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=58929

[vintagegamecrazy]

That's pretty impressive, I suck at that game royally, I'd imagine that'd raise some commotion on atariage.

[Arcade Antics]

:eek 2:

Holy crap, and CONGRATURATION! :D

Nice jorb! I haven't played that game in about 10 years, but one thing's for sure: I could play it for another 10 and never come close to getting a perfect score.

[atari_wizard]

Congrats on the high score. I've gotten a perfect score on the 5200, but not the second quest. I recently picked up the Atari 5200 Redemption Adapter, that I got from Atari Age, which makes my life much easier. I wish I knew where to go on the lost levels, as I get lost very easily. Is there a way you could host the video? I would love to see which route you take...If you don't want to, I understand why.



Do you plan on getting perfect Pitfall games on all the other platforms as well?

To tell you the truth, they are easier. I've beaten the 2600 & Colecovision with perfect scores on many occasions. I wish they had the lost levels on them as well.

[the 5th ghost]

Congrats on the high score. I've gotten a perfect score on the 5200, but not the second quest. I recently picked up the Atari 5200 Redemption Adapter, that I got from Atari Age, which makes my life much easier. I wish I knew where to go on the lost levels, as I get lost very easily. Is there a way you could host the video? I would love to see which route you take...If you don't want to, I understand why.



Do you plan on getting perfect Pitfall games on all the other platforms as well?

To tell you the truth, they are easier. I've beaten the 2600 & Colecovision with perfect scores on many occasions. I wish they had the lost levels on them as well.

Thanks everyone!

I'd be happy to share the video of the Pitfall II game so that you can see the route I used. Also, you'll see the different strategies I use to deal with the tricky spots. This took a lot of trial and error to figure out the best way, for me at least. I'm sure someone else could come up with a different route.

I would like to get perfect scores for both Pitfall! and Pitfall II for every platform they were released on, but I do not have an Atari 400, no Colecovision, and no Intellevision.

I used to have an INTY II and the Pitfall game to go with it, but I sold my entire INTY collection long ago before I had a chance to record a game. I just didn't have that fire back then to do this.

[k8track]

Very very impressive. I was always under the impression that you had no choice but to lose some points; I thought there were some places where you had to fall down somewhere with no ladder alternative. Kudos! I've always been impressed with the second quest. I never knew what those fast animals were that zip back and forth across the screen--some kind of insect? You're right, those frogs are the worst, but the piranhas are a very close second--they're a bit random (you can't tell if they're going to double back or wrap around). The crazy bats are much easier than they might seem at first. And the tiny ledges really take a lot of doing to get the timing right.

Stonic--many thanks for the link to the extremely well-done and cool map. I remember making my own map of this way back in 1992 or 93, on a sheet of poster board. I felt a sense of accomplishment after getting that one done. I remember that night specifically because I was listening to the first two Asia cassettes (Asia, Alpha) and sitting cross legged "Indian Style" for four hours straight as I mapped it. When I finally got up I had horrible shooting lower back pain that didn't go away for days and all but incapacitated me. Not fun.

That's my video game-related injury story. Good times.

[the 5th ghost]

Very very impressive. I was always under the impression that you had no choice but to lose some points; I thought there were some places where you had to fall down somewhere with no ladder alternative. Kudos!

There was a map posted on AtariAge done by someone, but they forgot to include one ladder. As a result, they thought that a perfect score was impossible as well. They also left one gold bar out. It's a very well done map, just needs two revisions ;)

The quick moving insects are Fire Ants, I think. There not too bad once you get the timing down.

Thanks for the kind words!

[fergojisan]

Wow, that takes a lot of dedication, kudos to you. I only tried the second quest one time, and I did it on an 800 so I could use the 2600 joystick. Didn't get very far though.

Kudos also on the boxed Sears 2600 games. I wouldn't mind seeing a full picture of those! :-P

[Pantechnicon]

Very impressive accomplishment. I haven't played the 2nd quest much, but now I have some motivation to explore it a little further. Either way, you da man :hail:

[rbudrick]

Now for Super Pitfall (there's two quests, iirc) and the Arcade version of Pitfall II!!!

-Rob

[the 5th ghost]

Wow, that takes a lot of dedication, kudos to you. I only tried the second quest one time, and I did it on an 800 so I could use the 2600 joystick. Didn't get very far though.

Kudos also on the boxed Sears 2600 games. I wouldn't mind seeing a full picture of those! :-P

Thanks! I can accomodate your request to see all the boxed Sears games in my collection. I've got em all :)

I just have to figure out how to show them here, without having to link another site. Stonic has hosted pix for me before, but I'd hate to ask him since it would take a few pix to see the Sears stuff.

I could email em to you at least!

[Videogamerdaryll]

Awesome!!!...Congrats!!!!!

[atari_wizard]

Doug's pics of his Sears Tele-Games collection:

http://home.ptd.net/~stonic/EGG.JPG (http://home.ptd.net/~stonic/sears.zip)

What a nice collection. Good job on getting all those, makes me want to finish mine now.

[the 5th ghost]

Doug's pics of his Sears Tele-Games collection:

http://home.ptd.net/~stonic/EGG.JPG (http://home.ptd.net/~stonic/sears.zip)

What a nice collection. Good job on getting all those, makes me want to finish mine now.

Thanks!

3 guesses as to which Sears game was the last one for me to find boxed. :)

[atari_wizard]

Thanks!

3 guesses as to which Sears game was the last one for me to find boxed. :)

I'm sure one of these, right?

Canyon Bomber pic
Night Driver Pic
Submarine Pic

[k8track]

Doug's pics of his Sears Tele-Games collection:

http://home.ptd.net/~stonic/EGG.JPG (http://home.ptd.net/~stonic/sears.zip)

What a nice collection. Good job on getting all those, makes me want to finish mine now.

Thanks!

3 guesses as to which Sears game was the last one for me to find boxed. :)

Cannon Man or Superman, right?

I very very stupidly passed up a boxed Cannon Man about 7 years ago at a pawn shop.

Stupid! Stupid!! Stupid!!! (Bangs head against wall)

[the 5th ghost]

Nope, none of those.

I'll give you a hint:

The first boxed Sears game I aquired was Math in the gatefold box.

The Submarine Commander, I found at a local thrift store CIB for $3 LOL It was one of the earliest boxed Sears games in my collection

[Nature Boy]

Dude, you've got to stop inspiring me to play these games. I don't have enough time!

Congrats man! I personally think this is even cooler than your Pitfall! accomplishment, as I've always liked the sequel better.

(Unfortunately for me, back in the day I had a pirate version of it (for my Atari 400) which froze on me after what seemed like a random amount of time, so I never did finish anything more than the first quest. Today, of course, I have a complete version I can play over my SIO2PC cable, plus the cartridge itself to boot. What a difference 20 years makes! :D )

[the 5th ghost]

Twin Galaxies has made it official!

http://www.twingalaxies.com/

[diskoboy]

Stonic took the words right outta my mouth.... Double kudos for a perfect game, on the 5200's notorius controllers.

[Cafeman]

I will add my belated and amazed kudos! I've just noticed this accomplishment; I was playing the 5200 version just a week ago and was confounded (again) trying to beat the 2nd maze. To beat it with losing no points -- I'm speechless! KUDOS DUDE!

[the 5th ghost]

Thanks everyone!

Well stonic, the delay was my own fault. Even though I accomplished this almost 8 months ago, I just sent in the tape last week. Tom was very fast to verify my scores (6 tapes worth!)

As for the 5200 sticks, I found that they work very good on this title, once you get into the habit of self-centering the stick. (especially on the ladders) Besides that, controlling Pitfall Harry's movements and jumps isn't too difficult.

Also, one thing I used to my advantage in the second quest, is the fact that you don't have to worry about a timer. So, if I found myself in a sticky situation, I would just turn back and re-enter the screen till I got a better set-up to move on. This is the biggest tip I can give, besides the map I did showing my route.