Pitfall II: Lost Caverns (arcade game)

Pitfall II: Lost Caverns is an arcade sequel to the popular Atari 2600 game Pitfall! While the original Pitfall! was a side-scrolling adventure game for home consoles and computers, Pitfall II: Lost Caverns appeared in arcades and featured a significant graphical and gameplay upgrade.

Developed by David Crane and released by Sega in 1984, the arcade version retained the core elements of the original game, such as swinging on ropes and avoiding obstacles. However, Pitfall II: Lost Caverns introduced scrolling in all four directions, allowing players to explore a much larger and more complex level. The protagonist, Pitfall Harry, still had to rescue his niece Rhonda, his pet cat Quickclaw, and find the Raj Diamond.

Unlike the original Atari 2600 game, the arcade version features a health bar, making the game more forgiving. Players can sustain several hits before losing a life. The arcade version also introduced new enemies and obstacles not found in the original Pitfall!. The visuals were significantly improved, taking advantage of the arcade hardware to display more detailed sprites and backgrounds.

The arcade Pitfall II: Lost Caverns distinguished itself from its predecessor and other arcade games of the time with its vibrant graphics and expanded exploration. The gameplay also had a more continuous flow compared to the limited screen-by-screen format of the original Pitfall! on the Atari 2600. Although less known than the original Pitfall!, the arcade Pitfall II: Lost Caverns represents an interesting adaptation of a classic home console game for the arcade environment.