Perfect Saturday afternoon platforming fun
This sequel to Pitfall, one of the earliest platformers from the days of the Atari 2600, is a fun-filled romp in the vein of Indiana Jones that mixes lovely graphics and inventive action to create a thoroughly entertaining adventure. After Pitfall Harry, the original game's hero, is kidnapped under mysterious circumstances, his son is required to step in and rescue his dear old dad, which involves a lot of running, swinging and whip-cracking through some nicely realised jungle environments. Harry Jr. has learned a lot since his father was out exploring, and his skillset is greatly expanded from the first game, with climbing, ducking and a range of throwing weapons added to the inventory. While the story isn't anything to write home about, Mayan Adventure is actually a worthy follow-up to one of the genre's pioneers. It builds on the foundations laid down by its predecessor to create a new experience that is sufficiently different to avoid being called a mere re-hash. Gameplay is challenging and levels require enough exploration to keep you interested, with numerous inventive obstacles to keep you on your toes. Graphics too are attractive, with lushly detailed locations and a great variety of enemies. A nice bonus is the inclusion of the first game and overall this is one sequel which doesn't disgrace the memory of the original.
