History VideoGame / Pitfall

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 multi-screen {{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 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 SNES and Sega Genesis 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.

''Pitfall!'' has also left its mark on television. In its first season, the Ruby-Spears ''WesternAnimation/SaturdaySupercade'' cartoon featured segments based on the game, and a 1982 commercial for ''Pitfall!'' starred a young Creator/JackBlack.

* 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. Where's Quickclaw? Right below your starting position.

* ThemeMusicPowerUp: In ''Pitfall II'' every time you grab a treasure or rescue someone a galvanizing, heroic, upbeat theme vaguely reminiscent of the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' anthem plays. One of the oldest ones in the book, as it was the first console game to feature PSG music, and in fact the only 2600 game to have a custom sound chip.

* AdventurerArchaeologist: Pitfall Harry and his son.

* CanonImmigrant:
** Rhonda (Harry's niece), and the aforementioned Quickclaw were originally created for the aforementioned ''Saturday Supercade'' adaptation, but appeared in ''Pitfall II'' afterwards.
** Why in the world are you trying to find a [[FunnyAnimal cougar that stands upright like a man]] in ''Lost Caverns''? Well, did you ever see the ''Saturday Supercade'' cartoon that was out back during the 80's based on the first game? He was the TeamPet and his name was Quickclaw.

* CheckPoint: in ''Pitfall II'' player deaths slide the player back to the last checkpoint they crossed, shown as little red circles on the ground.

* CowardlySidekick: Quickclaw.

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

* [[ExcitedShowTitle Excited Game Title!]]: The original game.

* MoneyForNothing: The treasures that Harry finds are only good for ScoringPoints, with the exceptions of the original game and ''The Lost Expedition''.

* CasualDangerDialog: Harry Jr. all the time in ''Pitfall 3D''. Everything is trying to kill him but he's shockingly casual and level-headed through all of it.

* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Overlapping with the CasualDangerDialog example, Harry Jr. in ''3D'' is not at all put off when he runs across ''rotting skeletons''. He will frequently just quip with a standard "hi, how are you doing?" to them.

The series was revived on the SNES and Sega Genesis in 1994's ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure,'' a platformer in the same vein as ''Disney/{{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.

In August 2012, the series celebrated its 30th anniversary with an {{iOS Game|s}} in the EndlessRunningGame genre, the first product by Activision's mobile studio The Blast Furnace.

* {{Canon Immigrant}}s: Rhonda (Harry's niece), and the aforementioned Quickclaw were originally created for the aforementioned ''Saturday Supercade'' adaptation, but appeared in ''Pitfall II'' afterwards.
** Why in the world are you trying to find a [[FunnyAnimal cougar that stands upright like a man]] in ''Lost Caverns''? Well, did you ever see the ''SaturdaySupercade'' cartoon that was out back during the 80's based on the first game? He was the TeamPet and his name was Quickclaw.

''Pitfall!'' has also left its mark on television. In its first season, the Ruby-Spears ''SaturdaySupercade'' cartoon featured segments based on the game, and a 1982 commercial for ''Pitfall!'' starred a young Creator/JackBlack.

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 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]].

* {{Metroidvania}}: Pitfall II may be the UrExample.[[note]]Which would also make it OlderThanTheNES.[[/note]]

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 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 NintendoEntertainmentSystem. All that needs to be said about that game is that ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEXpsDB2XQ has reviewed it]].

* AllThereInTheManual: ...why in the world are you trying to find a [[FunnyAnimal cougar that stands upright like a man]] in ''Lost Caverns''? Well, did you ever see the ''SaturdaySupercade'' cartoon that was out back during the 80's based on the first game? He was the TeamPet and his name was Quickclaw.

* DungeonBypass: It's very 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.)

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 Sega in 1985, which was a hybrid of the first two games with two completely new areas added. ''Super Pitfall'', a loose remake of ''Lost Caverns'', was released in 1986 for the NintendoEntertainmentSystem. All that needs to be said about that game is that ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEXpsDB2XQ has reviewed it]].

* ShoutOut: In the original game, Harry yodels like {{Tarzan}} when swinging on a vine.

* ThemeMusicPowerUp: In ''Pitfall II'' every time you grab a treasure or rescue someone a galvanizing, heroic, upbeat theme vaguely reminiscent of the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' anthem plays. One of the oldest ones in the book, as it was the first console game to feature PSG music, in fact the only 2600 game to have a custom sound chip.

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 multi-screen {{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 Sega in 1985, which was a hybrid of the first two games with two completely new areas added.

''Super Pitfall'', largely a port of the sequel, occurred in 1987. It was on the NES and terrible. [[FanonDiscontinuity Let us speak no more of it.]] Besides, ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' has said it all in his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEXpsDB2XQ video]] on the game already.

The series was revived on the SNES and Sega Genesis in 1994's ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure,'' a fun if sloppy platformer in the same vein as ''Disney/{{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.

The series was revived on the SNES and Sega Genesis in 1994's ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure,'' a fun if sloppy platformer in the same vein as ''Disney/{{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 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.

The series was revived on the SNES and Sega Genesis in 1994's ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure,'' a fun if sloppy platformer in the same vein as ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''. Two more revivals came later, this time in 3D: 1998's ''VideoGame/Pitfall3DBeyondTheJungle'' on the PlayStation, and 2004's ''VideoGame/PitfallTheLostExpedition'' on the 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.

A classic {{Activision}} franchise created by David Crane. The original ''Pitfall!'' was released on the UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} in 1982 and established the foundations of the multi-screen {{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 Sega in 1985, which was a hybrid of the first two games with two completely new areas added.

The series was revived on the SNES and Sega Genesis in 1994's ''Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure,'' a fun if sloppy platformer in the same vein as ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' and ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''. Two more revivals came later, this time in 3D: 1998's ''VideoGame/Pitfall3DBeyondTheJungle'' on the PlayStation, and 2004's ''VideoGame/PitfallTheLostExpedition'' on the PS2, {{Xbox}}, and GameCube (and ported to the {{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.

* AllThereInTheManual: ...why in the world are you trying to find a [[FunnyAnimal cougar that stands upright like a man]] in "Lost Caverns?" Well, did you ever see the ''SaturdaySupercade'' cartoon that was out back during the 80's based on the first game? He was the TeamPet and his name was Quickclaw.

* CheckPoint: in ''Pitfall II' player deaths slide the player back to the last checkpoint they crossed, shown as little red circles on the ground.

** SugarWiki/FunnyMoments

* ExcitedShowTitle: The original game.

A classic {{Activision}} franchise created by David Crane. The original ''Pitfall!'' was released on the {{Atari 2600}} in 1982 and established the foundations of the multi-screen {{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 Sega in 1985, which was a hybrid of the first two games with two completely new areas added.

* EasterEgg: The {{Atari}} 8-bit and 5200 versions of ''Pitfall II'' had an entirely new level after you beat the game that was ''longer than the actual game itself.'' This may be the largest relative Easter egg in any game.