History VideoGame / Swordquest

* The second game, ''Swordquest: Fireworld'', was released in February 1983 as an ObviousBeta. Some of the minigames are virtually {{Unwinnable}}. If you hit a wall just right, you warp through it or get stuck. And the clues aren't even there, just numbers from 00 to 09, [[invoked]][[PermanentPlaceholder placeholders]] for clues that were never coded.

* {{Backtracking}}: Practically endless. And when combined with having to play the {{Mini Game}}s over and over, it makes for a very annoying experience.

* EventFlag: The objective is to trigger these.

* MiniGame: Some easy, some frustrating, all very simple, and you have to play them over and over.
* MundaneMadeAwesome: One of the few snarks the AVGN did was that ''Earthworld'' had a loud, ambitious noise ''just for opening a door''.

* ObviousBeta: ''Fireworld'', as noted in the description up top.
* PlotCoupon: All the items.

* {{Retraux}}: ''Airworld'' is this due to the reason mentioned in the description.

* AWinnerIsYou: Except for the two guys who won the prizes.

In 1982, Creator/{{Atari}}, at the height of its power during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames, decided to do a sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}''. The ideas they came up with were ''very'' ambitious: A four-part ActionAdventure series, built around a [[FictionalMysteryRealPrize series of contests for big-buck real world prizes]]. They came up with a story about two brave young adventurers, Torr and Tarra, and their quest for the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery. They threw in every ancient and mystic [[FauxSymbolism symbol]] they could think of: The [[ElementalPowers Four Elements]], the WesternZodiac, the UsefulNotes/{{Kabbalah}} Tree of Life, the Chakra points, and the I Ching. They commissioned the Franklin Mint to make five prizes, worth a total of $150,000 (about $480,000 in 2023), and hired Creator/DCComics to make a comic book for each game that would set the story, and hold clues for the contests.

* ''Swordquest: Waterworld'' was released in February 1984, and is considered the best of the three. It doesn't have ''Fireworld'''s bugs, and it gives you clues to the item/room combinations. But gameplay is still just a matter of hauling stuff from room to room. UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 had hit by this time, so ''Waterworld'' saw only a limited release.
* ''Swordquest: Airworld'' never got past the design stage, due to the Crash. Fortunately, almost 40 years later, the game is finally realized as part of ''Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration'', a CompilationRerelease that marks Atari's [[invoked]][[MilestoneCelebration 50th anniversary]] and is released for UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore, and consoles belonging to UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames on November 11, 2022, with development coming from Creator/DigitalEclipse (the company handling the compilation) and inspired by the design concepts of original Swordquest creator Tod Frye.

Due to UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, only competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were ever held, and the Talisman and Chalice awarded. It was heavily rumored and/or joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but in 2015 a [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/1022951551069428/?comment_id=1023115711053012&reply_comment_id=1023596304338286&total_comments=2&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R6%22} Facebook conversation]] confirmed that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and melted down. Only the Chalice still exists in full; most of the Talisman was melted down by the winner. [[https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-quest-for-the-reallife-treasures-of-ataris-swordquest A later investigation]] revealed that there had in fact been a quiet, semi-secret contest among the 10 winners of ''Waterworld'', as the game had been released under the stipulation that the contest would go ahead and thus it legally had to be held. Who the 10 gamers that took part in the contest were, and which one ended up winning the Crown, is unknown.

Due to UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, only competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were ever held, and the Talisman and Chalice awarded. It was heavily rumored and/or joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but in 2015 a [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/1022951551069428/?comment_id=1023115711053012&reply_comment_id=1023596304338286&total_comments=2&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R6%22} Facebook conversation]] confirmed that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and melted down. Only the Chalice still exists in full; most of the Talisman was melted down by the winner. [[https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-quest-for-the-reallife-treasures-of-ataris-swordquest A later investigation]] revealed that there had in fact been a quiet, semi-secret contest among the 10 the winners of ''Waterworld'', as the game had been released under the stipulation that the contest would go ahead and thus it legally had to be held. Who the 10 gamers that took part in the contest were, and which one ended up winning the Crown, is unknown.

In 1982, Creator/{{Atari}}, at the height of its power during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames, decided to do a sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}''. The ideas they came up with were ''very'' ambitious: A four-part ActionAdventure series, built around a [[FictionalMysteryRealPrize series of contests for big-buck real world prizes]]. They came up with a story about two brave young adventurers, Torr and Tarra, and their quest for the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery. They threw in every ancient and mystic [[FauxSymbolism symbol]] they could think of: The [[ElementalPowers Four Elements]], the WesternZodiac, the UsefulNotes/{{Kabbalah}} Tree of Life, the Chakra points, and the I Ching. They commissioned the Franklin Mint to make five prizes, worth a total of $150,000, and hired Creator/DCComics to make a comic book for each game that would set the story, and hold clues for the contests.

* ''Swordquest: Airworld'' never got past the design stage, due to the Crash. Fortunately, almost 40 years later, the game will be finally realized as part of ''Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration'', a CompilationRerelease that marks Atari's [[invoked]][[MilestoneCelebration 50th anniversary]] and will be released for UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore, and consoles belonging to UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames, with development coming from Creator/DigitalEclipse (the company handling the compilation) and inspired by the design concepts of original Swordquest creator Tod Frye.

* FeaturelessProtagonist

* ''Swordquest: Airworld'' never got past the design stage, due to the Crash. Fortunately, almost 40 years later, the game will be finally realized as part of ''Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration'', a CompilationRerelease that marks Atari's [[invoked]][[MilestoneCelebration 50th anniversary]] and will be released for UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore, and consoles belonging to UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames, with development coming from Digital Eclipse (the company handling the compilation) and inspired by the design concepts of original Swordquest creator Tod Frye.

* The second game, ''Swordquest: Fireworld'', was released in February 1983 as an ObviousBeta. Some of the minigames are virtually {{Unwinnable}}. If you hit a wall just right, you warp through it or get stuck. And the clues aren't even there, just numbers from 00 to 09, [[PermanentPlaceholder placeholders]] for clues that were never coded.

* ''Swordquest: Airworld'' never got past the design stage, due to the Crash.

Due to UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, only competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were ever held, and the Talisman and Chalice awarded. It was heavily rumored and/or joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but in 2015 a [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/1022951551069428/?comment_id=1023115711053012&reply_comment_id=1023596304338286&total_comments=2&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R6%22} Facebook conversation]] confirmed that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and melted down. Only the Chalice still exists in full; most of the Talisman was melted down by the winner. [[https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-quest-for-the-reallife-treasures-of-ataris-swordquest A later investigation]] revealed that there had in fact been a quiet, semi-secret contest among the 10 the winners of Waterworld, as the game had been released under the stipulation that the contest would go ahead and thus it legally had to be held. Who the 10 gamers that took part in the contest were, and which one ended up winning the Crown, is unknown.

* CutShort: Airworld and its accompanying comic book were never released (or, more accurately, they were barely started) due to the Crash.

* NamedworldAndNamedland: Earthworld, Fireworld, Waterworld, and Airworld.

Due to UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, only competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were ever held, and the Talisman and Chalice awarded. It was heavily rumored and/or joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but in 2015 a [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/1022951551069428/?comment_id=1023115711053012&reply_comment_id=1023596304338286&total_comments=2&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R6%22} Facebook conversation]] confirmed that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and melted down. Only the Chalice still exists in full; most of the Talisman was melted down by the winner. [[https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-quest-for-the-reallife-treasures-of-ataris-swordquest A later investiagtion]] revealed that there had in fact been quiet, semi-secret contest among the 10 the winners of Waterworld, as the game had been released under the stipulation that the contest would go ahead and thus it legally had to be held. Who the 10 gamers that took part in the contest were, and which one ended up winning the Crown, is unknown.

* The first release, in late '82, was ''Swordquest: Earthworld''. You play a FeaturelessProtagonist, who doesn't look anything like Torr or Tarra, just a guy in a blue shirt. He wanders around 12 rooms, one for each of the signs of the Zodiac. You've got some StandardRPGItems; a Dagger, a Grappling Hook, Rope, a Short Sword, Leather Armor, a Lamp, Shoes of Stealth, a Cloak of Invisibility, an Amulet, a Ring, a Necklace, a Talisman, Food and Drink, a Pitcher of Water, and a Key. And you've got some {{Mini Game}}s, mostly based on ''VideoGame/{{Frogger}}''. But the items [[PlotCoupon don't do anything]] except allow you to skip some of the minigames. There are no enemies, no chasms to cross, nothing to feed, and nothing to sneak past. The only thing you actually do is carry the objects from room to room. With trial and error, you eventually find the combinations of objects in rooms that reveal clues. If you get all 10 clues, then you get to [[AWinnerIsYou see the title screen again]], and you're given the completely useless Warrior's Sword. A clue hidden in the manual tells you how to assemble the clues into the correct sentence. So it works as a contest tool, but not as a game in itself.
* The second game, ''Swordquest: Fireworld'', is an ObviousBeta. Some of the minigames are virtually {{Unwinnable}}. If you hit a wall just right, you warp through it or get stuck. And the clues aren't even there, just numbers from 00 to 09, [[PermanentPlaceholder placeholders]] for clues that were never coded.
* ''Swordquest: Waterworld'' is considered the best of the three. It doesn't have ''Fireworld'''s bugs, and it gives you clues to the item/room combinations. But gameplay is still just a matter of hauling stuff from room to room. UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 had hit by this time, so ''Waterworld'' saw only a limited release.

----

* RPGElements: The items look like StandardRPGItems, but they're just {{Plot Coupon}}s.

Ok, but what about gameplay?

In 1982, Creator/{{Atari}}, at the height of its power during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames, decided to do a sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}''. The ideas they came up with were ''very'' ambitious: A four-part RolePlayingGame series, built around a [[FictionalMysteryRealPrize series of contests for big-buck real world prizes]]. They came up with a story about two brave young adventurers, Torr and Tarra, and their quest for the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery. They threw in every ancient and mystic [[FauxSymbolism symbol]] they could think of: The [[ElementalPowers Four Elements]], the WesternZodiac, the UsefulNotes/{{Kabbalah}} Tree of Life, the Chakra points, and the I Ching. They commissioned the Franklin Mint to make five prizes, worth a total of $150,000, and hired Creator/DCComics to make a comic book for each game that would set the story, and hold clues for the contests.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/01e5376d82699258ebf6cc3467130d48.jpg]]

WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd did a [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal rather respectful review]] (contrary to [[CausticCritic his]] [[ClusterFBomb usual]] [[AccentuateTheNegative style]]) of the series, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWltQ9UN5vE which can be seen here]].

Due to UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, only competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were ever held, and the Talisman and Chalice awarded. It was heavily rumored and/or joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but in 2015 a [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/1022951551069428/?comment_id=1023115711053012&reply_comment_id=1023596304338286&total_comments=2&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R6%22} Facebook conversation]] confirmed that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and melted down. Only the Chalice still exists in full; most of the Talisman was melted down by the winner.

* The first release, in late '82, was ''Swordquest: Earthworld''. You play a FeaturelessProtagonist, who doesn't look anything like Torr or Tarra, just a guy in a blue shirt. He wanders around 12 rooms, one for each of the signs of the Zodiac. You've got some StandardRPGItems; a Dagger, a Grappling Hook, Rope, a Short Sword, Leather Armor, a Lamp, Shoes of Stealth, a Cloak of Invisibility, an Amulet, a Ring, a Necklace, a Talisman, Food and Drink, a Pitcher of Water, and a Key. And you've got some {{Mini Game}}s, mostly based on ''{{Frogger}}''. But the items [[PlotCoupon don't do anything]] except allow you to skip some of the minigames. There are no enemies, no chasms to cross, nothing to feed, and nothing to sneak past. The only thing you actually do is carry the objects from room to room. With trial and error, you eventually find the combinations of objects in rooms that reveal clues. If you get all 10 clues, then you get to [[AWinnerIsYou see the title screen again]], and you're given the completely useless Warrior's Sword. A clue hidden in the manual tells you how to assemble the clues into the correct sentence. So it works as a contest tool, but not as a game in itself.

Due to UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were held, and the Talisman and Chalice were awarded. It was joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but in 2015 a [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/1022951551069428/?comment_id=1023115711053012&reply_comment_id=1023596304338286&total_comments=2&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R6%22} Facebook conversation]] confirmed that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and melted down. Only the Chalice still exists in full; most of the Talisman was melted down by the winner.

* ''Swordquest: Waterworld'' is considered the best of the three. It doesn't have ''Fireworld'''s bugs, and it gives you clues to the item/room combinations. But gameplay is still just a matter of hauling stuff from room to room. TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 had hit by this time, so ''Waterworld'' saw only a limited release.

Due to the TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were held, and the Talisman and Chalice were awarded. It was joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but in 2015 a [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/1022951551069428/?comment_id=1023115711053012&reply_comment_id=1023596304338286&total_comments=2&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R6%22} Facebook conversation]] confirmed that they were returned to the Franklin Mint and melted down. Only the Chalice still exists in full; most of the Talisman was melted down by the winner.

Due to the TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were held, and the Talisman and Chalice were awarded. It was joked that the Crown, Stone, and Sword were [[UrbanLegend in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984]], but it's more likely they were just returned to the Franklin Mint.

[[caption-width-right:350:The most expensive video game contest never completed]]

In 1982, Creator/{{Atari}}, at the height of its power during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames, decided to do a sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}''. The ideas they came up with were ''very'' ambitious: A four-part RolePlayingGame series, built around a [[FictionalMysteryRealPrize series of contests for big-buck real world prizes]]. They came up with a story about two brave young adventurers, Torr and Tarra, and their quest for the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery. They threw in every ancient and mystic [[FauxSymbolism symbol]] they could think of: The [[ElementalPowers Four Elements]], the WesternZodiac, the UsefulNotes/{{Kabbalah}} Tree of Life, the Chakra points, and the I Ching. They commissioned the Franklin Mint to make five prizes, worth a total of $150,000, and hired DCComics to make a comic book for each game that would set the story, and hold clues for the contests.

Due to the TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, competitions for ''Earthworld'' and ''Fireworld'' were held, and the Talisman and Chalice were awarded. The Crown, Stone, and Sword were believed to be in the possession of Jack Tramiel, who bought Atari in 1984.

* CutShort: Airworld and its accompanying comic book were never released due to the Crash.

* ObviousBeta: ''Fireworld''.

->''Come questing with bold siblings twain,''\\

''To claim a prize most rare.''

In 1982, {{Atari}}, at the height of its power during TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames, decided to do a sequel to ''VideoGame/{{Adventure}}''. The ideas they came up with were ''very'' ambitious: A four-part RolePlayingGame series, built around a [[FictionalMysteryRealPrize series of contests for big-buck real world prizes]]. They came up with a story about two brave young adventurers, Torr and Tarra, and their quest for the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery. They threw in every ancient and mystic [[FauxSymbolism symbol]] they could think of: The [[ElementalPowers Four Elements]], the WesternZodiac, the {{Kabbalah}} Tree of Life, the Chakra points, and the I Ching. They commissioned the Franklin Mint to make five prizes, worth a total of $150,000, and hired DCComics to make a comic book for each game that would set the story, and hold clues for the contests.

* TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames
* TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983: The contest never finished because of it.

* The second game, ''Swordquest: Fireworld'', is an ObviousBeta. Some of the minigames are virtually {{Unwinnable}}. If you hit a wall just right, you warp through it or get stuck. And the clues aren't even there, just numbers from 00 to 09, placeholders for clues that were never coded.