You can finally play Pitfall on your Android

Well, it is about time! Pitfall, the popular game from Activision, is finally out for Android. The game was originally released for the Atari 2600 game console way back in 1982. Given that this is the 30th anniversary the company decided to bring the game back to life for today's popular gaming systems - mobile phones.

Pitfall rolled out to iOS devices way back in August with the promise that it would also launch on Android. It took Activision until the very end of the year, just a few days before Christmas as a matter of fact, but the gaming company finally made good on that promise.

The game has been updated -- no more Atari graphics. Now it looks much more like a modern video game, but with a nod to the past, the company uses video from the original game in the pre-roll.

"On his 30th Anniversary, take control of Pitfall Harry once again in PITFALL!, inspired by the 1982 Classic that started it all, now re-envisioned and re-booted on Android!"

In the new version, players can collect diamonds and use them to trade for "power ups". In addition, unlike the original game, you can start from the most recent checkpoint that you have passed. However, there are still pits to cross via swinging vines and obstacles to avoid by jumping or sliding. There are also creatures, like poisonous snakes, blocking your path.

"As the iconic Pitfall Harry, test your skills by racing through jungles, caves and native villages while avoiding death-defying obstacles such as fiery volcanic flames, tumbling ancient artifacts, and narrow cliff side pathways."

Controls are handled by swiping up to jump, down to slide, tapping to crack the whip and tilting your device to move from side to side on the trail.

The game is free from the Google Play store and makes for a fun little time-waster. And, for those of us who grew up with the Atari 2600, it provides a bit of nostalgia.

Martin's take

I have installed Pitfall on my phone and played the game for a while. While it still resembles the old game in terms of the Indiana Jones like character, traps and snakes - shudder - it is a remake that is faster paced than the original. In fact, it reminded me more about Temple Run than Pitfall to be totally honest. Once you start a game you find out that your character is running on its own around on the map. All you need to do is tap, slide or tilt to prevent running into one of the obstacles in the course. When you swipe up for instance you jump over to jump over obstacles on the ground or to catch a liana to safely cross a chasm.

So, the new Pitfall is more a game of reaction than it is of strategy. You no longer have to think about how you get across to the next part of the level, all you have to do is react in time to execute the one solution that won't stop your run right away.

It is not a bad game for that, it is fast paced, graphics are quite good and it is fun for a while just like Alan said. I can't really see myself playing the game too much though as it gets repetitive pretty fast. Maybe I just did not make it far enough to see some alternatives though, so let me know if you find something deeper in the game that makes it worthwhile playing on.

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