Pharaoh's Tomb

Pharaoh's Tomb

Screenshot of Level 1
Developer(s) Micro F/X Software
Publisher(s) Apogee Software
Designer(s) George Broussard
Engine FAST
Platform(s) DOS
Release date(s) 1990
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player
Distribution Floppy disk

Pharaoh's Tomb is a DOS platform game created by George Broussard and published by Apogee Software. The protagonist, Nevada Smith (a play on Indiana Jones), is an archaeologist and adventurer who is exploring an Egyptian pyramid.

The game features CGA graphics based on the FAST (Fluid Animation Software Technology) engine. Notoriously, objects' positions are determined by their bounding volumes, not their pixel precise positions on screen.

Gameplay

Gameplay is straightforward. In each level, the player navigates and avoids obstacles by jumping or falling, evading or killing enemies, and find keys to exit each level. Nevada Smith has no life bar, and is killed instantly when he touches enemies or traps. Lethal obstacles include pyramid themed traps, such as blocks that fire projectiles when Smith passes in front of them, wall spikes, ceiling spikes and floor spikes. Navigational challenges include moving platforms and elevators. Bonus points are randomly concealed in some bricks, which are awarded when hit from below. The game contains many dead-ends as 'traps' where Smith can become permanently stuck, forcing the player to either quit or reload a saved game. Collecting 100 coins or 5 masks earns the player an extra life.

Release

Pharaoh's Tomb was distributed as shareware. The game consists of four episodes, with only the first episode distributed as shareware, and the rest available commercially. There are 20 levels in each episode, each level consisting of a single room. The episodes are:

The game was discontinued on March 2, 2000, and was released as freeware on March 20, 2009.[1]

A sequel, Arctic Adventure, based on the same engine, features Nevada Smith as the protagonist and has similar gameplay.

Reception

Computer Gaming World called Pharaoh's Tomb "lively and imaginative", praising the FAST engine's animation and level design. The magazine said that the low price of the full game made it an "outstanding value".[2]

Trivia

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Several old games released as Freeware". 3DRealms. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  2. ↑ Lasky, Michael S. (March 1991). "Share the Wealth". Computer Gaming World. p. 63. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

External links