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GoNintendo 'End of day' thoughts - The Freshman 15: Pitfall: The Lost Expedition...I mean, Big Adventure

by rawmeatcowboy
25 September 2008
GN 1.0 / 2.0

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My evening off was actually quite busy…which sucked! Oh well, we are one day closer to the weekend. Let’s hope for a smooth Thursday. I am off to get some rest, but I’ll be back in just a few short hours. See you in a few, gang!

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Activision Blizzard snuck this sucker out onto store shelves with absolutely no fanfare. It didn’t get past me though! I wanted to know why they were being so quiet with this game. I mean, it’s not like the Pitfall name is a bad one. When you say Pitfall, most gamers know what you are talking about. On top of that, I actually enjoyed Pitfall: The Lost Expedition. I didn’t love it…it was just a middle-of-the-road platformer with some fun ideas. So…let’s see how The Big Adventure ranks…

Wait a minute…what’s going on here? Holy crap, now I know why Activision Blizzard was so quiet. This is nothing more than a port of the Cube game! We saw the three screens of The Big Adventure, and while they were identical to The Lost Expedition, most thought that Activision Blizzard was just ordering up a sequel with the same assets. I mean, they did say that the game was new, with a new dev team! Let me show you a portion of the press release that came out back in May…

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 12, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today “Pitfall: The Big Adventure” for Wii(TM) is in development at Edge of Reality and will swing onto shelves this Fall. With more than 10 million Pitfall titles sold to date, Pitfall: The Big Adventure will introduce the franchise to a new generation of gamers while bringing a fresh Pitfall experience to long time fans.

“Pitfall is one of the most legendary franchises in the history of videogames, so we look forward to releasing a new version exclusively for Wii,” said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. “What could be more fun than using the Wii Remote(TM) to swing on a vine over blood thirsty crocodiles as retro-cool Pitfall Harry?!”

Set in the Peruvian jungle, Pitfall: The Big Adventure combines the action of reptile dodging and vine swinging with clever puzzles. The game will feature over 60 levels spanning lush rainforests, creature-filled caves, and glacial mountains. Within these dynamic worlds, players will explore cavernous jungles, discover lost treasures, battle shamen, narrowly escape treacherous traps and outwit creatures using innovative, accessible game mechanics developed specifically to take advantage of the Wii motion sensing controls.

“Wii is a natural and perfect fit for a Pitfall game, and it’s been fantastic to revolutionize this classic franchise through the application of the innovative Wii game mechanics. It’s a completely new experience for the gamer,” said Binu Philip, President, Edge of Reality.

What a slimy, slimy way to get more money out of people. I bet this port hardly cost Activision Blizzard any money, which means that they should be able to make some bank, even if the game hardly moves any units. If you bought The Lost Expedition, you have no reason to pick up The Big Adventure. Seriously…it’s the same damn game with Wiimote controls. We’ve seen ports before, but this is the first time a developer/publisher was extra shady about their wording.

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The damn game even includes the same bonuses…as if it were some great accomplishment to port over the same two classic titles that came with The Lost Expedition!

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Man, I seriously cannot believe that Activision Blizzard went out of their way to not say port. It just seems awfully underhanded, don’t you think? Anyway…if you want to, you can check out some footage from The Big Adventure below. Watch it, and enjoy the fact that you are now better-informed!