Pharaoh's Curse (video game)

File:Pharaoh's Curse Cover.jpg Cover art
Publisher(s)	Synapse Software
Designer(s)	Steve Coleman
Platforms	Atari 8-bit, C64, VIC-20
Release date(s)	1983
Genre(s)	Platform game
Mode(s)	Single-player

Pharaoh's Curse is a 1983 platform adventure game written by Steve Coleman and published by Synapse Software for the Atari 8-bit family. Coleman also wrote Rainbow Walker for Synapse. Pharaoh's Curse was ported to the Commodore 64 and VIC-20. In Pharaoh's Curse the player attempts to collect 16 treasures from an Egyptian tomb while avoiding the pharaoh, his mummy, and various traps.

Gameplay

File:Pharaohs curse ingame.png

The hero waits at the top of the screen for a trap to return into the ground before retrieving the treasure to the right. The Pharaoh is at the bottom.

For many centuries the treasures of the pharaoh's lied hidden in his tomb until the player discovered the entrance.

In Pharaoh's Curse, one must collect one treasure from each of the screens of the game laid out in a 4x4 matrix. An extra life is awarded for each treasure found, and which treasures are still missing from the tomb is displayed in a summary line at the top. While playing, there appear regularly two opponents, the pharaoh and the mummy, which then chase the player. The player should shoot them faster than they may do this with the player. Also, visible traps are arranged in the screen, which are triggered after a short delay by stepping on them. Additionally, there are keys which may open magic gates, whereas a key may not be transported through an also already opened gate - so one must collect a key nearby the desired gate. Lastly, there is a flying creature, the Winged Avenger, which picks the player on contact, carries him through the screens and drops him somewhere.

Once all treasures have been collected, the player must still escape into the starting screen. Subsequently, one receives a level password and the game restarts in a higher of the four difficulty levels. On leaving a screen there will be switched to the next one.

Reception

Antic gave the game a favorable review, saying "Pharaoh's Curse will appeal to all computerists and gamesters... It's another winner from Synapse." HI-Res said "This Tutankham takeoff is marvelous and the Joystick capability is magnificent." Personal Computer Games gave the VIC-20 version an 8 out of 10 rating, saying "The basic idea behind Pharaoh's Curse isn't particularly new, but there are enough original touches to give a unique feel to the game. The program is visually attractive, easy to grasp, and great fun to play." They later awarded it the title of VIC-20 game of the year.

Defunct Games gave it a B grade, saying it held a special place in his heart and that "I remember an ever-present desire to play this game whenever I had the chance."

External links

• Atari Mania entry
• Unauthorized Amiga version from 1990