Atari's Classic 1979 'Adventure' Lands on the iPhone
posted by Blake Patterson on November 16th, 2008 3:18 PM EST in Adventure, Free, Puzzle, Retro, Upcoming Games, iPhone games, iPod touch games
In 1979 game desginer Warren Robinett created the world's first action-adventure game. It was called Adventure. It was released for the Atari 2600 game console. It was historic.
And thanks to Peter Hirschberg (of the Luna City Arcade!) it is now available for the iPhone [App Store]. And it's free.
The player's goal is simply to find the enchanted chalice and return it to the gold castle. The player character, represented by a square, explores a multi-screen landscape containing castles, mazes, and various rooms. Hidden throughout the world are a sword, keys to unlock each of the three castles (gold, black, and white), a magic bridge which allows the player to travel through a wall, and a magnet which will pull any of these objects toward it.
This truly is an historic arrival on the iPhone platform, but be forewarned: as the game features authentic Atari 2600 graphics–rather primitive by modern standards–only true retro gaming fans will likely find this to be an unavoidable App Store download. That said, we encourage gamers with even a causal fondness for the retro to check it out as well because…well…it's free and it's a great game.
App Store Link: Adventure, Free
YAY! Another classic! Is anyone else loving these retro titles?
How long before Atari sends Apple a cease-and-desist?
OHMYGODOHMYGOD!!
I LOVED this game!!! Getting the warm retro fuzzies big time now…
Soooo downloading this.
Ugh, once you enter the water maze thing, it becomes unplayable for me. You have to shift your iPhone to control the guy, and by shifting the iPhone, the colors shifts. Ugh, gave me a headache.
Give us a touch controls option!
Awesome, i was wishing for this very thing!
if only we could get a full 2600 emulator on the phone i was would be very happy indeed.
I still have fond memories of playing this ages ago. I'll certainly pick it up right away! Wonderful to see it back, but is this an official port? I doubt the code is PD.
Some of the comments in the iTunes store are just disgusting. There's complaints the graphics look like an Atari game. One guy calls it a retro version of Zelda and says they should "make the ball a stick person at least."
Hey guys. Glad you like and can appreciate the game. It's based off my simulation of the game (not emulated), for which the source code is available (http://peterhirschberg.com/adventure/index.htm) for anyone who wants to prove it's not emulated.
Enjoy!
-Peter
Hey guys. Glad you like and can appreciate the game. It's based off my simulation of the game (not emulated) 'Adventure: Revisited', for which the source code is available for anyone who wants to prove it's not emulated.
Enjoy!
-Peter
i don't think its that great. There aren't very in depth instructions or anything. I definitely appreciate retro games, but I think this one could have used a bit more polish on the menu screen and other small parts.
it is fairly faithful to actually game as there really wasn't a menu screen in Adventure or many 2600 games really. if you click on the info I on the game there are options for game variables and rumble, although i couldn't detect any rumbling in game with it on.
yes, yes, yes! great job!
i'm loving this game!
i gotta remember my way around the labyrinth for the bridge shortcut (little hint there for noobs
just aced level 1 – now time to have fun with bats and magnets in levels 2 and 3
Peter! When I wrote this post, the familiarity of your name triggered something in my mind, but I didn't follow up. I've updated the story to include a link to your site any my writeup of your wonderful Luna City Arcade.
(I got the invite for a game day, back in April or so, but had to leave town that weekend. I can't wait to set foot in your arcade sometime soon!)
This is not only awesome, it's wildly coincidental. Yesterday I was telling my 5 and 7 year old boys about how I used to play Atari 2600 and Adventure when I was a kid. We got home and low-and-behold, the game is released for the iPod touch. Needless to say, I downloaded it and showed it to them. The tilt controls for moving are a little weird, but none-the-less it is great, and well timed!
Does it have the secret author screen that was in the original?
Ok, now we need Demon Attack and Yar's Revenge.
I play the hell out of 2600 Demon Attack on my GP2X under Stella.
i 2nd yars revenge
also river run would do well with iphone tilt controls.
kaboom would work great with touch
if only apple would allow emulators
Adventure on the iPhone is all fine and well… But how about 3D Adventure as a Quake mod???
http://www.ataritimes.com/article.php?showarticle=268
CT – Apple and Pete would get cease and desist notices. It's a still actively used and protected IP, and even free downloads devalue that IP.
Adventure was my favorite Atari game when I was young. I downloaded and installed this right away. I'm surprised that after nearly 30 years I still remembered the way through the maze immediately.
Now someone needs to bring out a classic and updated version of Kaboom! Using your finger to move the buckets would be sweet !! Please Activision, Please !!
Oh Nooo! This game was an EPIC time suck as a kid … now it's on my iPhone – LOL!