Montezuma's Return! Game by Take 2/ Tarantula Reviewed by The Avardancer Size: 8 megabits (1 megabyte) Save: Password Released: 1998 Works with: Any version of Game Boy. **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: As you probably know by reading some of my other reviews; I owned a Commodore 64. One of my favorite games for it was "Montezuma's Return". (Or was it Montezuma's Revenge? I don't remember.) Any ways, I used to play this game with a joystick and one button. Yup, I was an old school player. So, that was then. This is now. Now, Take 2 has made a Game Boy Color sequel (?) to the first game for every one to enjoy. I hope that they have not messed up the true nature of the game that I used to spend hours playing. I won't be happy if they did. No, I would not be very happy, whatsoever. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: years and hundreds of games later; I have come to to the strange realisation that the game I loved may not be "all that". Or is it? The basic point of the game is to get to the bottom of the pyramid and retrieve a treasure. The pyramid is huge and has many rooms. To help newbie players, a password is given at certain spots, along with a map. (As if any of the experienced people use those. The first game didn't have them; it didn't need them.) Anyways, a new "built-in" timer is added to make sure that you do not stay in one spot for too long. A bat comes up and trys to grab you and you have to out-run it. For a real challenge stay in a room until the bat comes around; and then run for the door before it grabs you. :) In order to beat enemies; you need to collect a knife and you can only hold a certain amount of items. Items are all one-use items. This means that a little bit of strategy is needed. The game is challenging because the character can die from some falls and can not touch enemies without a knife or a shield. The hero can also not stay in one place for too long without using the pause function. (Pause function? I never had a pause function. The players today are TOO soft.) Anyways, the game has a very large dungeon to explore; but the game is really about getting a high score. A real player should breeze through the game area in only about an hour or so. Meaning that the game could get repetitive for long trips. But the game does have a nostalgia factor and has some great challenges. The game can be frustrating for some players. Which is a shame really. Liked: Same game with a few new additions and it's still as challenging and fun as it was about 12 years ago. Hated: The challenge level can make some players cringe. (Ha. Ha. Ha.) **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The game never looked better. :) I do think that the main character looks like a dork now. (He looks like a Indy wannabe.) The old hero was a guy with a cool multi-color hat and no shoes. (He was the man!) This new guy looks better equiped for the adventure; but he just doesn't seem as cool. The game has more of a mysterious flavor to the graphics now. The color scheme is great. The game isn't too blurry on Game Boy; but it features no Super Game Boy compatability. The game looks it's best on Game Boy Color. With it's nice and subtle useage of color. The enemies are nice looking. I think the cover art on the cartridge is pretty ugly. But that's my only real complaint. Liked: The games use of color in a subtle and appealing way. Hated: The cover art of the cartridge. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: The game's sounds are intact! All the old sounds are here! I don't remember there being any music in the old one. The music in the new version is okay; but it isn't "Grammy Material". The game's music can be turned off; but it's okay enough that you don't really need to do that. :) The game's sounds are all sampled from the old game. Sniff. (Nostalgia...) I loved the sounds then and I still like them now. Some people may consider the sound that the hero makes when he jumps to be annoying. But, I find it to be exactly how I remember it and I'm glad. Liked: Brings mack good memories. Hated: May not bring back memories for some players; and they'll think it to be annoying. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: The play control is exactly the way it was before. The game feels more natural with a joystick. Any of the buttons jump. :) I can play it on Super Game Boy for hours with the arcade stick I have. I wish it had some type of Super Game Bay enchancements. The play control can be picky when it comes to hit detection or item detection. You need to be direct when you try to climb a ladder. You can miss jumps by a pixel. You need to practice a lot. :) The game is a platform game based on points. You have to run around collecting items and making difficult jumps. I like having to make jumps in a video game. (That's why Pitfall: Beyond the Jungle got such a good score from me. I like jumps that are like: "Boom. Boom. Boom." One after another. The game delivers. The area youplay in is nice and large. Not too much variety in the game; but that's okay. Liked: Responsive controls; although they are a bit too picky. Hated: The controls are overly picky in places. Novice players will get real mad; real quick. **************************************************************************** Improve: Save battery? Hide the ORIGINAL version in the game? Yup, those must be done. :) RIYL: Pitfall, exploration minded games like Gex, or older PC games. **************************************************************************** Final Words: I dig this game; because I've been around for a while and have truly fallen in love with the old game. This game is an update of the game I liked before; and now it's even more fun. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: **** Sound/Music: *** Play Control/Game Design: *** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 20 out of 25 Final Score: 80% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Infinite Lives For infinite lives, enter the password ELEPHANT. This is the last save point before the boss with a fair amount of lives: 6JYBSPPJ Walk Through Doors To walk through doors without unlocking them, enter the password SUNSHINE.