Lost Tomb
Lost Tomb is an overhead-view multidirectional shooter written by Dan Lee and released in arcades by Stern Electronics in 1982. Armed with a gun and whip, the player uses dual joystick controls to explore the chambers of a South American pyramid looking for treasure and fighting off mummies and other occupants.[5] The game was Stern's first arcade conversion kit[6] and was intended for use with earlier titles from the company.[7]
Lost Tomb | |
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Developer(s) | Stern Electronics |
Publisher(s) | Stern Electronics Datasoft (ports) |
Programmer(s) | Arcade Dan Lee[1] Apple II Larry Lewis Atari 8-bit Bruce Adelstein[2] Commodore 64 Mark Brodie Troy Lyndon Robert Bobbio[3] |
Platform(s) | Arcade, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, IBM PC |
Release | 1982: Arcade 1984: Atari, Apple, C64, IBM PC |
Genre(s) | Multidirectional shooter |
Mode(s) | Single-player, 2 players alternating |
Cabinet | Upright |
Arcade system | Konami Scramble[4] |
CPU | 1 × Z80 @ 3.072 MHz |
Sound | 1 × Z80 @ 1.79 MHz 1 × AY-3-8910 @ 1.79 MHz |
In 1984, Datasoft published home ports for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and, as a self-booting disk, IBM PC compatibles.
Gameplay
The object of the game is to move through the rooms of the tomb, from the top of the pyramid to the base, collecting treasure and looking for the exit. Between rooms is an isometric-view hallway, where the player must run for the entrance of the next room before being attacked by bats.[8]
One joystick moves the player and the other fires the gun in a dual-stick shooter control mechanism. Pressing a button uses the whip, which destroys both nearby enemies and walls. Whips are limited.
Reception
In 1983, Video Games magazine called Lost Tomb, "the best Raiders of the Lost Ark-inspired game so far to hit the scene." The reviewer also commented, "the graphics are a bit murky" and "the play is overly complex for most novice arcade enthusiasts."[6]
References
- Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
- "Lost Tomb Atari home computer manual". archive.org. Datasoft. 1984.
- Lost Tomb at Lemon 64
- "Konami Scramble Hardware". System 16.
- "Lost Tomb". Arcade History.
- "Stern's Lost Tomb". Video Games. 1 (8): 66. May 1983.
- "Lost Tomb". Flyer Fever.
- Lost Tomb at the Killer List of Videogames
External links
- Lost Tomb at Atari Mania