Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure

From Sega Retro

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Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega CD, Sega 32X, Virtual Console
Publisher: Activision
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a platform game developed and published by Activision in 1994. It is part of the Pitfall series, and is notable for being one of the few games to be released on both the Sega 32X and Sega Mega CD Sega Mega Drive add-ons, as well as being a stand-alone title for the standard Mega Drive system. It was also released for the Atari Jaguar, Super Nintendo, Windows and more recently the Game Boy Advance. The Mega Drive version has since been released on the Wii's Virtual Console service.

In the game the player controls Pitfall Harry Jr., the son of the hero from the first game(s) who must rescue his father. The original Atari 2600 Pitfall! game is also hidden and can be played.

The game was highly praised for its detailed graphics and smooth animations, similar to Aladdin. Though the 32X version of the game has a larger color palette, it is let down by slower framerates. The Mega CD version, as well as including a CD audio soundtrack, contains full motion video sequences.

One weird thing is that the Nordic rental version had different artwork. The hero is almost the same but under him you'll see two crocodiles.

Production Credits

Mega Drive Version

Producers: Nathalie Deschatres, John Spinale
Programmed By: George Allan
Lead Designer: John Spinale
Level Design: Scott Krager, David Pavoni, John Spinale
Additional Design:Nathalie Deschatres, Tin Guerrero, Sean Vesce
Associate Producer: Kelly W Rogers
Production Assistant: Sean Vesce
Background Art: Lin Shen, Tim May
Additional Tile Art: Scott Krager
Animation and Rendering: Danny Matson
Additional Rendering: Evelyn Hom, Kara Blohm
Art Processing: Thomas Lamb, Christopher Smith
Quality Assurance Director: Jon Doellstedt
Lead Tester: Tin Guerrero
Game Testers: Chuck Bonini, Brian Clarke, Michael Dunn, Andrew Held, Abe Heward, Dan Kamins, Seiken Nakama, Matt Pekarek, Chris Pike, Kenny Ramirez, Mike Schneider, Christopher Smith, Dustin Sorenson, Rawson Law Stovall
Additional Testing By: Lobotomy Software Inc, Gametest
Development Tools: George Allan, Dan Chang
Background Conversion By Cygnus Multimedia: Les Pardew, Ruth Stahnke, Sharon Cunningham, Robert Swindlehurst, Winter Jenssen
Color Coordination: Lin Shen
Original Animation By Kroyer Films

Director: Bill Kroyer
Supervising Art Director: Sue Kroyer
Animators: Joe McDonough, Charles Harvey, Jaqueline Corley, Jeff Johnson, Roger Vizard, Thomas Decker
Effects Animators: Sari Gennis, Kathleen Quaife Hodge, Brett Hisey
Assistant Animators: Jan Naylor, Richardo Echevarria, Bob Miller
Color Stylist: Christopher Naylor, Leslie Hinton
Layout Supervisor: Anthony Christov
Background Printer and Box Illustrator: Nadia Staroselska
Character Designs: David Boudreau
Additional Animation: Shane Zalvin, Wendy Perdue, Chris Sauve, Sue Zytka, Mark Pudleiner
Production Managers: Jan Naylor, Steve Kellener
Production Assistants: Josh Williams, Brian Masters
Animation Processing By Freestyle

Animation Rendering By Karen Johnson Productions

Producer: Denise Roberts McKee
Art Director: Karen Johnson
Pixel Retouch Artists: Robert Churchill, Paul E Nunn, Mary Kay Omelina

Original Music and Sound Effects By Soundelux Media Labs
Music and Sound Effects Conversion By Krisalis

Audio By: Matt Furniss
Music Driver By: S Hollingworth

Special Thanks To: The Atari 2600, Esther the Squish, David Crane, Ritchie Brannan, Ashley Bennet, Gordon and Others, Peter Doctorow, Jefferson Eliot, Garry B Frank, Alan Gershenfeld, Brian Kelly, Tom Ketola, Robert Kotick, Howard Marks, The Mayan Civilization, Jim Mitchell, Tom Sloper, Trish Wright, And the Fellas Down South

32X Version

Consulting Producers: Nathalie Deschatres, John Spinale
Associate Producer: Kelly W Rogers
Production Coordinators: Tin Guerrero, Scott Krager
Original Genesis Programming: George Allan
Original Sega CD Programming: Tom McWilliams, George Allan
32X Conversion: Zombie Virtual Reality Entertainment, Big Bang Software
32X Programmers: Robert Champagne, Chris Phillips
Lead Designer: John Spinale
Level Design: Tin Guerrero, Scott Krager, David Pavoni, John Spinale
Additional Design:Nathalie Deschatres, Sean Vesce
Quality Assurance Director: Jon Doellstedt
Quality Assurance Manager: David Arnspiger
Lead Tester: Rawson Stovall
Game Testers: Chuck Bonini, Abe Heward, Roy Houlette, Douglas Jacobs, Lucas Johnson Yahraus, David King, David Meyers, Kenny Ramirez, Mike Schneider
Development Tools: George Allan, Dan Chang, Psyq, Rob Northern Computing, Snasm
Package Design: Ron Graening
Documentation Manager: Michael Rivera
Copywriter: Veronica Milito
Manual Layout: Sylvia Orzel
256 Color Art:

Art Director: Danny Matson

Animation Rendering By Karen Johnson Productions

Producer: Denise Roberts McKee
Art Director: Karen Johnson, Mary Kay Omelina
Pixel Retouch Artists: Lance Dobersek, Paul E Nunn, Mary Kay Omelina

Background Conversion By Cygnus Multimedia

Manager: Ruth Stahnke
Sub Manager: Tylor Lybbert
Artists: Paul Bangerter, Kari Christensen, Carson Davidson, Matt Davis, Mary Gurr, Sterling Hirsch, Kathleen Lowe, Murphy Michaels, Eric Nunamaker, Jason Price, Brad Swindlehurst, Alan Twe, Ryan Wood,

Original Art:

Background Art: Lin Shen, Tim May
Additional Tile Art: Scott Krager
Animation and Rendering: Danny Matson

Background Conversion By Cygnus Multimedia Original Animation By Kroyer Films

Director: Bill Kroyer
Supervising Art Director: Sue Kroyer

Animators: Joe McDonough, Charles Harvey, Jaqueline Corley, Jeff Johnson, Roger Vizard, Thomas Decker

Effects Animators: Sari Gennis, Kathleen Quaife Hodge, Brett Hisey
Assistant Animators: Jan Naylor, Richardo Echevarria, Bob Miller
Color Stylist: Christopher Naylor, Leslie Hinton
Layout Supervisor: Anthony Christov
Background Painter: Nadia Staroselska
Character Designs: David Boudreau
Additional Animation: Shane Zalvin, Wendy Perdue, Chris Sauve, Sue Zytka, Mark Pudleiner
Production Managers: Jan Naylor, Steve Kellener
Production Assistants: Josh Williams, Brian Masters

Animation Processing By Freestyle
Animation Rendering By Karen Johnson Productions
Original Music and Sound Effects By Soundelux Media Labs

Soundtrack Produced By: Scott Martin Gershin, Kelly Walker Rogers
Composers: Lee Scott, Robert Higgins, David Kneupper,
Sound Design: Michael Regan, Craon Weidner

Sound Effects Conversion By Krisalis

FM SFX: Matt Furniss
FMDriver By: S Hollingworth

Special Thanks To: The Atari 2600, Ryan Ayanian, David Crane, Mary Eubank, Alan Gershenfeld, Lary Goldberg, Our Hamster, Eric Johnson, Brian Kelly, Robert Kotick, Maryanne Lataif, Mark Long, Howard Marks, The Mayan Civilization, Jim Mitchell, Tom Sloper, The Smashing Pumpkins, And the Fellas Down South

Physical Scans

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
89
91 №157
74
89
77
85
89 №27, p92/93/94
92
91 №62
Sega Mega Drive
86
Based on
9 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[1]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[2]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
91
[3]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)
93
[4]
Digitiser (UK)
83
[5]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
100
[6]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[7]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
70
[8]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU)
70
[9]
Freak (IL)
81
[10]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
89
[11]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
77
[12]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[13]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
81
[14]
Gamestar (AU)
91
[15]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
84
[16]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
69
[17]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[18]
Joypad (FR) PAL
85
[19]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
78
[20]
Mega (UK) PAL
88
[21]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
89
[22]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
85
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
89
[24]
Player One (FR)
92
[25]
Play Time (DE) PAL
85
[26]
Sega Magazin (DE)
79
[27]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
89
[28]
Sega News (CZ)
73
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
91
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[31]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
78
[32]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
86
[33]
Todo Sega (ES)
89
[34]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
89
[35]
Video Games (DE) PAL
86
[36]
VideoGames (US)
90
[37]
Sega Mega Drive
84
Based on
37 reviews

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure

Mega Drive, US
PitfalltMA MD US Box.jpg
Cover
PitfalltMA MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
PtMA MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR

PitfalltMA MD BR cart.jpg
Cart

Mega CD Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
76
80
80
90
Sega Mega-CD
82
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
76
[38]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
80
[39]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[40]
Joypad (FR)
80
[41]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
80
[42]
Mega Fun (DE)
85
[43]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
25
[44]
Player One (FR)
90
[45]
Play Time (DE)
85
[46]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[47]
Video Games (DE) PAL
86
[48]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[49]
Sega Mega-CD
80
Based on
12 reviews

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure

Mega CD, US
PitfalltMA MCD US Box Back.jpgPitfalltMA MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
PitfalltMA MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Mega CD, EU
PitfalltMA MCD EU Box Back.jpgPitfalltMA MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover

32X Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
66
71
Sega 32X
69
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
66
[50]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
71
[51]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
62
[52]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
68
[53]
GamePro (UK)
81
[54]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
67
[55]
Next Generation (US)
50
[56]
Sega 32X
66
Based on
7 reviews

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure

32X, US
PitfalltMA 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
  1. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 177
  2. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 157
  3. Computer & Video Games, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 51
  4. Computer + Video Giochi, "Dicembre 1994" (IT; 1994-xx-xx), page 108
  5. Digitiser (UK) (1995-01-02)
  6. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 116
  7. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 42
  8. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 347
  9. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 213
  10. Freak, "1/95" (IL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  11. GameFan, "Volume 2, Issue 12: December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 26
  12. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 128
  13. GamePro, "November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 82
  14. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 4, episode 8" (1994-11-08, 24:00) (+9:27)
  15. Gamestar, "February 1995" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 71
  16. Games World: The Magazine, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-xx), page 15
  17. Game Informer, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 20
  18. Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 114
  19. Joypad, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 78
  20. MAN!AC, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-09), page 73
  21. Mega, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-30), page 24
  22. Mega Force, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-12-02), page 50
  23. Mega Fun, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-21), page 36
  24. Mean Machines Sega, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-30), page 92
  25. Player One, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 90
  26. Play Time, "1/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 109
  27. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1994" (DE; 1994-11-17), page 31
  28. Sega Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 88
  29. Sega News, "Říjen 1996" (CZ; 1996-xx-xx), page 24
  30. Sega Power, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-17), page 50
  31. Sega Pro, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-01), page 74
  32. Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 113
  33. Sonic the Comic, "3rd March 1995" (UK; 1995-02-18), page 10
  34. Todo Sega, "Enero 1995" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  35. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 21
  36. Video Games, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 104
  37. VideoGames, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 64
  38. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  39. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 3 March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 74
  40. GamePro, "March 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 54
  41. Joypad, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 54
  42. MAN!AC, "05/95" (DE; 1995-04-12), page 47
  43. Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 84
  44. Next Generation, "April 1995" (US; 1995-03-21), page 95
  45. Player One, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 119
  46. Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 108
  47. Sega Pro, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-29), page 57
  48. Video Games, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-23), page 87
  49. VideoGames, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 80
  50. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 38
  51. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 9: September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 16
  52. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 10 October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 46
  53. GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 68
  54. GamePro, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-28), page 29
  55. Game Informer, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 51
  56. Next Generation, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 118