Pit_ The  (1983 - HESware)
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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The Pit is an arcade action game where the player controls an astronaut-explorer on an alien planet. The object of this game is to dig down to the bottom pit and collect at least one large jewel and then return to the spaceship through the upper pit.

The game starts with the players' spaceship landing in the top left and an enemy tank and monsters enter from the top right. The player must dig through a series of underground tunnels, while avoiding monsters and falling rocks. When the player reaches the bottom pit, arrows start falling down. After collecting at least one large jewel the player must return to the spaceship.

Players get 3 lives but losing a life essentially starts a new game, so all collected jewels are restored and new tunnels are erased. The area is laid out in such a way that the player must always return through the upper pit which is filled with acid. When entering the upper pit, the orange platform starts collapsing so the player must quickly run across to the exit. The tank in the top right essentially acts as a timer. It shoots through the mountain eventually destroying the spaceship. The player loses a life when the spaceship is destroyed.

The player moves slower when digging through dirt compared to walking through already digged out tunnels. To dig through the dirt the player must be aligned up perfectly, making some moves tricky to perform. This is especially noticeable when trying the move into a sideways tunnel to avoid an enemy, or when exiting the bottom pit. The player can shoot a laser to destroy monsters, but he can only shoot horizontally, he can't shoot up or down.

Trivia

TV Show Reference

The Pit can be seen in the 1984 New Zealand TV series Children of the Dog Star. The main characters play it on an arcade cabinet in the grocery store.

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From manual :

OBJECT OF THE GAME 

As a miner of rare and ancient jewels, you must burrow 
your way through planetary rock to locate and pick up the 
gems. Robots continually patrol the pit and you must 
dodge them or kill them off to protect yourself. Gather as 
many gems as you can, but you must have at least one 
large gem before you can return to your spaceship. You 
start each expedition with 4 lives. Select one or two 
players at the start by moving the joystick— up for one 
player or down for two players. 

ROBOTS 

Robots chase you relentlessly through the pit, and their 
touch means instant death. 

THE TANK 

The tank on the planet's surface punches away at the 
mountain and you must return to your spaceship before 
the mountain is destroyed. 

FALLING ROCKS 

Rocks lodged on the cavern walls fall when you blast away 
the dirt supporting them. Beware of falling rocks— they are 
certain death if you are in the way. 

THE GEMS 

You will find two types ot gems in the pit. The smaller gems 
are easier to grab. The larger gems are protected by 
deadly missiles in the lower pit. You have to be quick and 
clever to get through the lower pit without getting 
destroyed or trapped. 

THE PIT MONSTER 

II you have survived all these obstacles, you must return to 
your ship. But in order to leave the pit, you have to pass 
through the only remaining exit controlled by a force field. 
To make matters worse, a hungry pit monster swimming in 
slime guards the exit 

SCORING 

Small Gem 1 000 points 

Large Gem 2000 points 

Shooting a Robot 1 00 points 

Return to ship with 1 large jewel 5000 bonus points 

Return to ship with 3 large jewels OR 

4 small jewels 1 0000 bonus points 

Return to ship with all 7 jewels 15000 bonus points 

ENTERING YOUR SCORE 

Enter your initials on the list of scores moving the joystick 
to cycle through the alphabet 


http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/pit
