Entombed (video game)
Entombed | |
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Single player |
Entombed is an action-adventure video game published by Ultimate Play the Game for the Commodore 64 in 1985. It is the second instalment of the Pendragon series and is a sequel to The Staff of Karnath. The game features series protagonist and aristocrat adventurer, Sir Arthur Pendragon, as he attempts to escape an ancient Egyptian tomb before all oxygen runs out. As with its predecessor, Entombed is presented in an isometric format.
The game was created and designed by brothers Dave and Bob Thomas, with Ultimate founders
Gameplay
The game is presented in an
Unlike other games from the Pendragon series, Entombed features no collectable items required to finish the game.[3] The player-character has a life bar, which will deplete every time he makes contact with an enemy. To replenish life, the player must kill crows which will spawn in rooms at various times, and upon its death the crow will drop an Ankh symbol, the ancient Egyptian "Symbol of Life".[4] If the player completely runs out of life or if all the oxygen runs out from the tomb, then the game will end.[4]
Development and release
Entombed took the longest to create as I decided to re-code the original Karnath engine to allow a much bigger area to explore.
Dave Thomas in an interview with Retro Gamer in March 2008[2]
The Pendragon series and The Staff of Karnath were created by brothers Dave and Robert "Bob" Thomas, rather than Ultimate founders Tim and Chris Stamper.
Reception
Publication | Score |
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Computer Gamer | [4] |
Publication | Award |
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Zzap!64 Game of the Month | Gold Medal[3] |
The game received positive reviews upon release. John Cook of
Cook praised the game's puzzle sections, comparing them more favourably than those of its predecessor, and summarised that the game was "definitely a must for any adventurer's collection".[1] Rignall stated that the puzzles "have logical and sometimes spectacular solutions" and similarly praised them more favourably than those in The Staff of Karnath. However, Rignall criticised the sprites of the game, asserting that they were "large and crude".[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Cook, John (9 May 1985). "Entombed review". Popular Computing Weekly (17): 18. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Carroll, Martyn (October 2008). "The Ultimate Adventure of Sir Arthur Pendragon" (PDF). Retro Gamer (56). Imagine Publishing: 48–53. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Entombed review (Zzap!64)". Zzap!64 (3): 22. July 1985. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Entombed review". Computer Gamer (4). Argus: 54. July 1985.
- ^ a b "Entombed review - CVG". Computer and Video Games (44): 112. June 1985. Retrieved 10 October 2015.