Apventure to Atlantis
Name: Apventure to Atlantis
Programmer(s): Robert Clardy
Publisher: Synergistic
Year: 1982
Description: Crazy flying machines called Ornathopters orbs of power... This was a follow up to the Odyssey.
Apventure to Atlantis launched in 1981 for the Apple II as a sequel to the popular "Odyssey: The Compleat Apventure." Created by Robert Clardy's Synergistic Software, this action-adventure game put players in an underwater quest to find the lost city of Atlantis.
Players navigate through multiple underwater zones using simple keyboard controls. The game combines exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving elements. As players dive deeper, they encounter sea creatures and Atlantean defenders while managing their limited oxygen supply. The quest involves collecting ancient artifacts and discovering the secrets of Atlantis.
The game uses the Apple II's high-resolution graphics mode to create detailed underwater scenes, which was impressive for 1981. Different colors represent various depths and obstacles, while simple but effective animation brings sea creatures to life. The game features basic sound effects for movement and combat.
A unique feature is the mix of action and strategy elements. Players must carefully plan their oxygen usage while deciding whether to fight or avoid enemies. The game includes an inventory system for managing collected items and weapons. Multiple paths through the game allow for different approaches to reaching Atlantis.
The game earned praise for its ambitious scope and variety of gameplay elements. It improved upon its predecessor with larger game areas and more complex puzzles. While challenging, the difficulty curve allows players to gradually master the controls and mechanics.
Apventure to Atlantis represents an early example of world-building in computer games. The underwater setting and Atlantis theme were uncommon for its time, when most games featured space or fantasy settings. The game influenced later adventure games by showing how to combine action, exploration, and inventory management.
The technical achievements include smooth character movement and efficient memory usage, important features given the Apple II's limitations. The game requires 48K of RAM, which was the maximum for most Apple II computers of that era.