enre: Adventure / Puzzle
Developer: Howard Scott Warshaw
Publisher: Atari, Inc.
Year: 1982
Platform: Atari VCS
Raiders of the Lost Ark is an adventure game released for the Atari VCS in November 1982. It is based on the 1981 film of the same name, and tasks the player with guiding Indiana Jones through various locations in search of the Ark of the Covenant, using both puzzle-solving and item-collection mechanics.
Players begin their quest in Cairo, moving through rooms such as a marketplace, an entrance chamber, and a temple. Key items such as the whip, gun, and parachute are required to progress through obstacles, enemies, and puzzles. A second joystick is used to select and drop items from the inventory, while the first joystick controls movement and item use.
Within the game are several distinct locations reflecting narrative beats: the Map Room where the location of the Ark is revealed; the Black Market where crucial supplies can be obtained; and the Mesa Field, which leads to the Well of Souls where the Ark is ultimately found. The game includes enemies such as snakes, bats, thieves, and other hazards. Players have a limited number of lives.
