Pitfall: The Lost Expedition

Pitfall:The Lost Expedition is a 2004 action adventure game developed for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Gamecube. To date, it is the final console release of the Pitfall series. Pitfall:The Lost Expedition was released on Nintendo Wii in 2008 as Pitfall: The Big Adventure.

Plot[]

It's 1935 and Pitfall Harry, the fearless, rough-and-ready treasure hunter from the Pitfall series returns to help a beautiful archaeologist rescue her father and thwart the evil Jonathan St. Claire from claiming the lost city of El Dorado. As Harry, players encounter various animal enemies, including scorpions, bats, piranhas, alligators and even penguins, as well as human adversaries under the leadership of the sinister St. Claire. Numerous abilities are at the player's disposal as Harry recovers pages of the Heroic Handbook. With his various items, Harry is equipped for almost anything. Harry will also find lost explorers and be rewarded with golden idols for his trouble, which he can then use as currency with the Shaman. And Pitfall Harry Jr. is on the expedition with his dad and Nicole McCallister.

Characters[]

Pitfall Harry

Allies[]

Nicole McCallister

Enemies[]

Gear[]

Canteen - Given by Pilot
Sling - Given by Bittenbinder
Torch - Given by Nicole
Shield - Given by Tribe Chief
Gas Mask - Claimed from Renegade stronghold
Pickaxes/Climbing Axes - Given by Nicole
Raft - Given by Leech
TNT /Dynamite- Given by Mole
Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches - Given by Pitfall Harry Jr.

Demos[]

The game had a few demos for each platform.

Demos featuring Native Jungle, Eyes of Doom, Mama Oullo Tower and Spinja Lair showcase early parts of the game and many of the aspects of these levels.

No level names are said when entering them as they are unfinished and level order was not likely confirmed yet.

The Canteen is available from the demo (in all demo levels in the top item slot), and Harry has full ten points of health (so equivalent to all health upgrades from the Shaman Shop in the full game).

Native Jungle has it's core aspects but the quick sand texture is different.

Upon getting into quick the demo offers a hint (it does at many keys points the player encounters for controls assistance): "GAH! Looks like the wet sands of the dark jungle have caught you... jump rapidly and try to find a low embankment to escape!"

Once Harry collects the idol at the end of the vines above the quick sand: "Ha! Treasure! Harry with your hands empty, reach out and garb valuables with the right analogue stick"

Once on the vine it will give a hint of: "You won't swing very far, harry, if you don't use your weight. Move the left analogue stick back and forth to gain some momentum and steer you to the next ledge! Move the right analogue stick forward to climb up, backward to slide down".

Once climbing over or rolling under the logs and approaching the Natives. A hint appears telling how to Sweep Kick: "Harry, those native masks make good shields! Hold R1 and press Square to sweep kick them onto their back before you punch".

Once approaching the sleeping monkeys area it informs how to sneak: "Shhh! Don't wake the monkeys! Harry, to sneak past, hold O/Circle while moving".

When near the Healing Water Statues it gives a hint about them saying: "Harry, press up on the d-pad to use your canteen and hold hold down on the right analogue stick. You'll replenish the healing water in your canteen straight from this magical fountain".

When near the hole to roll through it informs how to roll: "Woah, that hole down there is tiny Harry! How R1 while moving to roll through".

The pit monster inside also has a different inside texture.

Eyes of Doom has the same doors/level aspects, but there is no magical barrier blocking the Mountain Overlook one. Harry goes into the Scorpion Temple door after the levers are flipped, to end the level.

Once Harry reaches the lever at the Eyes it's hint mentions: "Ancient levers often reveal secrets, Harry! With your hands empty, grab switches with the right analogue stick and then flip them back and forth"

After flipping the lever and the platform appearing, a hint mentions how to look around: "Did you see that, Harry?!> Use L2 and R2 to look around you".

After flipping the levers with the upper floor eyes Harry enters the Scorpion temple door.

In Mama Oullo Tower a hint gives the player (by pressing Start to access hints) the hint of: "Looks like you'd better swim fast Harry! Quickly tap X/Cross in the water to swim as fast as you can."

If the player goes to where Fire Bombed Towers entrance is with fiery coals it will mention: "Stop Harry! This path leads to an area that isn't available in the demo"

The statue head where the lever to change the path is (the one the camera directs the player to get to when at the beginning of the level starts) a different colour then the final build. Harry goes to Jungle Trail to move on to the next level.

Near the statue head is also patches of sand, one near the path that rotates after the lever is flipped and two besides the lever, not present in the final build of the game.

The platforms/pillars and water all have different lighting and textures different to the final release. More grey angles with the symbols then the brighter or gold like look, less bright or light baked in look. More noticeable bricks then the final build brighter looking ones or different shade/colour.

The Water texture is different in the Healing Water Statues other parts of water in levels.

There is no Shaman/breakable bricks at the top of the tower platforms hiding collectibles compared to the final build. Just grass coverage on the platform where it would be.

If the player gets stuck by a Croc a hint will mention: "Harry your in trouble now! Thrash the left analogue stick to pry the Croc's jaws open" Once at the point of leaving the Croc's grasp after using the analogue stick to open it mouth wider the game will offer the hint to escape: "You're almost free Harry! Quick press X/Cross to leap to safety".

A 2003 demo called Pitfall Harry mentions a few notes during loading screens between levels.

1st loading screen at the start of the demo mentions: "The natives around here aren't too friendly, but they don't seem brave enough to guard their treasure... Stay on your toes, Harry, an ambush is likely at every turn."

2nd loading screen after Native Jungle and before Eyes of Doom mentions: "The Eyes of Doom may be ancient, but they can still spot a reckless temple thief. Step lightly, harry or your exploits may get a lot hotter!"

3rd loading screen notes after Eyes of Doom level mentions: "The hall within the ancient light tower grants passage across the lake. But with hungry crocs everywhere, peril lies at every turn. Keep your eyes open, Harry or you'll never find the treasure!"

4th loading screen notes after Mama Oullo Tower mentions: "Hidden treasure has lured hostiles to this frosty cave. Your trusty Ice Picks and Raft will help you, Harry, but you'll also need a leap of faith to cross the freezing water!"

In Spinja Lair the level offers Harry the Canteen, Pickaxes in the right slot and the Raft in the bottom slot with the left slot empty. It also mentions about the Raft if the player selects the Hint option (Start in this PS2 demo): "Harry only your Raft can get you across this freezing water! Equip it with a d-pad down symbol, and paddle with the left and right analogue sticks."

Heroic Handbook Abilities[]

Abilities given to Harry either in the Shaman Shop or by characters during the story, needed to progress.

Super Sling - Costs 10 idols in the Shaman Shop
Breakdance - Costs 10 idols in the Shaman Shop
Smash Strike Costs 10 idols in the Shaman Shop
Rising Strike - Handbook page given to Harry by Bittenbinder at his camp
Heroic Dash - Handbook page given by Quickclaw at Flooded Courtyard
Heroic Dive - Handbook page given by Hubert Leech at Turtle Monument

Shaman Shop[]

The shop that appears after hitting a Shaman in their hiding place. Can be used to buy abilities, more health, more canteen slots, notes with information about levels and what they may be hiding, and access to a hidden area in Punchua Shrine.

Extra Health - Costs 2 to 32 idols per addition of health. 1 health addition per purchase and cost goes up by 2, 4, 8, 16, 32

Canteen Max - Costs 1 to 5 idols per purchase, adding one cube to the Canteen bar each time

Smash Strike - Costs 10 idols. Allows for a jump twice and ground pound move. Useful for breaking cracked stone hiding some idols or Shaman and defeating Scorpions.

Super Sling - Cost 10 idols. Allows for stronger sling hits on some enemies or targets, can not defeat all enemies

Breakdance - Costs 10 idols. Grants the Breakdance heroic handbook move, useful against Scorpions or other enemies

Jungle Notes - Costs 9 idols. Shows all idols, explorers, shamans, level names & icons on the map that haven't been shown in the Heart of the Jungle area

Native Notes - Costs 7 idols. Shows all idols, explorers, shamans, level names & icons on the map that haven't been shown in the Native Territory

Cavern Notes - Costs 7 idols. Shows all idols, explorers, shamans, level names & icons on the map that haven't been shown in the Lost Caverns area

Mountain Notes - Costs 8 idols. Shows all idols, explorers, shamans, level names & icons on the map that haven't been shown in the Mountains area

Mystery Item - Costs 0 idols. Grants access to the Pitfall Atari 2600 game to play in Punchua Shrine (behind the web in the raising/falling platforms area) and if beaten Harry gets an idol

Levels[]

Heart of the Jungle[]

1.Crash Site
2.Jungle Canyon
3.Chameleon Temple
4.Punchua Shrine
5.Plane Cockpit
6.Native Jungle
7.Altar of Huitaca
8.The Great Tree
9.Statues of Ayar
10.Bittenbinder's Camp
11.Mysterious Temple
12.The Altar of Ages
13.Mouth of Inti
14.Battered Bridge
15.Mama Oullo Tower
16.Jungle Trail
17.Ladder of Miles
18.Fire Bombed Towers
20.Entrance to El Dorado
21.Ruins of El Dorado

Native Territory[]

22.Flooded Courtyard
23.Monkey Temple
24.St. Claire's Excavation Camp
25.Twin Outposts
26.Turtle Monument
27.Jungle Teleport
28.Native Village
29.Butterfly Glade
30.Renegade Fort
31.Renegade Headquarters
32.Flooded Cave

Lost Caverns[]

33.Underground Dam
34.Cavern Teleport
35.Abandoned Cavern
36.Crystal Cavern
37.Eyes of Doom
38.Scorpion Temple
39.Mountain Overlook

Mountains[]

41.Penguin Den
42.White Valley
43.Cavern Lake
44.Mountain Teleport
45.Spinja Lair
46.Viraocha Mountains
47.Penguin Temple
48.Valley of the Spirits
49.Ekko Ice Cavern
50.Copacanti Lake
51.Mountain Sled Run
52.Apu Illapu Shrine

Native Games[]

Kabloom
Pickaxe Race
Whack-a-Tuco
Raft Bowling
Tuco Shoot

Trivia[]

In Big Adventure on Wii the title screen is 4:3 due to it being a video (like many games on PS2/Xbox/GameCube videos or FMV cutscenes would do this and the videos/4:3 is more noticeable in remasters of games from that era) but the rest of the game whether cutscenes (as in-engine) or general gameplay can be in widescreen.

Pitfall 2600 and Lost Caverns 2600 are available with codes to input on the title screen or Pitfall 2600 can be played at Punchua Shrine. Lost Caverns can be played via code from the title screen and is found after collecting all collectibles (collect all idols, explorers and use all idols at Shaman shop, meaning collecting all Shaman). Both among other cheats for skins, unlimited Canteen, powerful punches and more.

The Nicole skin is told to the player after beating the name but when using it, no animations/character model is available in cutscenes (but the voice clips can still be heard as normal) and all animations, voice clips and more are still Harry's, because it is just a skin.

In Big Adventure on Wii during Butterfly Glade if the player moves into Renegade Fort the HUD for health/items will be smaller, but going back to Butterfly Glade it will be bigger. This is a bug.

In any version of the game the trailer or title screen are the only videos in the game and so in Big Adventure these are the only moments in 4:3 as the rest of the games cutscenes are in 16:9 like the gameplay moments due to being in-engine cutscenes using the game models. In the PS2/Xbox/GameCube while 16:9 can be possible on these consoles the game was not made with 16:9 in mind for those versions compared to Big Adventure/Wii version.

Sneak has different controls via different button/stick between versions. On Big Adventure Wii/GameCube it is using the left analogue stick just a little to sneak no additional button. On PS2/Xbox it is the Circle/Black button and left analogue stick to sneak.

On GameCube or Big Adventure Wii version using GameCube there is almost a claw grip for trying to do a Sweep Kick or Heroic Dive due to the inputs of the roll or Heroic Dash and jumping. Not present in the other versions.