I just noticed that you had included a secret compass in your Pitfall! remake ( by pressing 8 ), so the player can be guided through the optimal pathway. Was it already implemented into the first release of your game, or did you add it more recently ? Anyway, this is really a great addition to your game.
It was there from the beginning.
To collect all the treasures within the 20 minute time limit, you need to be running continuously, pausing only for opened pits and open crocodile mouths. Per the original game timing, you can jump off a vine, run to the next screen and catch the next vine without stopping. You'll have to keep up that kind of pace the entire time. I found that if I paused every-now-and-then to check the map in that pdf file, I would run out of time. So, I added the compass to guide the way, a feature not in the original game.
I tried to make this reproduction as authentic as possible to the original game. Getting the timing of all the game elements to match the original was critical to ensure that it is possible to win. Though, I did add 2 enhancements: First, the pattern of the scorpion is slightly different. In the original game, the scorpion simply approaches the player from either direction until the distances between the 2 is zero and then it stops. Aside from being aesthetically displeasing, that pattern made it difficult to jump over scorpions since the scorpion would change direction when the player reached the apex of the jump. In this remake, the scorpion is always moving and it targets a spot beyond the player before changing direction. Second, the player can change direction midair. With those 2 features, it is easier to beat the game, but you'll still have only seconds remaining on the clock when you win.
There is another hidden feature that I was considering adding. Most of the optimal pathway involves the player running left. Though, there is a small percentage of the time when you have to run right. If you run rightward onto a screen with 3 rolling logs, you need to jump almost at the instant that you enter the screen to avoid hitting a log and consequentially losing points. The new feature would display an icon if the screen to the immediate right contained 3 logs. That way, you would be prepared to jump. I have yet to beat the game with the maximal score.
If anyone is up to the challenge of collecting all the treasures, don't worry about losing a life or 2. You don't need perfect play to beat the game. In fact, when you lose a life, the next player is positioned on the left-side of the screen. Meaning, you effectively skipped an entire screen assuming you are running left. Good luck to anyone striving for this achievement. Post a screenshot if you make it to the ending.
