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Spelunker is a computer game for the Atari 8-bit computers and ported to the Commodore 64 and Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Tim Martin and Micro Graphic Image. Originally released by Micro Graphic Image it was picked up and released in the 1983 by Brøderbund, it is a platform game similar to Pitfall or Curse of Ra. The original release had a bug preventing further progress than the first level.

Spelunker is set in a colossal cave, with the player starting at the cave's entrance at the top, and the objective is to get to the fabulous treasure at the bottom. To achieve this, the player must walk and jump through increasingly challenging parts of the cave, all the while working with a finite supply of fresh air, which could be replenished at strategic points.

Numerous natural dangers abound within the cave, such as water, uneven terrain, steam vents, small ledges, chasms, deadly pits, and large rocks that must be blown away. To make matters even worse, the cave is home to large bats, which drop deadly guano on you. Finally, a ghost of a long-dead failed spelunker haunts the cave. Every now and then, it comes out of hiding, looking to take you to the shadow world. By pressing the spacebar, the player character makes a strange wisping gesture with his hands, expelling the ghost away. However, this renders him immobile for a couple of seconds, thus vulnerable to other dangers.

Objects to collect include sticks of dynamite, flares and keys (which come in two different colours). By pressing the "D" key, a stick of dynamite is dropped and ignited. This can be used to blow away big rocks. Flares are launched with the "F" key and are used to scare bats away.

Spelunker is widely regarded as insanely difficult. Much of the game's difficulty arises from the fact that the explorer cannot jump high, or fall far. As such, precise positioning and jumping play key factors in successfully completing this game. Because of the difficulty, very few players ever completed it. The outro is very bland, but the mere knowledge of having finally completed the game is a reward all to its own.

The cave in Spelunker is divided into six levels. Although the levels connect seamlessly to each other, forming one large map, the game clearly signals a level change at certain points by showing the name of the next level and giving the player a bonus, consisting of an extra life and a varying amount of points. The levels are as follows:

• The Elevator: An elevator at the left side of the screen can be used for free vertical travel between various pathways.
• The Ropes: A series of ropes hangs from the ceiling, allowing the player to jump from one rope to another.
• The Falls: There is a large waterfall inside the cave, and the player actually gets to ride the falls in a barrel!
• The Shaft: An immensely large geyser shoots within a vertical shaft. A small raft floats above the ensuing pillar of water, allowing the player to ride up or down as the geysir shoots and recedes.
• The Pyramid: There is a large pyramid inside the cave. The player must find keys to open locked doors in the pyramid, to proceed from its base to its top.
• The Treasure: A final series of small ledges lies between the player and the fabulous treasure.

External links

• Spelunker map (Atari 8-bit version)
• Spelunker at MobyGames

• 1985 arcade games
• 1984 computer and video games
• Arcade games
• Brøderbund games
• Atari 8-bit family games
• Commodore 64 games
• NES games