Rick Dangerous Game History
It is believed that the game was originally designed and influenced by the Indiana Jones movie “Raiders of The Lost Ark.” The action actually starts with Rick fleeing from a runaway bolder in cave, which is a classic scene in the very first Indiana Jones film. This sets the scene for the rest of the game. So hold on tight as we enter the world of...Rick Dangerous! Action...Adventure...all that neat stuff!
Designed by the company Core Design, Rick Dangerous is a single player platform game that was released in 1989 by the publisher Rainbird Software. It was released on various home based platforms which included the; Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and DOS.
Set during the 1940s, the secret agent Rick Dangerous finds himself stranded in the Amazon jungle after an unexpected plane crash on his way to discover a lost tribe called the Goolu. Rick is armed with his trusty pistol and some dynamite, and must proceed to fight his way through various levels. Avoiding enemies and traps along the way.
The other levels include; The Pyramid, The Nazi Stronghold and finally London, after finding out that the Nazis are planning a missile strike on the capital.
It's not just about blasting your way through the levels either. There are certain puzzle solving activities and traps that need to be negotiated, and Rick can use bombs to access areas that were previously inaccessible. Rick's final weapon is a pogo stick that he uses to paralyse his foes. To use the pogo stick successfully, timing is crucial.
At the end of the game Rick Dangerous learns that London is about to be attacked by aliens. This type of cliffhanger ending served one purpose...a sequel. Rick Dangerous 2 was released by Core Design in 1990, and started off where the first game finished. The second incarnation saw an improvement in the games graphics as well as being more challenging for the gamer.
Rick Dangerous 2 also had a cliffhanger ending, but a third version never materialised. Today the games still has a cult following, and people who never experienced Rick the first time now have their chance. The games are freely downloadable from gaming sites across the internet. This type of retro gaming action seems to be fashionable at the moment, and long may it continue.