Ludography
Aztec cover

1982 · Action-adventure · Platformer

Aztec

In your search for the Idol you clamber through ancient ruins, evading traps and monsters while searching chests for some rare but much needed items to help you in your quest.

Released
1982
Platforms
Apple IIAtari 8-bitCommodore 64Commodore C64/128/MAXFM-7PC-8800 SeriesSharp X1
Genres
Action-adventurePlatformerPuzzleShooter
Developers
—
Publishers
Datamost
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Side view
Themes
Action
Country
United States
Age ratings
ESRB T
Languages
English

About

Aztec is an action-adventure game developed by Paul Stephenson for the Apple II and published by Datamost in 1982. It was ported to the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64. In Aztec, the player enters and explores the recently discovered "Tomb of Quetzalcoatl" in Mexico in search of a jade idol.

›Story

The timeless legends speak of the fabulous Golden Idol hidden within the mysterious pyramid. And you have discovered the temple. But beware! A powerful curse hangs heavy in the musty air. And the ancients have left behind a fiendish collection of traps and guardians.

As you unravel the secret pathways to the priceless idol you will meet poisonous cobras, giant lizards, hostile Aztec guards... and have to solve ways past trap doors, and death rooms while uncovering hidden weapons and special aids that can help you on your quest.

Keywords

  • dinosaurs
  • action-adventure
  • traps
  • snake
  • spider
  • crocodile

Media

Aztec screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The tomb's levels contain traps, dangerous animals, Aztec guards, and other hazards. Equipped with a machete, pistol, and dynamite, the player must to recover a jade idol and escape.

Aztec generates a random dungeon for each new game. Before beginning play, the game prompts for a difficulty level from one to eight. Increasing the difficulty boosts the number and aggressiveness of the enemies and increases the reward for retrieving the idol. The shorter the time to obtain the idol, the higher the reward.

Reception

Softline in 1983 called Aztec "no ordinary arcade or adventure game", stating that "the controls, game design, and animation are good examples of the state of the art in Apple arcades".

Video magazine described the game as "a 'must buy' for Apple-ites", praising its variety, challenge, and its "straightforward system that uses single keystrokes" to communicate orders.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Apple II31 December 1982North America
PC-8800 Series1 November 1984Japan
Commodore C64/128/MAX31 December 1984North America
FM-731 December 1984Japan
Atari 8-bit31 December 1984North America
Sharp X131 December 1985Japan

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Collections2 collections

Platform libraries

Licensing

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.