Reviewed: August 21, 2004
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Publisher
AncientSoft

Developer
AncientSoft

Released: November, 2003
Genre: Puzzle
Players: 1
ESRB: Everyone

7
8
7
7
8.4

System Requirements

Pharaohs’ Curse Gold is the latest "upgrade" of the classic puzzle game from 2002 that has occupied more of my time than watching my Indiana Jones DVD trilogy. Developed and now published by AncientSoft, this charming little romp through mummy-filled tombs and catacombs will grab and hold you with its addictive gameplay from the very first level to the very last. From the moment I started I was magically transported back to 1984; a time where I was totally addicted to a little game called Jumpman on my Atari 800. These two games share so much in their visual style, multi-screen design, and simple gameplay that I knew I would be hooked for a long time.

Here are just some of the fun things you'll do in Pharaohs' Curse Gold:

• Play 70 fun and challenging levels.
• Gain access to the solution REPLAY feature (See the whole solution playback for any level).
• Battle against new types of mummies that jump, roll, and turn into stone.
• Enjoy and use new puzzle elements like:
  • New weapons to stop mummies.
  • New types of doors.
  • New items you can use to solve the levels.
• Listen to amazing tracks of high quality theme music.
• See all 12 different and unique world themes.
• Create and Save your own levels in the easy to use Level Editor.
• Automatically records solutions when you play your custom levels.
• Play in Full screen, Window or Stretched window.
• Get free hints and tips.
• Plus other secrets and surprises.
• 60 day money back guarantee.

While some levels require quick reflexes and nimble fingers, these are few and far between. Most levels simply require the use of good puzzle-solving abilities and a bit of planning. You basically need to locate the exit, the gold then analyze the “barriers” between you and them and locate the necessary tools to make it all happen.

Of course the occasional mummy will often be running around making your task just that much more frantic, and the occasional trap door, or magically appearing wall will increase the challenge factor. As difficult as the puzzles are, the gameplay is as easy as it can get. To this end, controls are very simple, reduced to the four basic movement keys and the JUMP/USE key.

Much of the challenge comes from initially learning which items do what. Once you know that a shovel can only dig through one layer of horizontal floor and a pickaxe goes through two you can begin to formulate strategies for each level. To make things even more challenging, many of the levels span multiple screens. This is indicated by the grid-map in the upper corner, and you can also bring up a level summary page that allows you to preview the other screens in the level to locate items and create a plan of attack.

To make the levels and puzzle solutions even more interesting is the use of what I like to call the “wrap-around”. Basically, if you dig through the floor at the bottom of the screen or fall into an existing hole you will reappear at the top of the level. Not only is this a great way to avoid a mummy attack, it is often an integral part of the level’s solution, as in one level where the exit can only be reached by falling through the floor below it.

By having only one shared button for both JUMP and USE the designers have created yet another challenging aspect of gameplay. If you are carrying an item you cannot jump – plain and simple. This immediately creates some interesting dilemmas, especially since you cannot drop an item. You need to make sure you can use an object before you pick it up, especially if there is a gap in your path.

Most puzzle have multiple solutions but there is generally a “best way” to do each level. If you get totally stuck you can hit the cheat key and watch the level play itself out. I did this a few times after I had already solved a level and was amazed at how much “extra” work I had done. Only once did I solve a level the same way as the auto-solve did.

The overall presentation of the game is simple and intuitive with an easy-to-navigate menu and a level select screen that presents all 70 levels in a grid-like pattern of stone tiles. Completed levels are highlighted, so you can easily pick up where you left off the last time you played.

Sound effects are equally as good with lots of fun sounds like drills and hammers cracking stone walls, or the shoveling sound when digging through loose floor sections. There are no groans from the mummies, but you can hear when their coffins open alerting you to their presence.

Pharaohs’ Curse Gold features a normal and hard difficulty level. The hard removes the map-grid and makes the mummies considerably harder than their normal counterparts. It definitely adds a challenge but probably not enough of one to make you replay the entire game.

The game also keeps score, but that score resets each time you leave the game and return. Not that it matters, as there is no high score list anyway. This pretty much eliminates any competitive aspect to the game, reducing it to a simple quest of completion. It would have been nice to have a list of high scores and a record completion time for each level. There is also a full-featured level editor that lets you create your own levels using all the tools that the original designers used. This has the potential to create a virtually unlimited gameplay experience.

And since it's shareware you don't even have to take my word for it. Download your copy today and try it out. You will find it is well worth the $19 for the full copy, and with a 60-day money-back guarantee you have nothing to lose.