Rick Dangerous

Indiana Jones had it easy — he wasn't up against countless traps that punish every rash step with death. Rick Dangerous is a trap-after-trap adventure in which you'll memorize every spiked slab and every rolling boulder, whether you want to or not.

The game combines a platformer and adventure in trial-and-error style: you progress through levels inspired by adventure films, dodge ingenious hazards, lay dynamite and fire your pistol. The key to success is memorization — you'll rarely survive a trap the first time, so you learn the level layout literally through your own mistakes. This merciless but fair difficulty turns every step forward into a small victory.

The game was created by Core Design and released by Firebird/Ocean at the turn of 1988 and 1989. Core Design later became famous as the creators of Tomb Raider, so a love of traps, exploration and the adventurous atmosphere of archaeological films had a long tradition with them. The CPC version was among the best of the era's output.

Rick Dangerous became famous precisely for its combination of humor and cruelty — the game teases the player a little, yet never feels unfair once you grasp its logic. A second installment was made too, and the title became one of the iconic names of the 8-bit era.

For those who remember it, Rick Dangerous is synonymous with „just one more try“ — frustration and triumph alternate here in a perfectly addictive rhythm. It's a game that tests your patience, but reaching the end of a level is all the sweeter for it.

Why play it: For a classic trap-after-trap adventure from the future creators of Tomb Raider that rewards patience and memory.