If you're releasing a platformer for the home market these days, roll the dice. You're really taking a chance, as the genre has become the most overcrowded in the next generation market. If someone like Mario or Crash isn't out to dominate with their adventures, then some no-name company has a release waiting around the corner, like the brilliant Beyond Good and Evil or the somewhat average Kya: Dark Lineage. But Activision decided to take a gamble anyway, as they had one major benefit working for them- the Pitfall license.

The Pitfall license has reached its twenty year peak, originally debuting on the Atari 2600 and since seeing reincarnations on the PlayStation, SNES, Genesis, Atari Jaguar, and countless others. The last edition, Pitfall 3D for the PlayStation, wasn't half bad at all, packing plenty of gutsy adventure alongside the hilarious commentary by Bruce "The Man" Campbell from the Evil Dead films. But, with Pitfall: The Lost Expedition, I can't help think that Activision has taken a step backwards. In fact, it's safe to say that it's more like a stumble.

The game was designed by Edge of Reality, a company that made a name for itself developing the Tony Hawk games and Spiderman for the Nintendo 64 consoles from Neversoft ports. Pitfall is one of their first original efforts in years, yet it really doesn't differ too much from every other platformer out there. Sure, it looks good, great in parts, and has the kind of gameplay that may be considered engaging for few. But the fact that the formula had to sink down to mediocrity and become (gasp!) cute pretty much makes me sick to my stomach.

I remember the old school flavor that the first Pitfall delivered for Atari 2600. Plenty of jumping, treasure collecting, and creature dodging galore. I was hooked for hours. The 16-bit ports of Pitfall weren't that great, but still managed a bit of excitement. And Pitfall 3D retained the spirit of Pitfall Harry while shifting into a 3D world. But this isn't really a PItfall-feeling game, and that's too bad. The game features Harry as a cartoony character collecting a number of icons and saving explorers on his quest to be...I dunno, Pitfall Harry. But the look's all wrong- he comes across in appearance as a descendant of Lester the Unlikely.

The game's got good graphics and plenty of exciting scenarios, like jumping across platforms on a suspension bridge, jumping on the backs of crocodiles, sneaking past sleepy monkeys (and then running like hell when you wake them), and so many more. Some of the stage designs are actually pretty slick, too. Take one of the dungeons, where you not only have to dodge fireballs and avoid falling into a fire pit, but also have to time your jumps across spikes rolling up into your path. The environments hit the spot, although there are questionable things, like the animation of the player's hair (was this really unneccessary?), or how some ground pits managed to grow teeth. Overall, the game looks pretty good for a jungle platformer, but doesn't shine in originality that much. You've seen stuff like this before.

As for sound, again, it seems to be presented with general platforming in mind. The music is typical jungle fare, with nothing that sticks out to capture the genuine feeling of adventure, and the sound effects are typical, right down to the screeching of those mad monkeys. Voicework is alright, but seems to lean a bit too much on the corny comical side, meaning it's funny but grows groansome quickly.

Controls are typical platform maneuvers, like being able to sneak past sleeping enemies, hitting switches, pulling off combo attacks with some quick punches and kicks, double jumping, and timing yourself on vine swings. It seems to work pretty well, and Edge of Reality even went a step further with the implementation of tightened control with the right analog stick. You can utilize weapons and switches better with the stick, and it actually feels like you have more control over Harry this way. Sadly, most of the game's challenges can be conquered within a matter of a couple of tries, which means you can rip through it in a matter of hours.

One thing I will give kudos to with this product is that Edge of Reality included the original Pitfall and Pitfall II, well hidden within the game. Both games are emulated well and play just as great as they always did, and they're worth the unlocks if you don't have Activision Anthology or an Atari 2600 sitting around. There's also a few mini games that are worth looking at for a few rounds, if nothing more than that.

Pitfall: The Lost Expedition isn't a bad game by any means, it just doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's typical platforming with only a couple of quirks to stick it out. Worse yet, it takes the Pitfall license, which could have been so much more with a heightened difficulty and less cutesy crap, and pretty much betrays everything it was known for in the 80's. I know things are supposed to change eventually, but can't they change for the better? Kids and platforming fans may want to give Pitfall a look, but the rest of us would be better off sticking with the classic.