Arcade Archives PIRATE PETE
Switch eShop (Arcade emulated)
Taito / HAMSTER
1982 2021
An oldie with joystick and single-button controls, Pirate Pete was released in an era where "action" was still a legitimate genre, though this could also be considered a primordial platformer as some sections are scrolling (right to left... yeah...). The history behind the game is kind of interesting. Taito initially released it as Jungle King, though it was quickly discontinued due to some Tarzan similarities. Next came Jungle Hunt, where some graphics are altered and the jungle man hero was swapped out for a safari explorer dude. For some reason this was followed up with a variant with a pirate theme, Pirate Pete. And for some other reason, that's what ended up on the Arcade Archives, even though Jungle Hunt is more popular, and the basis for all the console and computer ports.
As per the old arcade tradition, every stage is a little different. Stage one has the explorer oops I mean pirate hero swinging from rope to rope on a ship. It's a bit like certain stretches in Donkey Kong Country but way simpler. Graphics are most impressive here; there's even some parallax scrolling to differentiate various parts of the ship. Each rope behaves a little differently so it's all a question of timing. Reach stage two and it looks like a completely different game. Now the pirate is swimming in the sea battling sharks, also needing to return to the surface for oxygen periodically. Again, some really impressive visuals here with a sunken ship overlaying a sandy stretch replete with bones of less fortunate pirates. You can stab the sharks, but it's really awkward. The knife is short and the pirate's sprite doesn't even enlarge when thrusting forth his blade. High score chasers will go after the sharks, but they can be ignored by anyone simply trying to reach the game's end.
Next comes a fairly simple uphill stretch where rolling stones need to be dodged one at a time. The "final boss" is a trio of, uh, bad pirates I guess, who must be avoided to rescue the cute girl pirate. The hero gets a kiss and the game loops. Subsequent loops feature slightly different graphics, as the sun sets and night begins. There's music throughout the game, though it's of inconsistent quality and a lot of it is drowned out by sound effects. Sprites are large and pretty decent, especially the pirates. Intriguing game, especially for those curious about pre-Famicom/Mario platformers.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewed: 02/22/26
Jungle Hunt
Atari 2600
Atari
1983
As stated, the ports are all based on Jungle Hunt. So, the visuals are quite different here. The ship is instead a jungle, the ropes are now vines. The shark-infested ocean is instead an alligator-infested river. Stages three and four are where the gameplay actually becomes modified, though. Rocks must now be dodged on a flat plane, not a hill. This stage is actually harder on the 2600 though, due to more erratic rock behavior. The "final boss" is now a duo of "natives" who slide onto the screen one at a time and must be hopped over. And it appears that the "girlfriend" has been swapped out for a pigtailed little girl.
Visuals are legible and pleasing, though most of the music has been scrapped. Can't say this feels any better or worse than the arcade original, though it's certainly different.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewed: 02/22/26