Posted on May 21, 2023
Canyon Climber on the Atari 400/800/XL/XE
Canyon Climber is a video game designed for the TRS-80 Color Computer in 1982. The game was ported to the Atari 8-bit family, the Apple II, and PC-6001.
Canyon Climber is a three-screen platform game with an American Southwest theme. The game appears to be a tribute to Donkey Kong.
The object of CANYON CLIMBER is to climb up three levels of the Grand Canyon and reach the top. To score points you must set explosive charges, push a plunger to blow them up, avoid arrows, leap over charging sheep, jump over gorges and avoid birds dropping bricks. You get three chances to reach the top.
Level 1 – Lay your explosives at each end of a bridge by running over it. Jump over all sheep. When you go to press the plunger, hide on the ladder below to avoid sheep entering from the right side of the screen.
Use your joystick to climb ladders and move your man up the canyon. Press the red button to jump over sheep, arrows, and gorges. Press the button again to start a new game.
Level 2 – Time your jumps carefully to avoid arrows. If one hits your foot it won’t hurt you. Arrows will change speed and throw off your timing. Use shields to block arrows for extra points. Press the red button when you are under a shield to grab it. Shields only last between 3 and 12 seconds. When an arrow approaches, press the jump button, just in case your shield disappears. You can not climb a ladder or jump with a shield.
Big Horn Sheep Place a Charge Jump a Gorge Jump an Arrow Block an Arrow Complete a Level
Level 3 – Keep moving! One bird has an excellent aim. Don’t wait on ladders or you could be knocked off. Watch your feet as you jump so you don’t fall off an ^ edge. Birds drop bricks in a pattern. 3 Watch so you know when to jump and when to climb. By the way, you can’t go back down!
Canyon Climber is available here.