Aldo's Adventure
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Aldo's Adventure is a 1987 platform game released as shareware for MS-DOS. It was developed by David and Benjamin Ibach under Yahoo Software.[1][2]
Gameplay
[edit]The player controls the titular character, Aldo, using the arrow keys to move and the spacebar to jump, which can also be executed while running.[2] The primary objective in each level is to reach a treasure chest located at the top of the screen before time expires.[1][2] Along the way, players can collect bonus items such as diamonds, amphoras, and money bags to restore a portion of the time limit and earn extra points.[2] The player starts with a total of four or five lives depending on settings and difficulty.[3][2]
In addition to rolling barrels, obstacles include burning pits, low-clearance ceilings that prevent jumping, and fragile platform tiles that collapse after being stepped on twice.[2] Later stages increase the challenge; for instance, the second level (titled "Long Island") introduces barrels spawning simultaneously from two separate sources, while the third level requires reaching two treasures instead of one.[2]
Development and release
[edit]Aldo's Adventure was developed specifically to take advantage of the Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) standard, offering a color palette for PC standards in 1987.[1][4] The game required MS-DOS version 2.0 or higher and an IBM PC/AT compatible system (excluding models 25 and 30)[5] equipped with at least an EGA or VGA color display.[2][3]
The title was distributed via the shareware model, allowing for widespread distribution through Bulletin Board System (BBS) networks, mail-order floppy disk vendors, and magazine compilations. It was made available on both 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch floppy disks.[6][7]
In Europe, companies such as Redysoft Software GmbH distributed the title as early as late 1988, marketing it as a "brand new top hit from the USA".[4][3] In the United States, it was featured in mail-order catalogs including California Freeware (1989) and MicroTimes (1991) for around $3 per disk.[8][6] International distributors also offered the game in local currencies and bundled packages; for instance, the Australian magazine Your Computer included Aldo's Adventure in its "Dynamite Pack #3" disk collection in March 1991,[9] while Finnish listings in early 1993 offered the game on 3.5-inch Double Density (DD) floppy disks for 15.90 FIM.[7]
Reception
[edit]Contemporary gaming and computing publications praised Aldo's Adventure for its visual presentation and engaging platforming gameplay. As early as late 1988, media coverage highlighted the game's visuals; the German magazine DOS International commended its "excellent graphics",[4] while an IBM Special Edition of Byte praised its "super graphics" [10] and the US magazine Compute! highlighted its "professional quality" graphics.[5]
In July 1989, the German magazine Joystick noted that the jump-and-run game would find great appeal among platforming fans.[3] The German publication ST-Computer included the game among a curated selection of the best public domain and shareware titles for IBM PC/XT and AT systems.[11] The following year, DOS-Trend praised the title as a "really nice PC game for the whole family", highlighting its responsive controls and "very pretty graphics".[2]
Coverage continued into the early 1990s, frequently drawing direct comparisons to Nintendo's arcade titles. The Italian magazine Videogame & Computer World described the game as a shareware version of Donkey Kong, joking that Aldo's objective was to rescue a girl due to the resemblance between the two games.[12] Echoing this sentiment, the US publication VideoGames & Computer Entertainment noted that the game "follows in the footsteps set by Mario in Donkey Kong" [1] and both Finnish publications Microsoft Magazine and Pelit lauded the title, describing it as a "really competent challenger to Donkey Kong".[7][13]
Sequels
[edit]Aldo's Adventure was followed by two direct sequels: Aldo Again and Aldo's Assault (also known as Aldo3).[14][15]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Computer Gaming". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment. No. 48. January 1993. p. 119.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Auf Schatzsuche: Aldo's Adventure". DOS-Trend (in German). October 1990. pp. 39–40.
- 1 2 3 4 "Aldo's Adventure". Joystick (in German). July 1989. p. 105.
- 1 2 3 "Shareware und Public Domain". DOS International (in German). October 1988. p. 56.
- 1 2 "EGA Arcade Games #1 (251)". Compute!. No. 118. March 1990. p. 108.
- 1 2 "IBM Software Freeware & Shareware". MicroTimes. No. 80. March 1991. p. 113.
- 1 2 3 "PC:n PD-Valiot". Microsoft Magazine (in Finnish). No. 1. January 1993. p. 42.
- ↑ "California Freeware Games". Game Player's PC Strategy Guide. Vol. 2, no. 2. May–June 1989. p. 21.
- ↑ "Dynamite Pack #3". Your Computer. March 1991. p. 123.
- ↑ "California Freeware Public Domain and Shareware". Byte. No. IBM Special Edition. Fall 1988. p. 88.
- ↑ "Die besten PD's für XT-AT PC's". ST-Computer (in German). 1989. p. 138.
- ↑ "Aldo's Adventure". Videogame & Computer World (in Italian). Vol. 5, no. 1. January 1992. p. 31.
- ↑ "FISH-PD". Pelit (in Finnish). No. 5/93. May 1993. p. 52.
- ↑ "ALDO3". Computer Totaal (in Dutch). No. 06/1992. June 1992. p. 176.
- ↑ "Para MS-DOS: Aldo Again / Aldo's Assault". OK PC (in Spanish). No. 34. Spring 1995. p. 110.