Montezuma's Revenge

Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition is not a pleasant experience. That may be the point, judging from the title. But, save for one key decision, the updates here somehow make this version seem even more dated than the 1984 original.

67%Game Brain Score

graphics

gameplay, music

93% User Score Based on 42 reviews

Critic Score 46%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

Montezuma's Revenge is a single player arcade platformer game with mystery and kids themes. It was developed by Handcrafted Mystical Games and was released on October 13, 2020. It received neutral reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

This is the official version of the 80's classic "Montezuma's Revenge!" rebooted by the original developer. Explore the chambers of the mysterious Aztec pyramid! Climb the stairs and ropes, collect keys to open doors! Collect the jewels & swords, and the coveted torch! Beware of the snakes, skulls and spiders! And finally, find the treasure room at the end of the underground la…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Faithful and enjoyable remake of the classic 1980s platformer with both modern and retro modes, preserving original gameplay and adding quality-of-life improvements.
Includes extra features like hidden masks, leaderboards, in-game lighting effects, and new sound effects enhancing the nostalgic experience.
Affordable and well-priced, offering good value for fans of retro games and newcomers interested in early platformer history.

Only one continue is available, making the game frustratingly difficult and punishing for modern players not accustomed to arcade-style challenge.
The modern graphical re-skin receives mixed reviews; some find it unattractive and distracting, recommending the retro mode instead.
Lack of key remapping, limited difficulty options, and occasional technical issues such as compatibility problems and a broken update reduce accessibility and overall experience.

graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics receive mixed feedback, with many praising the remastered, modernized visuals and extra features like scrolling screens and updated music, enhancing the experience while retaining a retro mode for classic 8-bit aesthetics. However, some users strongly dislike the new graphics and sounds, preferring the original or retro look. Overall, the game offers both modern and nostalgic visual options catering to different player preferences.
- “I really dig the remastered graphics.”
- “Old school fun in better graphics.”
- “I love the modernized graphics as well.”
- “Don't bother with the updated graphics.”
- “Avoid new version - it's just horrible, both: graphics and sounds - bleeeh :(”
- “It is its own beast, and includes a number of extra features including newer graphics, new music, and scrolling screen (which I found a bit disorientating for my old head's muscle memory), and of course a retro mode which makes it look like those classic 8-bit versions.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The gameplay remains largely faithful to classic platformers from the early 1980s, offering a retro experience with minor quality of life tweaks and updated sounds. It retains old-school mechanics that may feel outdated or annoying to some, without introducing any revolutionary changes. Overall, it provides a nostalgic but traditional gameplay experience.
- “Played in retro mode this is a perfect port, faithful to the original in gameplay (don't fall too deep!), visuals (bright and beautiful pixels) and sound (almost).”
- “It still follows the rules and mechanics of some of the very first platformers like Donkey Kong (1981).”
- “Mechanics are super annoying.”
- “When looking at some screenshots one might think that this must have similar gameplay to something like Mega Man, but you couldn't be more wrong.”
- “Do not expect revolutionary mechanics.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The music in the game stands out with unique compositions for different areas, including treasure rooms, enhancing the overall atmosphere. It complements updated graphics and sound effects, offering both modern and retro-inspired audio experiences.
- “It is its own beast and includes a number of extra features including newer graphics, new music, and scrolling screen (which I found a bit disorienting for my old head's muscle memory), and of course a retro mode which makes it look like those classic 8-bit versions.”
- “It is its own beast, and includes a number of extra features including newer graphics, new music, and scrolling screen (which I found a bit disorienting for my old head's muscle memory).”
- “Graphics, music, sound effects.”
- “Different treasure room music.”