Aztec Adventure: The Golden Road to Paradise is an adventure game developed and published by Sega for the Master System in 1987. In Japan, it was released as Nazca '88, with the theme changing in the western version.
Produced by Chieko Aoki, who also worked on the classic Phantasy Star (using the codename Otegami Chi), it refers to the style of the Zelda franchise, being compatible with the FM sound of the Japanese Master System.
Gameplay
The player can pay other characters, controlled by AI, to help him in the mission. There is some similarity to Nintendo's Zelda, released about a year earlier. The gameplay resembles other exploration games, but the character can only attack in four directions (no diagonals). There are puzzle elements, although less complex than in Zelda.
If played on compatible consoles like the Japanese version of the Master System, Aztec Adventure uses the FM sound feature, with greatly improved audio.
Development history
Aztec Adventure was produced by Chieko Aoki, an uncredited designer who appears in another important Sega game, Phantasy Star (using the codename Otegami Chi). While the Japanese version shows the adventure in the Nazca civilization, inhabitant of the region today equivalent to Peru, the story and title were changed in the rest of the world to the Mexican Aztec (or Aztec) culture. Even so, original elements such as the Nazca Lines were maintained.
Reception and legacy
Aztec Adventure is often remembered as one of the good Master System titles, for the variety of enemies and scenarios, and also as a difficult game, due to the impossibility of saving progress and the lack of passwords.
The Sega Pro A–Z magazine (British), in November 1991, gave the game a score of 70/100, describing the action as "fun exploration with some nice touches". The Sega Magazine gave it a score of 60/100, noting some similarity to Golvellius, but "more of the same, just simplified".
The review also negatively pointed the fact that after each life lost, the player returns to the beginning of the level, no matter where they are.
Plot
The player controls the boy Niño, an adventurer who must traverse a labyrinth in search of a lost paradise that is supposed to house great treasures from the Aztec civilization.
Description in the case of the Brazilian release cartridge:
Somewhere in the forest of the ancient Aztecs, a paradise is hidden. To get there, you have to cross a dangerous labyrinth, full of mysterious creatures. That is why no one has ever managed to reach this paradise. Only El Niño, the explorer, is brave enough to venture into the labyrinth... and with a chance of surviving.
In this land where money speaks louder, everyone has their price. Your enemies today may be your allies tomorrow. The journey will be risky, but the Aztec Paradise awaits you!
Tips
Stage selection: On the title screen, when the words “Aztec” and “Adventure” are closed, press ⬆️ 5 times. When Niño throws the bag of money, press ➡️ 3 times. When Niño walks off to the left with the other characters, press ⬅️ once, and then ⬇️ once.
If you did everything right, a smaller version of Niño will appear next to the logo, and next to it a square with two numbers, allowing you to choose levels from 1 to 11. Choose quickly, because as soon as the presentation ends, the level that is in the square will start.
Sound test: press the button to start. On the rainbow screen (character selection), press ⬅️ once, and ➡️20 times. If it works, a miniature of Niño will appear with a square next to the rainbow, and you can choose songs from 1 to 7. Press button 1 to play. To exit the sound test, select song 00 and press button 2.
Fairy in the Ruins: To find the Wishing Well hidden on the fifth level (Ruins), make sure to kill everything on this level. In the room with the two vases, move to the upper right corner of the room. Well from the corner, throw anything except money into the corner, and then throw a bag of money. A fairy will appear to replenish your energy.
Images
X-ray
- Development
- Sega
- Production
- Chieko Aoki
- Players
- 1 (single-player)
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Characters
- Niño, Papi, Pupe, Poh
