Aztec

• Title — Aztec • Designer — Paul Stephenson • Publisher — Datamost • Released — 1982: Apple 1984: Atari 8-bit, C64 • Genre — Action-adventure • Modes — Single-player • Platforms — Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, FM-7, PC-88, Sharp X1 • Developer — Datamost

• Illustration — The player (bottom center) looking at their inventory, with three enemies roaming the area. The tomb's levels contain traps, dangerous animals, Aztec guards, and other hazards. Equipped with a machete, pistol, and dynamite, the player must to recover a jade idol and escape. Aztec generates a random dungeon for each new game. Before beginning play, the game prompts for a difficulty level from one to eight. Increasing the difficulty boosts the number and aggressiveness of the enemies and increases the reward for retrieving the idol. The shorter the time to obtain the idol, the higher the reward. Higher difficulty levels begin the countdown higher. If too much time elapses, the idol is reported as damaged. The interior of the tomb is shown from the side with three floors and steps connecting the levels and floors. Piles of debris and chests can be searched, giving a pistol, ammunition, machete, dynamite, health potions, the remains of the Professor Von Forster, or the idol. Dynamite sticks serve as both a weapon or to blow up walls and floors. It is possible to break a staircase which is necessary to leave the tomb or to blow up the player's character. More dangerous foes may capture the player or confiscate items and lead the player into a pit. Enemies can also cause the player to fall to the next level. Some rooms contain pits with traps. If the player dies, play resumes from the last level.