What an Adventure! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chalice

The chalice, golden-colored like the castle, was moved by an evil wizard to another castle--one castle in the simplest level (one) of the game and a different castle in the more complex levels (two and three). While the screens and settings were the same in levels two and three, level two featured static starting points for creatures and objects and level three featured randomized starting points.

When the chalice reached the interior of the Golden Castle, the walls of the castle and chalice would pulsate different colors in sync and a triumphant tune would briefly play.

Interestingly, although the wizard stole the chalice and created the dragons and other castles, he did not actually appear at any point in the game.

Answer: White Castle

The White Castle is present in all three levels of the game. The Black Castle is only present in levels two and three. The White Castle is simpler in level one with only a single chamber inside (similar to the Golden Castle in all three levels). There are also additional screens between the exteriors of the castles. Apart from color, the exteriors of the castles are similar with a single central entrance (with portcullis when the castle is not open) and a turreted tower in each side.

Answer: Blue Dragon

Yorgle the Yellow Dragon moves more slowly than the player. Grundle the Green Dragon (named Grindle in early development) moves at the same speed as the player. Rhindle the Red Dragon (only appearing in levels two and three) moves more quickly than the player.

When the player is able to slay a dragon, the head of the dragon bends backwards. When a dragon defeats the player (by eating the player), the player's icon appears inside of the dragon's stomach. The player icon can be moved slightly inside the dragon stomach.

It is also possible for a second or even third dragon to eat the player from inside the previous dragon's stomach.

Answer: Bat

The bat has a calmer mode where it simply flies from screen to screen. In a more agitated state, the bat will carry an object which it will periodically exchange for another object. While the new object left behind might be something you could use, it could just as easily be one of the dragons.

When "Adventure" was being developed at Atari, the bat was referred to in-house as Knubberrub. The name did not make it to the published manual for the game which simply referred to the bat. The bat is absent from level one of the game.

Answer: Use a key

The three keys are color-coded to match the castle each opens. The golden key is conveniently located just outside the castle. Inside the castle is located the key to the White Castle. Inside the White Castle (travelling through a maze in levels two and three of the game) is the key to the Black Castle.

Inside the Black Castle is the chalice. In level one of the game, the White Castle has a simple interior that contains the chalice.

Answer: Navigate a maze

The first maze (the only one in level one) is navigated by the player to get to the White Castle. In levels two and three, there is a second maze inside the White Castle as well as one inside the Black Castle. The maze inside the Black Castle is partly invisible with only the portion close to the player able to be seen. The other mazes are fully visible.

Answer: Rope

Rope does not appear in the game as an item. The player uses the sword to slay the dragons. The magnet is used to attract keys, the bridge, and the sword. The bridge allows the player to "cross through" walls of the various mazes in the game. Interestingly, all the objects in the game, including keys, are larger than the player icon (a simple square on the game screen).

Answer: Zero

It is possible to complete the quest without killing any of the dragons since the program only requires returning the chalice to be necessary for victory (complete with the changing colors and music). The dragons provide enough harrassment to the player who is in their vicinity, that the player will often kill one or more with the sword.

Some players--who wish to gain an unofficial "maximum score"--will move all the dragons (usually but not always dead) to the interior of the Golden Castle along with the bat and all the equipment before returning the chalice.

Answer: Warren Robinett

Warren Robinett included one of the first video game "Easter eggs" inside the game. It is possible to move the player icon to a screen where the phrase "Written by Warren Robinett" runs across the screen from top to bottom. At the time. Atari did not include on-screen credits for game designers. Warren Robinett would later create the games "Rocky's Boots" and "Robot Odyssey" for Apple.

Answer: Colossal Cave Adventure

Warren Robinett was inspired after playing "Colossal Cave Adventure"--a text based computer game created by William Crowther and Don Woods. The original game was loosely based on Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Robinett created "Adventure" to be a visual equivalent to "Cosmic Cave Adventure". "Adventure" was released by Atari in 1979-1980 (some sources suggest 1979 and some sources suggest 1980).