''Caverns of Khafka'' refers to either of two

platform Platform may refer to: Technology * Computing platform, a framework on which applications may be run * Platform game, a genre of video games * Car platform, a set of components shared by several vehicle models * Weapons platform, a system ...

video games published by

Cosmi Cosmi may refer to: * Cosmi Corporation, a U.S. computer software company * Cosmi, Americo & Figlio Cosmi Americo & Figlio is an Italian shotgun manufacturer located in Ancona, Italy. The company manufactures semi-automatic shotgun A sho ...

. In both game versions the player takes control of a treasure hunter in search for the fabled treasure of Pharaoh Khafka. The first game was created by Robert T. Bonifacio and released in 1983 for

Atari 8-bit computers The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE, ...

. Subsequently, a different game with the same title and overall theme was created by Paul Norman and released for the Commodore 64 in 1984.

Atari 8-bit version (1983)

Gameplay

''Caverns of Khafka'' sets the player in the shoes of a treasure hunter exploring the underground Egyptian tomb. The tomb's caverns are littered with treasure which the player must collect in order to move on to the next level. There are four levels and in each one the player must navigate moving platforms, ladders, acid baths and other obstacles. Later levels introduce killer bats, rolling boulders or darts flying through the caverns. The player starts the first level with five lives and must collect 40 pieces of treasure to proceed. For every 20 pieces of treasure an extra life is awarded and there is a short period of invincibility for every 10 pieces of treasure.

Development

After finishing his first game for Cosmi,

Aztec Challenge ''Aztec Challenge'' refers to either of two early action video games published by Cosmi Corporation, COSMI, as well as two subsequent remakes. In all game versions the player takes control of a running Aztec warrior. The first was a side-scrollin ...

, Robert T. Bonifacio was asked if he could do some games for some box art that had already been created that the company didn't want to waste. ''Caverns of Khafka'' was based on "some box art that looked like something from an Indiana Jones movie complete with the big boulder rolling after the guy."

Reception

Personal Computer Games ''Personal Computer Games'' was a multi-format UK computer games magazine of the early/mid-1980s published by VNU. History ''Personal Computer Games'' was launched in July 1983. The magazine was part of VNU and had its headquarters in Londo ...

'' in a 1984 review concluded: "The graphics and sound on Khafka aren't quite up to the standard of some platform games currently on the market ..However, the game is very playable once you get the hang of using the joystick". In a 2009 retroactive review, ''The Video Game Critic'' gave it a 'hidden gem' rating and wrote: "Khafka is crazy fun despite some very sloppy collision detection".

Commodore 64 version (1984)

References

External links

*{{MobyGames, id=/caverns-of-khafka 1983 video games Atari 8-bit computer games Commodore 64 games Cosmi Corporation games Platformers Video games developed in the United States Video games set in Egypt Ariolasoft games U.S. Gold games