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ColecoVision

Tarzan

ColecoVision

ColecoVision

Both CV buttons are used, one to punch, one to jump. Using the control knob, you can run around the jungle floor, climb up trees, swim in the river, swing from vines, and by hitting one of the numeric buttons, you can let out Tarzan's famous yell. As you cross the jungle, you'll come across captu...

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Developer
Coleco Industries

Released on
1984

Size
1 Player

Version
ColecoVision

Requirements
ColecoVision

Downloads
Action

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Both CV buttons are used, one to punch, one to jump. Using the control knob, you can run around the jungle floor, climb up trees, swim in the river, swing from vines, and by hitting one of the numeric buttons, you can let out Tarzan’s famous yell. As you cross the jungle, you’ll come across captured apes that can be released by punching their cages. As previously mentioned, at the end of each round, you’ll come to the temple screen. There are several levels to the temple with a caged ape each. Travel down, free each ape, then head back to the top, there the idol resides. Dodge the idol’s fire, hit one of the numeric buttons to let out Tarzan’s yell, and the idol will crumble. This ends the round and you start again with increased difficulty.

Tarzan

Overview & History

Released by Coleco in 1983 for the ColecoVision, Tarzan translates Edgar Rice Burroughs' iconic jungle hero into a vertically scrolling platforming challenge. Capitalizing on the console’s graphic capabilities, this adaptation tasks players with guiding the Lord of the Jungle up towering mahogany trees, vine-swinging across treacherous chasms, and ultimately rescuing Jane from captivity. Unlike many simplistic arcade ports of its era, the game incorporates varied vertical exploration and stamina management, though it remains a notoriously tough test of timing and reflexes on Coleco's hardware.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay is split into distinct vertical climbing stages and dangerous vine-traversal sequences. Tarzan must scale ancient trees while dodging an onslaught of aggressive wildlife, including venomous snakes, deadly jaguars, and hostile native tribesmen. To survive, Tarzan relies on his trusty hunting knife for close-quarters combat and his iconic vine-swinging abilities to bypass impassable gaps and quicksand pits. A unique life-force mechanic is tied to Tarzan's energy meter, which constantly depletes and requires players to hunt for scattered fruit or defeat specific enemies to replenish health. Precision is paramount; missing a vine swing results in a lethal plunge, forcing players to master the game's strict momentum and jumping physics to progress through the increasingly frantic jungle canopy levels.