Montezuma’s Revenge: The 40th Anniversary Edition brings a classic early platformer back to life with modern visuals while retaining its original feel. First released in the early 1980s, the game was known for its unforgiving difficulty and maze-like structure, and this anniversary edition remains true to this legacy.
The updated 2.5D presentation gives the ancient temple setting a more modern look but clearly still retaining the feel of the original. Environments are colourful and clearly defined, but once you get the controller in your hands it becomes clear that this is more similar to the original gameplay than the visuals suggest. Animations feel stiff when compared to more modern platformers, and it feels a bit like a granny in younger clothes.
Gameplay stays true to its old-school roots. Players explore interconnected chambers, collect keys, avoid traps, and manage limited resources. The challenge is brutally steep, with instant kill deaths and precise jumps that demand tons of patience. The poor controls probably make this feel harder than it’s intended to be.
Audio design does the job. Music and voice lines repeat frequently and can become distracting after a while. Rather than enhancing any tension and atmosphere, the sound design mostly irritates.
Montezuma’s Revenge: The 40th Anniversary Edition is a faithful revival that will appeal most to retro enthusiasts who appreciate demanding, uncompromising design. For newcomers or players expecting a modern reimagining, it may feel dated and overly punishing. There’s quite simply better little platformers out there sadly.
Reviewed on Xbox Series X
