Comic Book

Story Summary

Swordquest Earthworld Title Screen

Instruction Manual

Contest Entry

Cartridge Label Scan

Rom Image

The Solution

Rooms

Objects

Ratings

Who Won ?


Originally Published in the 2600 Connection Magazine Issue #4 Spring 1991

Written by Russ Perry Jr.

Welcome to the first installment of our Swordquest series. We've had a lot of people ask for this, and after some research, I'm happy to say that we can come through for all of you. Back in 1982, Atari launched their Swordquest Challenge, which would span four games and comic books that were included with the cartridges themselves. The four worlds encompassing the quest came from ancient science, when earth, fire, water and air were though to be the four basic elements of the cosmos. Each segment would be a showdown with the four winners for the big prize.

The prizes were indeed great. For each leg there was an 8 karat, jewel encrusted, $25,000 artifact designed specifically for the contest. The Earthworld Talisman was won by Steven Bell. The Fireworld Chalice was won by Michael S. Rideout, The Waterworld Crown was won by -- well, we don't know, since Atari never completed the contest. The Crown may have been awarded, but the Airworld Philosopher's Stone, and the $50,000 final prize, the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery, never were. What happened to them is unknown.

But now, let's review our journey, courtesy of the DC comic books.

View the EarthWorld Comic Book (scanned in by Walton C. Gibson)

EarthWorld Story Summary

The first leg was EARTHWORLD. We were introduced to the golden-haired twins, Tarra and Torr. After their natural parents were killed by King Tyrannus's guards, spurred by a prophecy from the wizard Konjuro, they are raised by thiefs as commoners to avoid their parents' fate.

They are interrupted while trying to plunder Konjuro's sea keep, inadvertently revealing their true identities to him, and they flee, followed by a conjured demon. A jewel, from Konjuro's keep, seems to attract the demon, and Torr knocks it away, causing it to break. A column of smoke arises, freeing two robed and hooded beings, Tyrannus's old councilors, imprisoned by Konjuro. After a brief conversation, the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery and the Talisman of Penultimate Truth are revealed to the twins and the pit opens up. The twins descent to explore Earthworld.

After many encounters with the zodiacal denizens and another thief, Herminus, they are transported to the central chamber for a glimpse at the Sword and the Talisman. As they reach for it, they each gain a sword, but not the true Sword, which burns a hole through the altar into the ground below and falls to the second world, Fireworld, followed closely by the twins as Konjuro watches in his crystal ball.

THE SOLUTION TO SWORDQUEST: EARTHWORLD

EARTHWORLD ROOMS

ROOM

PICTURE

OBJECTS IN ROOM

SKILL & ACTION SEQUENCE

(start)

 

Dagger, Grappling Hook, Rope

- -

Virgo

Necklace

- -

Leo

Food

Leo Waterfall

Cancer

Ring

- -

Gemini

Short Sword, Lamp

- -

Taurus

Shoes of Stealth, Key

Charging Taurus Horns

Aries

- -

- -

Pisces

- -

- -

Aquarius

Talisman of Passage, Water

Rafts in Aquarian Rapids

Capricorn

Leather Armor

- -

Sagittarius

Cloak of Invisibility

Sagittarius Spears

Scorpio

Amulet

- -

Libra

- -

- -

 

OBJECTS OF EARTHWORLD

OBJECT

ICON

PROPERTY

Amulet

Enter rooms in random order from doors

Cloak of Invisibility

Skip Charging Tarus Horns & Sagittarius Spears

Key

Allows use of side doors

Lamp

Lights Charging Taurus Horns

Leather Armor

Safe from Charging Tarus Horns & Sagittarius Spears

Necklace

Cancels effect of Amulet

Shoes of Stealth

Muffles footsteps

Talisman of Passage

Skip Leo Waterfall; acts as key

A hint was in the poem facing pg. 1 (of the comic book). "Prime" & 'Number" are purple.

This indicates that correct clues were prime numbers.

 

EARTHWORLD CLUES


CLUE

WORD

OBJECT

ROOM

16-4

spire

- -

((simply go to Aries and the clue will be given to you)

8-4

search

Dagger

Gemini

25-6

the

Grappling Hook
Rope

Cancer
Leo

13-3

quest

Ring
Key
Necklace

Aquarius
Scorpio
Gemini

5-3

in

Short Sword
Grappling Hook
Food

Virgo
Libra
Scorpio

27-2

espied

Dagger
Shoes of Stealth
Water

Taurus
Aries
Aries

(FW)

( * )

Amulet
Leather Armor
Food
Water

Gemini
Aquarius
Taurus
Pisces

17-3

tower

Cloak of Invisibility
Lamp
Ring
Short Sword
Talisman of Passage

Capricorn
Libra
Virgo
Leo
Cancer

37-5

talisman ( * * )

Leather Armor
Lamp
Necklace
Rope
Shoes of Stealth
Talisman of Passage

Aquarius
Cancer
Libra
Virgo
Virgo
Sagittarius

15-4

gold

Amulet
Grappling Hook
Cloak of Invisibility
Key
Food
Ring
Short Sword

Scorpio
Scorpio
Aquarius
Aries
Virgo
Taurus
Gemini

47-5

found

Amulet
Lamp
Dagger
Key
Food
Rope
Cloak of Invisibility
Shoes of Stealth
Leather Armor
Ring
Grappling Hook
Necklace
Water
Short Sword
Talisman of Passage

Cancer
Cancer
Taurus
Taurus
Scorpio
Scorpio
Aries
Aquarius
Libra
Libra
Libra
Gemini
Gemini
Capricorn
Sagittarius

( * ) Supposedly, this was a clue relating to FireWorld, but it is unknown as to how.

It depicts the Food and the Dagger.

( * * ) This is not hidden, but is boldfaced.

There seems to be some flexibility in when you can discover the 5-3 and 27-2 clues.

Otherwise, you must follow this order. You must find the FW clue.

At the completion of this, press the button, and you will discover the Warrior's Sword!

The game does not end, but I don't know if there is anything else to be found

(secret message? more clues? a less disappointing end?).

The correct phrase is "Quest in Tower Talisman Found".

# of Correct Word Clues

Title Bestowed by Atari

One or Two

Brave Venturer

Three or Four

Wise Warrior

Five

Supreme Sage of Sorcery

Solution Written by Russ Perry Jr.

Originally Published in the 2600 Connection Magazine Issue #4 Spring 1991 by Timothy Duarte

HTML version by Lafe Travis

Thanks to Atari for creating the Swordquest games


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This page was modified on March 30, 2002.