Everest Ascent Explained

Everest Ascent
Developer:	Richard Shepherd Software
Publisher:	Richard Shepherd Software
Released:	1983
Genre:	Adventure
Platforms:	ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64

Everest Ascent is a text and graphics adventure game for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 computers. It was published by Richard Shepherd Software in 1983. The goal is to reach the top of Mount Everest in 20 days. Players must allocate their limited funds to keep their sherpas well fed and supplied in order to reach the summit.^[1]

Contemporary reviews of Everest Ascent in computer hobbyist magazines were frequently concerned with the game's difficulty, but considered the game positively overall. Your Computer magazine wrote of the game that it is "more of a strategy game than a straight Adventure [sic]", and joked that the significant difficulty may be due to the sherpas you hire in-game having English names, rather than Nepalese names, and thus, "not what they used to be".^[2] Crash called the game "a good average." Home Computing Weekly complained that the player's interface offered insufficient information, but still found the game interesting.^[3]

Notes and References

May 1984 . Spectrum Software Guide . Crash . Newsfield Limited . 4 . 68 . You have 20 days to reach the summit of Everest, starting off from limited funds (money comes in from sponsors if you seem to be doing well, but it isn't credited to you if you've forgotten to buy a radio). You must hire Sherpas with homely names and varying strengths and the habit of deserting you if you're not fed properly. Their equipment and supplies are expensive and they eat like horses. Neat graphics and the familiar prompt menu for buying and moving about. It takes some getting into and early expeditions usually last a short time until you realise what's needed most. A good average. . Internet Archive.
Jones . Meirion . July 1983 . ZX SPECTRUM SOFTWARE . Your Computer . 3 . 7 . 63 . Internet Archive.
D.T. . 5 April 1983 . Harris . Ron . To boldly go . . . into the unknown with your micro . Home Computing Weekly . Argus Specialist Publications . London, UK . 5 . 21 . Internet Archive.