Description

"Save Mary" is a somewhat obscure but inventive video game that was developed for the Atari 2600/VCS console, designed by Dan Kitchen and scheduled for release by Activision in the early 1990s. The premise of the game revolves around an innovative rescue mission where the player's objective is to save a character named Mary, who is trapped in a slowly filling water reservoir. Players use blocks, which are dropped by a crane, to construct a platform high enough for Mary to escape the rising waters. Each level presents a different configuration of the reservoir, and the player must strategically place blocks to ensure Mary can stay above the water level and ultimately reach the safety of the ledge.

Despite its creative gameplay mechanics, "Save Mary" never officially saw the light of day as a released game due to the declining interest in the Atari 2600 during the rise of more advanced gaming systems like the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was, however, completed and later discovered by retro gaming enthusiasts. Since then, it has been made available through emulation and as part of compilations of unreleased games. "Save Mary" stands out as a unique puzzle-solving and action adventure on the Atari 2600, offering a distinctive challenge with its combination of real-time strategy and block-stacking mechanics, encapsulating a memorable snapshot of the types of innovative game design that were being explored even towards the end of the Atari 2600's commercial lifespan.

Title

Save Mary - Title

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Gameplay

Save Mary - Gameplay

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