Time Bandit is a Gauntlet-style arcade game with text adventure elements.

Having nothing to do with the Terry Gilliam movie Time Bandits , this game
utilises the time-travel theme for a fast-paced preview of the concept getting
famous with Gauntlet two years later. Your bandit visits 16 different worlds
throughout time to grab as much loot as possible and, in the long run, do some
universe-saving stuff as well.

Each of the 16 locations — featuring such varied places like a medieval
arena, a bomb factory, a wrecked spaceship and a ghost town — is basically a
labyrinth filled with treasure and — you guessed it — monsters. You’ve got
to dodge these or blast them with your weapon, while collecting keys, opening
doors and searching for the exit. Although theoretically each location
consists of 16 sub-levels, these are merely the basic layout flipped or
mirrored, some items redistributed and the monster speed increased. After
completing a level, you return to the world map, where you may freely choose
the next challenge (nice) and save your game (very nice).

Interestingly, Time Bandit tries to spice up the fast arcade action with text
adventure scenes. Due to this strange mixture, you will occasionally bump into
persons or computer consoles with which interaction is possible. For example,
you’ve got to explore and repair the damaged spaceship Excalibur. However, the
parser is crude at best; you’ll have to know exactly what to do, or else you
will trigger no reaction.

Gaming veterans will discover a score of elements of and allusions to arcade
classics, such as Tutankham, Pac-Man, Centipede, Bomberman, and others.