⚠ Spoiler Warning — This page contains the complete solution to Raaka-Tu. Try to escape the temple on your own first!
About this Raaka-Tu solution
This solution is for Raaka-Tu on the TRS-80 Model I/III and TRS-80 Color Computer. It originally appeared on Steve McCoy's website at www.simology.com, but his site no longer exists. Used with permission. Solution by Steve McCoy. Written January 12, 1998; completed September 30, 1998. Maps by Branden Robinson.
Foreword
This game originally came out in the early 80s, around 1980–81. It was released by Radio Shack for the TRS-80 Model I or Model III, and later released for the Radio Shack Color Computer.
Since I'm a huge fan of adventure games… and this is one I had on my first computer during my Christmas break from high school in 1980. My parents had purchased the Model III as my Christmas present and Raaka-Tu was included along with Haunted House. Both games are very dear to my heart and both are classic text adventures.
Basic overview of the game is that you're in a jungle and trying to solve the mystery of the Temple of Raaka-Tu. Like many adventures of the time, you tend to die over and over. Every wrong move can result in your death. The games didn't allow for saving each step, so you have to start from scratch each time you "choose poorly." This walkthrough will smooth out each phase or step of the game. The game is won if you can enter and leave the temple and return to your starting point with 5 treasures for 50 points. I hope this helps you on your quest.
Quick Reference
Key Dangers
- Guards (marching around temple)
- Wooden Door & Rug
- Bow & Arrow Statue
- Gargoyle
- Serpent
- Vault
- Candle (when burning)
Key Items
- Burning Lamp
- Candle (light to kill Gargoyle)
- Sword (use to kill Serpent)
- Food (restores health)
- Coin (safe passage)
Treasures (5 total)
- Golden Ring
- Bejeweled Lever
- Golden Idol (Serpent guards it)
- Golden Chopstick (Gargoyle guards it)
- Precious Gem (random — EXAMINE ROOM)
Area Maps
Maps by Branden Robinson.
Full Walkthrough
Game Start
You begin east of the temple. Head west to find it.
GO WEST
YOU ARE IN A DENSE DARK DAMP JUNGLE.GO WEST
THROUGH THE JUNGLE YOU SEE THE EAST WALL OF A GREAT TEMPLE. A GROUP OF GUARDS MARCHES AROUND THE CORNER TO YOUR RIGHT.Navigating Past the Guards
The guards patrol constantly around the temple. You must stay in the jungle area and only approach the walls when the guards have passed. If you linger too long near the temple, they will kill you. The trick: wait in the jungle until the guards disappear to your left.
GO
TRY A DIRECTION. A GROUP OF GUARDS DISAPPEARS AROUND THE CORNER TO YOUR LEFT.GO SOUTH
IN A CLEARING BEFORE YOU STANDS THE SOUTH WALL OF A GREAT TEMPLE. A GROUP OF GUARDS DISAPPEARS AROUND THE CORNER TO YOUR LEFT.GO WEST
THROUGH THE DENSE UNDERGROWTH, YOU CAN SEE THE GREAT BRONZE GATES ON THE WEST WALL OF THE TEMPLE. A GROUP OF GUARDS DISAPPEARS AROUND THE CORNER TO YOUR LEFT.GO EAST
YOU ARE STANDING BEFORE THE WEST ENTRANCE OF THE TEMPLE. GREAT BRONZE GATES ENGRAVED WITH IMAGES OF SERPENTS STAND SILENTLY BEFORE YOU. THERE IS A COIN ON THE GROUND.GET COIN
COIN TAKEN.Important — you'll need to pay a price for passage later.
GO NORTH
YOU ARE AT THE NORTH WALL. A LARGE NETWORK OF VINES CLINGS TO THE WALL.This is your way into the temple. The vines can be climbed — but stay here too long and the guards will shoot you. Move north into the jungle to wait for them.
GO NORTH
THROUGH A GAP IN THE JUNGLE YOU CAN SEE THE NORTH WALL OF A MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE. A GROUP OF GUARDS MARCHES AROUND THE CORNER TO YOUR RIGHT.GO
TRY A DIRECTION. A GROUP OF GUARDS DISAPPEARS AROUND THE CORNER TO YOUR LEFT.GO SOUTH
YOU ARE AT THE NORTH WALL. A LARGE NETWORK OF VINES CLINGS TO THE WALL.CLIMB VINES
Sometimes the vine gives way and you fall. If that happens, quickly GO NORTH to wait for guards, then GO again and GO SOUTH to try again. Repeat until you make it up.
YOU CLIMB TO THE ROOF. AS YOU STEP ON THE ROOF, IT COLLAPSES. YOU ARE IN A SMALL ROOM WITH GRANITE WALLS AND FLOOR. THERE IS A SMALL OPENING TO THE EAST AND A LARGE HOLE IN THE CEILING.You've made it past the guards. Now — treasure hunting!
Inside the Temple
GO EAST
YOU ARE IN A LARGE RECTANGULAR ROOM. ON THE FLOOR OF THE EAST SIDE OF THE ROOM IS AN INTRICATE ORIENTAL RUG STRETCHING BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH WALLS. IN THE EAST WALL IS A HUGE CARVED WOODEN DOOR. TO THE SOUTH, A SMALL HOLE LEADS TO A DARK PASSAGE WAY.Beware of the wooden door — it's a trap!
GO SOUTH
YOU ARE IN A DARK PASSAGE WAY WHICH SLOPES UP AND TO THE SOUTH.GO SOUTH
YOU ARE AT THE TOP OF A PASSAGE WHICH SLOPES DOWN AND TO THE NORTH. THERE IS A CORRIDOR TO THE EAST AND ANOTHER TO THE WEST. THERE IS FOOD HERE.GET FOOD
GO WEST
YOU ARE IN A SMALL ROOM WITH A SINGLE EXIT EAST. THERE IS A LARGE SWORD LAYING NEARBY.GET SWORD
You'll need this sword later — trust me!
GO EAST
GO EAST
THIS IS A T SHAPED ROOM WITH EXITS EAST, SOUTH, AND WEST.GO SOUTH
GO EAST
THIS IS A ROUND ROOM WITH HIGH WALLS. THE ONLY OPENING IS TO THE WEST.GO WEST
GO NORTH
GO EAST
YOU ARE IN A TRIANGULAR ROOM WITH OPENINGS IN THE EAST AND WEST CORNERS. THERE IS A STATUE IN THE SOUTH CORNER WITH BOW AND ARROW. THE STATUE IS FACING THE EAST DOOR. THERE IS A TINY SLOT CUT IN THE NORTH WALL. THERE IS A MESSAGE CARVED UNDER THE SLOT.READ MESSAGE
THE MESSAGE SAYS, "SAFE PASSAGE FOR A PRICE."Good thing you found the coin outside!
PUT COIN IN SLOT
THE STATUE TURNS TO FACE THE WEST DOOR.GO EAST
YOU ARE AT THE SOUTH END OF THE GREAT CENTRAL HALLWAY. EXITS EXIST IN THE EAST AND WEST WALLS.As you move through the rooms, use EXAMINE ROOM in each one to search for the hidden Precious Gem. It's in a random location.
EXAMINE ROOM (in each room you visit)
YOU DISCOVER A PRECIOUS GEM HIDDEN IN A CREVICE.GET GEM
PRECIOUS GEM TAKEN.Getting the Bejeweled Lever
GO NORTH
YOU ARE AT THE NORTH END OF THE GREAT CENTRAL HALLWAY. THERE IS A DOOR ON THE NORTH WALL. THE DOOR IS CLOSED.OPEN DOOR
RRRRREEEEEEEK - THE DOOR IS OPEN.GO NORTH
YOU ARE IN A VAULT WITH A LARGE DOOR TO THE SOUTH. A BEJEWELED LEVER IS ON ONE WALL. THERE IS A PLAQUE ON THE WALL ABOVE THE LEVER. THE DOOR CLOSES BEHIND YOU.DO NOT PULL THE LEVER — it's game over. Just take it and leave.
GET LEVER
OPEN DOOR
GO SOUTH
Getting the Candle and Lamp
GO WEST
YOU ARE AT THE ENTRANCE TO A LONG DARK TUNNEL WHICH LEADS WEST. THERE IS A PASSAGE EAST. A CANDLE IS IN THE ROOM.GET CANDLE
GO EAST
GO EAST
YOU ARE IN A VERY SMALL ROOM. THERE IS A BURNING LAMP HERE.GET LAMP
GO WEST
Killing the Gargoyle & Getting the Golden Chopstick
GO SOUTH
GO EAST
GO EAST
GO NORTH
YOU ARE IN A LARGE ROOM WHICH SMELLS OF DECAYING FLESH. THERE ARE EXITS NORTH AND SOUTH. THERE IS A HIDEOUS STONE GARGOYLE PERCHED ON A LEDGE ABOVE THE NORTH PASSAGE.The Gargoyle is deadly. Use the candle to bring it to life, then the fumes will kill it — but the fumes affect you too. Light the candle and flee the room immediately.
DROP CANDLE
LIGHT CANDLE WITH LAMP
THE CANDLE IS NOW BURNING. A SWEET SCENT PERMEATES THE ROOM.GO NORTH
THE GARGOYLE COMES TO LIFE AND JUMPS DOWN TO BLOCK YOUR WAY!GO SOUTH
Waste some moves by wandering west and back — let the candle do its work on the Gargoyle. Try a few GO WEST / GO EAST moves, then return.
GO WEST → GO WEST → GO EAST → GO EAST
LOOK (a couple times)
GO NORTH
YOU ARE IN A LARGE ROOM WHICH SMELLS OF DECAYING FLESH. A CANDLE IS BURNING DIMLY. THERE IS THE DEAD CARCASS OF AN UGLY GARGOYLE NEARBY.EXTINGUISH CANDLE
GO NORTH
THIS IS A TALL ROOM CARVED OF STONE WITH A SINGLE EXIT TO THE SOUTH. THERE IS A GOLDEN CHOPSTICK HERE.GET CHOPSTICK
GO SOUTH
GO SOUTH
Getting the Golden Ring
GO EAST
GO EAST
GO SOUTH
GO EAST
THIS IS A ROUND ROOM WITH HIGH WALLS. THE ONLY OPENING IS TO THE WEST. A RING OF FINEST GOLD IS HERE.The Ring of Motion is tricky — picking it up teleports you to another room. You need to pick it up, drop it, and pick it up again to return to the correct room.
GET RING
GOLD RING TAKEN.READ RING
THE INSCRIPTION READS, "RING OF MOTION."You've moved to an identical-looking room without realizing it. Drop the ring and pick it up to move safely back.
DROP RING
GET RING
Now you're safely back in the correct room.
GO WEST
GO NORTH
GO EAST
Killing the Serpent & Getting the Golden Idol
GO NORTH
GO WEST
GO WEST
GO WEST
YOU ARE IN A LARGE ROOM WITH A SINGLE EXIT EAST. BEFORE YOU STANDS AN ALTAR, STAINED WITH THE BLOOD OF COUNTLESS SACRIFICES. A GOLDEN IDOL STANDS IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM. A LARGE SERPENT LIES COILED ON THE FLOOR. THE SERPENT STRIKES, YOU DODGE HIS LUNGE!KILL SERPENT WITH SWORD
YOUR LARGE SWORD SINKS TO THE HILT IN THE SERPENT'S SCALY BODY!KILL SERPENT WITH SWORD
THE SERPENT'S HEAD IS SEVERED FROM HIS BODY! A MAGNIFICENT BLOW! THE SERPENT IS DEAD.Sometimes it takes several attacks — the serpent doesn't always die on the first blow.
GET IDOL
MOVE ALTAR
UGH! WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY YOU MANAGE TO MOVE THE ALTAR AND YOU DISCOVER A SECRET PASSAGE.Verify Your Inventory
INVENT
You should have all five treasures:
- ✓ Gold Ring
- ✓ Bejeweled Lever
- ✓ Golden Idol
- ✓ Golden Chopstick
- ✓ Precious Gem
Escape!
CLIMB DOWN PASSAGE
YOU ARE IN THE SECRET PASSAGE WHICH LEADS EAST. THE ALTAR MOVES BACK TO SEAL THE HOLE ABOVE YOU.GO EAST
CLIMB HOLE
AS YOU CLIMB OUT OF THE HOLE, IT SEEMS TO MAGICALLY SEAL UP BEHIND YOU. YOU ARE AT THE SOUTH WALL.Careful — the guards are still patrolling. Move south into the jungle immediately.
GO SOUTH
GO EAST
GO EAST
GO EAST
GO SOUTH
Victory!
SCORE
OUT OF A POSSIBLE FIFTY, YOUR SCORE IS 50."I know, I know… it's a little lame that after this AWESOME adventure he doesn't even give you a CONGRATULATIONS!!!! — But trust me, you deserve it. It's taken me countless hours to solve this game." — Steve McCoy