Traps 'n' Treasures

In 1641 the pirate captain Jeremy Flynn and his crew are sailing around Tortuga when the compass breaks. Drifting off course they reach the pirate Redberd's base on Devil's Island where they get attacked. Redbeard's men kidnap the crew and take all valuables while Flynn manages to hide from them. It is now up to him to rescue his crew, get back his treasures and escape Devil's Island.

The player takes the role of Jeremy Flynn, who is controlled using a joystick and the keyboard. The joystick is used for movement (running, jumping, ducking, crawling), using the primary weapon (a dagger at first), operating switches/levers and carrying boxes. Additionally a parachute can be deployed for slowing down descent as larger falls can kill Flynn. The weapon does not work while in the air and is replaced by a ground-stomp used to destroy breakable blocks. The keyboard's arrow keys are used to navigate through Flynn's inventory while the Space key uses/activates the selected inventory item. The Escape key kills Flynn in case the player fell into a trap he/she can't escape from through other means.

Flynn starts with a life meter of five units (which can be extended) and three extra lives. Touching enemies, enemy projectiles or environmental hazards (poison, spikes) will reduce the life meter depending on the specific enemy. When the life meter reaches zero Flynn will lose a life, the game ends when the last life is lost. The game has four stages and the player will be given a password between each of them which can be used to continue a game after shutting it off or losing all of the lives. However, the password only provides level access and does not save any score or other inventory items. The life meter can be filled by picking up potions or buying food. Additionally Flynn can pick up fruit from defeated enemies and pots which fill a "Vitamins" gauge which, when full, is reset to zero and rewards one life point.

During the game Flynn can pick up treasure such as silver/gold coins and money bags. They are found in treasure chests, dropped by enemies, lying in the open or in secret coin-collection bonus stages (which are started by hitting a hidden block with the head). The stages contain shops where the player can use the gold to purchase a variety of items, including stronger weapons (with more power and/or better range), food to restore health, an item to extend the life meter and bombs to blow up walls. The player can also find parts of treasure maps. When six parts are collected a bonus game starts where gems must be collected. At the end of the stage the player receives gold depending on how many gems were picked up and also at least one additional extra life.