an Action/Adventure Game
Hero
Seth is a 23-year old male who is a world traveler and a hiking fanatic. He is tall, strong, and lean and bears a striking resemblance to the actor, James Caviezel. Seth is a quiet, introverted, and a gentle sole who is both a minimalist and an environmentalist. He is most at home when he is outdoors – especially in the wilderness. Seth has honed his survival skills, and is resourceful when confronted with hardship. When he was 16, Seth trekked the entire Appalachian Trail from his hometown in Katahdin, Maine. Since then he has participated in many other backpacking excursions, ranging from Canada to China, including a host of other locales in between.
Predicament
On a solo hike outside Caripe, Venezuela, Seth fell through a camouflaged animal trap that landed him 30 feet below the ground in the Caverna del Guacharo (Cave of the Guacharo – home of the legendary oilbirds). As Seth explores the underground cavern in an effort to escape, he realizes the cave is inhabited by a myriad of hostile creatures, including bats, snakes, rats, oilbirds, and even a fire-breathing dragon. This is no ordinary cave! The only items in his backpack that he can use as weapons are a Swiss Army knife, a flashlight, and a can of bug spray. Seth realizes that he cannot escape the same way he got in, so he is forced to proceed through the tunnels of the cave, which are dimly-lit by a strange glow given off by the cold, wet walls.
Gameplay
Seth soon discovers that this cave also contains time portals, which he encounters by simply walking through a tunnel. He is aware that he is entering a time portal when the walls of the cave begin to wobble and slowly change. Whoosh – he is transported to another time and place. Seth meets a myriad of historical characters who promise him rewards (tools, weapons, resources, magic powers) if he solves a puzzle [presented as cut-scenes].
For example, Seth finds himself inside the Sistine Chapel and comes face-to-face with Michelangelo, who tells him that he will bestow upon him the magic power of high-jumping if Seth takes down all the scaffolding that was used to paint the ceiling. Michelangelo tells Seth that the scaffolding must be taken down in a particular sequence, and the order for removal is identified when a piece of scaffolding changes color. Seth must jump to different heights to reach the various pieces of scaffolding as they change color, and then cut each piece down using his Swiss Army knife. The puzzle is solved when all pieces of the scaffolding are removed in the correct order and in the timeframe allotted. If Seth is successful, he leaves the time portal and retains the magic power of high-jumping. If he fails, he must surrender one of his accumulated tools, weapons, resources, or magic powers before he leaves the time portal.
The rewards Seth accumulates after solving puzzles will not only help him defeat the hostile creatures of the cavern (or at least keep them at bay) but also help him escape. Using the right combination of tools (e.g., rope, hammer, railroad spikes), weapons (e.g., bow and arrow, spear, sword, musket), resources (e.g., water, food, tent) and powers (e.g., high-jumping, becoming invisible, super strength), together with the knowledge gained during his time travels, Seth should be able to figure out a way to escape the cavern. The game is won when Seth is able to jump, tunnel, or blast his way out of the Caverna del Guacharo.
Game Levels
There are five game levels in Time Cavern and two time portals on each level. Each level is physically higher than the next, so Seth’s progress through the game actually leads him closer to the surface, making it easier for him to escape. For example, at Level 1, he is at 30 feet. Level 2 – 25 feet; Level 3 – 20 feet; Level 4 – 15 feet, and at Level 5, he is only 10 feet from the surface. 
