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Legends of the Hidden Temple was a game show hosted by Kirk Fogg that aired on Nickelodeon from 1993 to 1996. It was a physical challenge game show, with six teams of 2 people competing for prizes. The format of Legends was similar to other physical challenge shows of the time, such as Double Dare and GUTS, although the games used were much less messy as in Double Dare.
The decoration of the set was made to resemble various ancient Central American iconographies, especially that of the Olmec. The set included areas for different types of physical challenges, a set of steps (the Steps of Knowledge), and a large, two-floor vertical labyrinth (the Hidden Temple) in the back of the stage. Near the labyrinth was a giant animatronic talking Olmec head simply named Olmec.
Every episode had a theme: a particular Legend was picked (written), regarding a certain artifact from around the world that found its way to the Temple, and the winning team had to retrieve it.
Gameplay
First round
The first round of the show involved a physical challenge centered around the crossing of a small swimming pool. All six teams attempted to get both members across the pool, according to the rules, and hit a podium button to ring a gong. (In reality, hitting the button only played a gong sound over the studio speakers.) The first four teams to make it across the pool and ring the gong went on to round 2.
Steps of Knowledge
Round two allowed Olmec to tell a story about the artifact of the day. The story was always quite detailed, and after it was told, the 4 teams were asked a series of questions testing the teams' memory of the story. A team that knew the answer buzzed in by hitting the button on their step with their feet. If the team knew the answer, they were allowed to step down to the next level. The first two teams to step down to the bottom level moved on to the physical challenge rounds.
The Temple Games (Rounds 3-5)
Physical challenges employed on Legends were many and varied. After each challenge, the winning team was awarded some portion of a protective Pendant of Life. The first two challenges awarded a half-pendant each, and the final challenge awarded a full pendant. After these rounds, the team with the most pendants went on to the final round. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker question was asked to determine the winner.
The temple
In the final round, the winning team took whatever Pendants of Life they had (most commonly, a full pendant and half of the second) into the labyrinth. The labyrinth consisted of about 10 rooms, each connected by a doorway which may or may not have been open during the game, depending on the setup used that day. One room in the labyrinth had the themed artifact; three rooms held Temple Guards. If the winning team had an incomplete pendant, the remaining half-pendant would be in a room as well. The lo
One player was sent in first, with a complete pendant, and had three minutes to find the artifact. The second player remained outside to watch the first player's progress. In each room, completing a puzzle would unlock a door to another room. For example, the Shrine of the Silver Monkey held three pieces of a silver monkey statue, and completing the statue would unlock a door. The Jester's Court placed the switches to the door at the hands of one of three outlines; posing in the position of the correct outline and pressing the buttons opened the door.
If at any time a Temple Guard appeared, the player was forced to give up a full pendant or be pulled backstage as if he were swept away to oblivion. The second player now had the chance to enter, with all opened doors remaining open and all known Temple Guards nonexistent. If the second player could make it to the artifact without being caught empty-handed by a Temple Guard, all Guards would disappear and all doors would open, allowing the player to escape unhindered. A different prize was awarded depending on whether the team merely made it to the temple, retrieved the artifact, or escaped with the artifact.
External link
- Rules of the game, (http://www.loogslair.com/gameshow/rules/temple.html) with a diagram of the labyrinth and description of each puzzle
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