Critics bemoaned the gameplay's repetitive use of falling down holes. Emru Townsend of "PC World" discussed the game with a group, and found a universal dislike for the pits that E.T. falls into, describing it as "monotonous". Writer Sean "Seanbaby" Reiley also criticized the pits, claiming that they are "time-consuming" and "difficult to leave without falling back in". Trent Ward, a former "Next Generation Magazine" reviewer, commented that this element prompted him to immediately return the game for a refund after purchasing it in his youth, and the children who found games in the New Mexico landfill gave the "E.T." cartridges away because, as one later said, the "game sucked ... you couldn't finish it". Classic Gaming argued that despite the negative reception, the game can be enjoyable after the player has learned to navigate the pits.