|
|
Game Information
|
Preview
|
Review |
Screenshots |
Forum |
»Dig Dug: Digging Strike
"It's just fun."
Dig Dug: Digging
Strike is a mix of the original Dig Dug, and the sequel, Dig Dug II.
The top screen plays much like Dig Dug II, except there are many little
holes that lead to the bottom screen, which is played like the original
Dig Dug. Fans of either one will enjoy the mix here, as it works
perfectly on the DS hardware.
It’s been over 20 years since the original Dig
Dug hit the arcades. After Dig Dug II, and countless ports to other
consoles, Dig Dug (Taizo) is finally back with a new adventure. His
Son, Mr. Driller (Susumu) has been filling his shoes for a while, but
after the president of a group of small islands calls on Mr. Driller’s
help, Dig Dug quickly steps in to save the day.
Dig Dug Dig Dug II
 
So how does Dig Dug: Digging
Strike use the DS stylus? Well, it doesn’t! The only real touch
elements in Digging Strike is the menu, which you can use the D-pad to
select, or just use your thumbs. The lack of touch screen use is
something I couldn’t be happier about.
The biggest addition to
Digging Strike is the stakes that need to be driven into the ground. To
do so, Taizo (Dig Dug) has to dig under them to make them fall, without
allowing them to fall on him. The stakes also have a lot of strategy to
them. Each island has a monster (boss?) lurking on it. In order to
destroy the monster, Taizo has to break off the part of the island the
monster is standing on. You do this by driving the stakes into the
ground, creating a big crack.
Just as in the original, Taizo has
to deal with many creatures like Pookas and Fygars who lurk in the dirt
below the surface. These guys are killed by shooting out Taizo’s
harpoon and blowing them up until they pop. Among other things, Taizo
has to deal with lava, ice blocks, and rising water this time around.
Graphically,
Digging Strike isn’t the prettiest game to ever grace the Nintendo DS.
The bottom screen didn’t really get a full makeover like other DS
titles got, and the top screen’s 3-D doesn’t look anything like what
the DS (or even GBA) is really capable of doing. The artwork on the
other hand, is actually pretty neat. There’s no voice acting, but the
story is presented very well.
Dig Dug: Digging Strike is one
giant music box. Anytime Taizo moves, the music goes. When he stops,
the music stops. I don’t remember that in the original, but it works
well. The music seems to be remade music from the originals, but it’s
been a long time since I’ve played them. Regardless, they sound good
and are fairly catchy.
There are some nice extras in this game.
You can access a hard mode after you beat the game, and also has a
multi-cart multiplayer mode. You play against your friend trying to
collect the most coins in a certain amount of time. The multiplayer
mode is nice, but trying to find a friend with this game will probably
be a pain for most people. A single-cart mode would be a lot more
reasonable.
Digging Strike really isn’t the longest game as it
only has 15 islands that will only take about 5 hours to complete, but
it does deliver on what’s most important in games: fun. Plain and
simple, Dig Dug: Digging Strike is fun while it lasts. Most people
aren’t interested in paying $30 for the game, and I’m one of them. If
you’re not a huge fan of Dig Dug, then your best bet is to wait until a
price drop.
Article by: Knives
Posted on: Nov. 28th, 2005 |
|
|
|
Review Recap |
| Gameplay |
| The mix of the two games really works on the DS. |
 |
|
|
Graphics |
| There's nothing really special about the graphics. Nothing pushes the DS's capabilities and nothing looks that great. |
 |
|
|
Sound |
| The music is catchy and sounds good. Nothing special though. |
 |
|
|
Replay Value |
| The game is pretty short, and the multiplayer action is pretty short lived. |
 |
|
|
Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
