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Boulder Dash is another ’80s classic and one that’s been revived for the modern age.
It’s also another Atari title that started out on the old Atari 8-bit consoles and one which I don’t remember playing a massive amount of times, but it’s one of those titles where, once you’ve played it, you can never forget it.
Taking the role of either Rockford or Crystal, your task is to dig through the dirt to collect diamonds, while being careful not to get through too much, such that too many rocks above are disturbed and come crashing down on you. A fair proportion of the level is already set out in tunnels, so strategy is required since if you were to continually dig everywhere, you’ll end up with serious issues when it comes to safety.
This will cause the rocks to either crash down on you, or trap you and stop you progressing to the end. Presuming you make it through without coming a cropper, you have to collect a certain number of diamonds specified – which aren’t always the total available in the level – before heading to the exit, and all under a strict time limit. This brings about some confusion when you can’t always find it, but this new version allows you to pause the game and look all around the level to find it, so you don’t lose out to time. Also, whereas before, a diamond that falls onto your head meant instant death, here, it’s not a problem, it’s just another collected diamond.
The game modes in this release are as follows:
- Arcade mode: straight forward. Collect the diamonds, push the rocks out of the way, evade the baddies and try not to get squished by anything falling!
- Puzzle mode: These are slightly different in that they require you to think a little bit more, rather than just rushing through a maze. You’ll need to work out how precisely you need to push the boulders, sometimes whilst standing still, before continuing to get the diamonds and then heading for the exit. It’s very easy to get caught out. There is no time limit in these caves, so tread carefully.
- Zen Mode: Play previously solved caves again without the pressure of a time limit, allowing you to focus on those gem-grabbing skills.
- Score Attack: Get as many points as possible in specially designed caves within the time limit. The Exit will open early and, making it back before time runs out, will be rewarded big time, so plan your strategy accordingly.
- Retro Mode: this does what it suggests on the tin, with the original Boulder Dash from the old 8-bit days, when video games were a lot less forgiving and falling diamonds were deadly, unlike in this new version. This really is the icing on the cake for a great fun Xbox Live Arcade title!
With this new release, the levels – all 150 of them – do get fiendishly difficult before too long and are very well put together. However hard you try, you can’t always get every last diamond, especially on those caves with a ver tight time limit, but therein lies the challenge.
The scores I’ve given Boulder Dash XL are reflective of how they get the game across today, with glorious, updated HD graphics. Sure, it’s not an action-blaster like, say, Crysis 2, but for how it brings Boulder Dash to the current generation, it’s definitely a must-play.
Now someone please tell Atari that THIS is the way to remake a classic for the modern generation!
Check out our full playlist of Boulder Dash XL videos!
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Important info:
- Publisher: Kalypso Media
- Price: 800 MS points
- Players: 1
- HDTV options: 720p/1080i/1080p
|
GRAPHICS SOUND GAMEPLAY ENJOYMENT |
8 7 10 9 |
| OVERALL | 8 |
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.