That makes for a lot of gameplay over nine worlds! Only three worlds are open at the start of the game though. Each world consists of 20 levels, and each level has a maximum of three stars you can achieve if you score high enough within the time constraints. Starting out in the MacMarnua Sea, you’ll see all new worlds of Boulder Dash, even if the visuals seem somewhat familiar. Whichever Rockford you choose, you’ll be digging your way through levels with abandon. Honestly, the square, almost voxel-like Rockford from 30 th Anniversary was cooler, but luckily, Boulder Dash Deluxe gives you the option of switching to a voxellized 8-Bit Rockford based on the character from the original 1984 game! Rockford, our intrepid hero, has been completely redesigned as a googly-eyed blonde kid and it’s a bit disconcerting. Enemies, gems, and other visuals have been recycled into new levels for Boulder Dash Deluxe, as have the sound effects and gacha-style unlockables, creating a collect-a-thon that will take weeks to complete fully. In fact, if you’ve played 30 th Anniversary, you’ll find that the assets from that game are literally identical to this new version. More recent versions up the ante with extra items and tons of unlockables but the basic game is similar enough.īoulder Dash Deluxe doesn’t shake this formula up much. You dig through levels, collect gems, use boulders to crush enemies, and get to the exit once you’ve mined enough gems. If you’ve played these, you’ll have realized that while there are plenty of new gimmicks, the core mechanics haven’t really changed in the franchise. Notable among these were Boulder Dash EX for the Game Boy Advance, Boulder Dash XL 3D for the 3DS which took the port into a new visual mode, and the recent Boulder Dash 30 th Anniversary (reviewed here) from 2016. After the original game was released and ported to various systems and computers, there have been a plethora of other releases. Does it manage to scratch that same itch that the original does?įor starters, let’s take a quick look at the franchise. Boulder Dash Deluxe has just released from BBG Entertainment and there’s one big question. Now, there’s a new Boulder Dash in town for the Switch.
The series manages to tap into the simplicity and fun-factor of what gaming is supposed to be, a fanciful romp that entertains and engages.
Ever since the original game was released a whopping thirty-seven years ago in 1984, it has been a perennial favorite of gamers everywhere. Continued abuse of our services will cause your IP address to be blocked indefinitely.Boulder Dash is one of those enduring franchises that never seems to quite fade from the mental landscape of gamers.
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