Boulder Dash is not the most well known name in classic gaming. It has made appearances on the Atari 800 XL, Commodore 64, MSX, ColecoVision, Amiga, Acorn, PC, Aniga, and the NES, yet it’s not the most commonly known retro game. While having been ported to every single console and portable you can possibly think of, it’s never gotten a “true” sequel. That has finally changed as First Star Software (yes, they still exist) has partnered with Catnip Games and Kalypso Media to revive a game that should have been brought back a long time ago. Say hello to Boulder Dash XL.
Game: Boulder Dash XL
Publisher: Kalypso Games/First Star Software
Developer: Catnip Games
Genre: Action/Puzzle
Price: 800 MS Points
Pros: Insane amount of content. Improves on the original concept in every way.
Cons: Just a tad slower than the original.
Verdict: One of the all-time great retro revivals. Totally a must-buy.
Acquired via Publisher
The game’s protagonist, Rockford, digs through caves in a grid pattern collecting gems and diamonds while dodging falling rocks and underground creatures within the time limit. Sounds simple enough, but the cave design and maze like structure become really complicated as you move forward. Quite frankly, Boulder Dash was always addicting. Now, Boulder Dash has finally joined the retro remake/revival club on Xbox Live Arcade and the addictive nature of the original game has been upped for a modern generation. The results are addictive as crack cocaine.
Let’s face it. No matter which version you played, Boulder Dash was never a truly pretty or fluid game. Movement was grid based, and fast moving characters were always stiff and jittery, almost Tiger LCD game-like. The gameplay was intense and fun, but the visuals were fugly and the animation was stiff. That is no longer the case. The aforementioned gameplay of the original is fundamentally unchanged, yet now Boulder Dash has a modern sheen while preserving it’s classic cartoony appearance (primarily based on the classic Commodore version).
In Boulder Dash XL, you have to collect a certain number of gems before you can escape through the exit. The exit is seen as an indestructible wall until you reach the minimum amount of gems. In total, there’s 150 new caves. You won’t run out of content any time soon, so don’t go in expecting to just blow right through. This game is challenging, and later levels require fast thinking. Basic gameplay structure is unchanged, though movement is a little slow (and obviously more fluid) than classic versions. What’s most exciting here is the new gameplay modes. We’ve got Arcade, Puzzle, Zen, Time Challenge, and Retro. Retro mode will specifically delight classic fans with 25 specifically tailored 8-bit caves to make Commodore 64 fans giggle. This sequels knows and loves its heritage. Arcade mode is your traditional Boulder Dash experience. Puzzle mode will make your brain explode, Score Attack pits you against your friend’s online records, and Zen mode could qualify for a medical stress test. Replay value is endless, just as it should be.
XL is really pretty, yet cartoonish. No real reason to get into the visuals. It’s Boulder Dash, just prettier. The music isn’t quite as memorable as say the classic NES version, but the sound effects are full of little gems (pun intended). Obscure fact: see if you can catch the lifted Star Fox 64 sound effect scattered in the game.
There isn’t much else to say about Boulder Dash XL. This is a definitive retro remake. It gets everything right and manages to improve on a timeless classic that is overlooked all too often. Don’t think about it. Just buy it and thank us later.
GrE Grade: A
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