Pump up the Jam

This week’s journey again to the golden age of gaming, guided by the retro-lovers over at Hamster Company, sees us check out the a lot lesser-known sequel to one of the crucial beloved coin-op classics of all time — Now accessible on PS4 and Nintendo Swap, its Namco’s Dig Dug II!

Launched to the arcade market in 1985, earlier than later being ported to the Famicom platform, Dig Dug II options the entire sounds and visuals of the seminal 1982 unique, however chooses to set the motion on the floor, forgoing the mine-based gameplay of the unique and considerably eradicating each the “Dig” and the “Dug”. Hero Taizo returns, as soon as once more armed along with his trusty harpoon pump with which he should fend off iconic enemies together with Pookas, and Fygars.

As well as, Taizo is now geared up with a jackhammer, and is ready to partition areas of every stage to sink into the ocean, destroying all close by enemies, and maybe Taizo himself if the participant is careless with their jackhammering actions. You’ll be able to take a look at the cutesy motion for your self within the gameplay video under, courtesy of YouTuber Replay Burners.

Whereas Namco must be congratulated for no less than making an attempt one thing just a little totally different, Dig Dug II simply doesn’t have fairly the identical compelling nature of the unique, with the top-down maze type a poor alternative for the unique recreation’s strategic tunneling system. The sequel wouldn’t obtain an official residence launch outdoors of its native Japan, solely showing within the type of latter-day Namco compilations and retro re-releases. It’s completely fantastic, after all, as is the case for nearly all Namco classics, however merely can’t maintain water when in comparison with its exceptionally well-designed forerunner.

Dig Dug II is accessible to obtain now on PS4 and Nintendo Swap, priced at round $8.