Company: AtariSoft
Released: Prototype
Rarity: Extremely Rare
PROS:
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Very solid arcade port
CONS:
-
Was never released for sale
- Air pump can be sluggish
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Dig Dug might be considered a very unusual video game concept, but
there's no denying the addictive play control the game offers up. It's
become one of the most popular arcade games of its time period, and it
doesn't take long to figure out exactly why that is once you play it.
In Dig Dug, you take on the role of a miner who's sole purpose in life
is to tunnel underground and destroy the evil Pookas and Fygars that
are wreaking havoc underneath your home. You can either dislodge rocks
to fall on these creatures and crush them, or you can spear them with
your harpoon and then use your air pump to inflate them until they
explode. This simple game play worked great in arcades and Atarisoft
did a fantastic job of bringing all of the arcade play control into
this home Colecovision version. The air pump button can be a little
sluggish at times, but every other control angle is well covered and
smooth as silk.
The Colecovision version of Dig Dug uses an odd flicker display trick
that looks fantastic in motion, but horrible in still screen shots. The
game's visuals are close to the arcade version, and the sound effects,
while a bit different in places, are equally impressive and near-arcade
perfect.
It's a shame that Atarisoft never got around to releasing this amazing
arcade port. Dig Dug has long been an arcade classic favorite and that
feeling is captured quite well in this prototype Colecovision version.
If you love Dig Dug, this is one of the best home renditions available.
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Corbie Dillard
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© 2008 COLECOVISION CRITIC
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