Boulder Dash-XL puts you in metallic boots of Rockford (or his partner Crystal). They’re a couple of cutely animated mining robots whose job it is to dig up different treasures in a number of caverns. It might sound easy, but there are obstacles in your way like cave-ins from unsupported boulders and various cave-dwelling baddies out to stop you as well as the puzzling layouts of the caves you’re playing in. The story is practically absent, but goal is simple. The addictive gameplay is solid enough to fill any voids left by the lacking story though.
Players of Boulder Dash XL have the option of heading straight into the game’s arcade mode packed with a whopping 100 levels, which in itself delivers a healthy dose of value. If that’s not your thing though, you can also try puzzle mode, score attack mode, and the nostalgia inducing retro mode which has the original graphics and characters rendered in real-time 3D along with classic 8-bit tunes from the 1984 release. If you’re just looking for a casual experience, there’s also a zen mode. There is pretty much any kind of play style you could ask for in this tightly packaged puzzle game. Honestly, you rarely see updated classics on XBLA get this kind of overhaul and amount of gameplay included.
Boulder Dash XL is extremely easy to pick up and play. There isn’t a lot to learn beyond the initial introduction of move, push, and pull. The gameplay is simple to learn, but tough to master which is a contributing factor to the addictiveness that a quality puzzle game needs to be a success. The multitude of gameplay styles means that this release isn’t just for those who remember the original, but a game for anyone who enjoys a solid puzzle solving experience. That’s one of the things many classics seem to forget. You need to make the game for veterans and newbies alike. BS XL does just that.
The visuals are very bright and colorful with each level sporting re-designed HD graphics. The music combined with high res graphics combine for a very interesting experience. The levels are nicely done, but might be confusing initially because there’s so much cluttering up the screen. Retro mode is the hardest to look at, but that’s usually the case when you go from a new-looking game to an older style of graphics.
Boulder Dash-XL doesn’t deliver a story to rival the likes of BioShock, but the gameplay is so solid that you don’t need a story. I mean, what’s the story in Tetris again? The memories of Atari 2600 and Commodore 64 games will start rushing in the moment you start playing thanks to inspiration from fellow classics like Dig Dug. Catnip Games has provided the XBLA with a very solid action puzzler. I wish more developers would give classics this much attention before sending them out the door and once you spend a little time in the caves with Rockford and Crystal, you’ll agree that Boulder Dash XL does classic gaming right. Whether you enjoy fast-paced puzzle solving or laid back casual gaming, this arcade title will satisfy.
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Graphics |
7.0 |
Retro mode takes some getting used to, but the HD graphics are nice. |
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Audio |
6.5 |
3-2-1 GO! So the audio isn't amazing. It gets the job done. |
|
Single Player |
9.5 |
Simple gameplay hooks you and trying to master it keeps you playing. |
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Multiplayer |
N/A |
Multiplayer could have bumped this game up even higher. |
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Replay |
9.5 |
There are so many levels and modes, you'll play this for a while. |
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Overall |
8.5 |
The perfect combination of old and new to appeal to everyone. |
