Le Geek - Retrogaming Reviews

Rating
Graphics:	3.5
Sound:	5
Control:	3.5
Depth:	4
Overall:	3.5

Dig Dug

By: Atari, Inc.
Original Arcade Game By: Namco
Released: 1983

When I first played Dig Dug for the Atari 2600, I was put off by how the simple graphics didn't match the arcade version, and I was about to file it with the pile of arcade ports for the system that should never have been attempted in the first place. Yet after further playing, I was impressed by how well it rendered the music and sounds of the game. While slightly slower than the arcade original, nearly all of the game play seemed intact.

As Dig Dug, you explore underground, trying to literally blow up the bad guys. Pookas are the red blobs with snorkel gear and Fygars are the green fire breathing dragons. You can use your air pump to inflate them, or dig tunnels to drop rocks on them.

Dig Dug is readily available on superior hardware, both classic and modern, so if you just want to play the game, there's really no reason to track this version down. For the 2600 fan though, you'll find a nice balance of game play and fun, especially considering the machine's limitations.

- Ben Langberg