ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All rights reserved. You can also opt to dig a few bricks out towards the end of a stage knowing it will take a life if your air is low, but if you have one to spare, you’ll be further along and have a refilled air meter better ensuring your chances of victory. The cutscenes are widescreen and don’t appear to be stretched out versions of the original, while the playing field has been given just enough of a UI around it to disguise the fact that it too is a 4:3 area. Your goal is to reach a certain depth, but that's easier said than done--you have a limited air supply that acts as a timer, and some poor drilling choices could lead to your driller getting smooshed under a landslide. If you ever feel stuck on a particular attraction, you can always scoot over to the store and use your in-game currency to buy helpful items like extra lives and protective gear. Heidi Kemps Mr. Driller DrillLand is a top-notch puzzle game eighteen years after its initial release and doesn’t look or feel its age at all. • Mr. DRILLER … The years that followed saw several Mr. Driller releases across multiple platforms, but after a while, Namco seemed content to entomb the series and focus on other things. As you destroy blocks and work your way into the earth, you'll free up other blocks, which will fall and join up with (and also break) others of the same color. Mr. Driller Drill Land is a decent package, but I don’t think I’ve quite understood the intricacies of the franchise’s formula. What surprised me was just how efficient the game is with a keyboard. Mr. Driller DrillLand is a top-notch puzzle game eighteen years after its initial release and doesn’t look or feel its age at all. Mr.Driller DrillLand is a colourful and bubbly experience filled with addicting and rewarding gameplay as well as an amazing soundtrack. If you’re struggling, you can also choose to play through a casual mode that’s a bit more forgiving. World Drill Tour is the standard Mr. Driller gameplay fans know and love combined with visuals and music that poke fun at a certain famous Disneyland staple. GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers. Now, we’re in an era with a lot of “just one more run” arcade-style games being back in vogue. Guides; Mr. Driller Drill Land comment. Review code was provided by the publisher. Adding to Drill Land’s endearing qualities is the presentation, which transfers wonderfully to HD in the remake. The further down in the stage you go, the less oxygen you will have — resulting in the player needing to carefully pick up as many oxygen capsules as possible to ensure that they can keep going on safely. Beyond just having to make sure you make it to the bottom, you will be able to figure out the timing on things like climbing blocks to do things like grab air or depending on the stage, random power-ups that can either help or hurt you depending on the circumstance. DrillLand features more content than any other entry in the series, with themed stages that each offer their own challenge. This will quicken your descent and may open up more chances for air capsules — but it can also send stone on top of you, adding to the risk. It's the sort of game where you'll be in a groove… only to screw up a section catastrophically and ruin a run. What makes Mr. Driller Drill Land so good is how it creates several unique variants on this formula through the different attractions, each with a fun and unique theme. The gameplay includes the elimination of the coloured blocks in the game. Being mindful of your environment is always key as you need to make sure you don’t drill carelessly and send too many blocks down towards you. You choose a character with a unique ability, then drill as far as you can before you die. It’s a must-buy for any Mr. Driller fan or any puzzle fan in your household. The content may not be completely new, but it delivers classic arcade play. The original Japanese audio is retained and subtitles have been included. Mr DRILLER: DrillLand has series protagonist Susumu Hori and his band of friends (and rivals) enter the wondrous underground theme park of Drill Land. Το Mr. Driller: Drill Land επέστρεψε, και αυτή τη φορά το θεματικό πάρκο υποδέχεται το παγκόσμιο κοινό, σε αντίθεση με την πρώτη κυκλοφορία του παιχνιδιού στο GameCube που ήταν διαθέσιμη μόνο στην Ιαπωνία. This is the best stage for those who either new to the series or rusty to get their feet wet as it’s the most forgiving and offers up a chance to learn the ropes. Mr. Driller Drill Land is an easy to learn but hard to master arcade puzzler that has brilliant music, responsive controls, and a ton of personality. [Review] Mr. Driller DrillLand Posted on June 27, 2020 by Campbell(@CampbellSGill) in Reviews, Switch. The “standard” Mr. Driller play is available, which is more or less an endurance mode. The art assets are high quality and hold up nicely on a bigger screen. For this review, she played the game on Classic difficulty for around 10 hours. The popular action puzzle game “Mr. Mr. Driller DrillLand is the fifth entry in the long-running Mr. Driller series and the only one to release across multiple generations of Nintendo platforms. © 2020 Hardcore Gamer LLC. Normally this kind of thing is blatant and border art can be distracting — to the point where in literally any other game, especially compilations, it’s a must to just leave pillarboxes up. There’s a ton of variety offered up here and it’s one thing that puts this entry in the series atop the others. [review game] Critic Reviews. Platform: Nintendo Switch (Then again, you aren't missing much if you do.). The story and characters are simple, leaving a lot to be desired but is suited for its target audience. The Drill Land theme park motif is used as a way to offer up different types of “parks,” each with their own setup. Visually, outside of some 4:3 content like the Disney World-esque neon light parade getting 16:9 border art, you would never know this was a game from 2002. If we can all reach a consensus, it is to improve each game by launching our own theme song, and Mr. Driller Drill Land is one of the best-sweet, exciting and sensual, so that you can fully understand what you are about to die Great time. Mr.Driller DrillLand is a HD port and localization of the original on the GameCube. Star Driller adds random power-ups with a variety of effects into the mix in a space adventure--though sometimes the pickups can hurt more than they help. Your arrow keys move you around and space digs while J acts as your holy water-distribution key and the interface works well. Images. The game is based on the original Mr. Driller Drill Land video game that was released on GameCube in Japan in 2002.. We had a chance to check out Mr. Driller DrillLand on Switch.. What’s this game about? Nearly two decades later, the game has received a shiny coat of paint and been readied for a Western release. There is no trivia on file for this game. The consistent level of quality and detail in the presentation … Susumu Hori hasn’t had the easiest life. Mr. Driller DrillLand very quickly introduces you to the very cartoony cutscenes that are found throughout the game, which very much fits the aesthetic found all throughout the Mr. Driller series. The three attractions that cleverly augment the core formula are the most enjoyable. While you can sometimes outrun them and essentially hide under a larger colored block, you may very well get crushed and end your run if you aren’t careful. Pricing discrepancies aside though, Mr. DRILLER DrillLand is easy to recommend. Players can compete in single and multiplayer puzzles, drilling through multicolored blocks, fighting random enemies, and working around and through various obstacles. Even worse, you can't manually advance dialogue -- only skip them entirely. After you grasp the basics, you'll grow into a groove and skillfully obtain pickups, create chains to eliminate lots of blocks at once, and find safe spots among a cascade of falling earth. Parents need to know that Mr. Driller DrillLand is a puzzle game available on Nintendo Switch and Windows based PCs. Back in the ’80s, ... right into a series of fun games of his own that appeared in both arcade and console versions with the moniker of Mr. Driller. Drilling into a possessed block (or standing next to a ghost for too long) will result in losing health. Tiny things like your characters’ depleting air being indicated by small sirens and verbal cues help out in case you lose track of things and the drilling sounds themselves change depending on not only what you’re drilling, but which character you’re using as they each have different methods to dig through the stages. Mr. Driller Drill Land focuses on the titular Mr. Driller, aka Susumu Hori, and his extended gang of excavator friends and family (including his dad Taizo, who you might remember from Dig Dug). Video Chums: Nintendo Switch: Jun 25, 2020: 8.2 out of 10: 82 . With so much to choose from and collect, you'll want to master everything--or just play your favorite attraction for hours on end--and earn plenty of money to spend at the gift shop. Now, a little over a decade later, Bandai-Namco has decided to unearth one of the most beloved Mr. Driller games, the formerly Japan-and-Europe-exclusive Mr. Driller Drill Land, to release on Switch and PC for a new generation of fans to enjoy. Heidi remembers first seeing Mr. Driller in arcades during the late '90s. Mr. Driller: Drill Land is an incredibly charming and consistently fun game that mixes the simple fun of Dig-Dug with numerous different themes and gameplay variations to keep the gameplay from getting stale. All this publication's reviews Read full review The mini-games are fun, the core concept is a blast and it works amazingly well as a pickup and play the game. Mr. Driller Drill Land is the kind of game you can play for 10 minutes on a lunch break or for an entire afternoon. For the uninitiated, Mr. Driller Drill Land is a 2002 puzzle adventure released on Gamecube in Japan. Mr. Driller Drill Land is an iconic puzzle game from a veteran arcade and console game maker that simply should not be missed. It may not deliver as much of one kind of action, but it delivers on offering up more variety than not only any other entry in this series, but most other puzzle games as well. Moreover, there are different modes in the game which are very interesting. Some, like the adorable dog Puchi, can climb up two blocks instead of one, while others like the robot Horinger-Z are able to withstand a hit and not take damage — making them ideal for those honing their craft. (And you might just save the world, too.). The haunted house level pits you against ghosts and blends digging with using holy water to disperse the specters. Mr. Driller DrillLand furnishes the 2002 Gamecube title with faultless high-definition makeover. The other stage themes offer up massive challenges, with the Druaga-themed one not only giving you a princess to rescue, but also throwing in RPG tropes in the mix like monsters to slice and dice while you conserve air and avoid falling debris. Opening up the boxes nets you more points and with those you can get various stage-specific buffs to make your journey easier. The series has you digging deep underground with the goal being to go as far as you can while still not only keeping your oxygen levels at a reasonable level, but knocking out support blocks and hoping that doesn’t result in you getting bonked on the head one too many times by bricks that are above you. It is part of the Mr.Driller series that began in 1999 as an arcade puzzle game. The core gameplay is far more robust than any other entry in the series, and for that matter, many puzzle games since. The space stage is similar to the regular game, only with question mark blocks that can do things like refill your air — or open up a black hole that sends you to the beginning of the 100 meter section you’re on without resetting your air meter. Mr. DRILLER DrillLand follows Mr. Driller and his friends as they travel to a brand new hit-attraction named Drill Land. I’ve played a lot of puzzle games on Nintendo Switch and while Mr. DRILLER DrillLand plays very different from any of them, it still has that same compelling force that brings me back for one or two more runs. For Mr. Driller: Drill Land on the GameCube, GameFAQs has 2 guides and walkthroughs, 1 review, 2 critic reviews, 1 save game, and 16 user screenshots. That never came across my mind here, however, as so much visual content was added it never bothered me. Trivia. A controller still feels more natural, but keyboard controls are still organic and are more responsive with a minimal learning curve. Mr. Driller Drill Land was met with a positive critical response, some calling it one of the best games in the series and one of the best puzzle games for the GameCube. There’s nothing amazing about these cutscenes, but they are fun enough as a way to explain what is happening in the game and definitely look more polished than ever thanks to the HD visuals. The soundtrack is fantastic as well and the music changes with the theme for each stage well. It’s a fast-paced game and one that has excelled across every platform it’s been released on. Titles like Timberman Vs., Jumping Joe and especially Diggerman take that idea and run with it. It is the fifth part of the Mr. Driller games. Challenges, cards, and plenty of collectibles abound in Drill Land, and you'll have to see if you have the chops to conquer each of the park's different attractions for high scores and goodies. Mr. Driller Drill Land is a popular puzzle video game created by Namco. [14] Outside of World Drill Tour, every stage has a gimmick to it that you have to be mindful of. The only way to progress is by collecting holy water, injecting it into blocks, and then drilling into the stunned ghosts to destroy them, transforming the game into a tense strategic battle. It’s arguably the energetic excavator’s best outing, with a multitude of intriguing modes that ensure longevity. Now, the publisher has finally decided to bring it west on Switch and PC with Mr. Driller … While you still can’t take anymore hits when it comes to falling blocks, your air meter does drop at a slower rate of speed — so there’s still a fair amount of challenge offered up. She's still trying to beat some of the level 2 and 3 challenges without items, but she thinks she's pretty darn good at Horror Night House at least! World Drill Tour uses a Pac-Man type face to evoke Namco’s own past while using the more traditional Mr. Driller gameplay where you go from the top of the stage down 500 meters to the bottom. The Mr. Driller series itself has its roots in Dig Dug, and the main character Susumu is actually the son of Dig Dug’s Taizo Hori – bringing two similar game concepts together across nearly forty years of gaming history now. Mr. Driller DrillLand is a puzzle action game from Bandai Namco that’s available on Switch and PC. I have always had fond memories of Mr. Driller. It’s an addictive game and the theme park trappings help it play host to diverse themes that you normally don’t see in puzzle games, alongside adding in gameplay mechanics from other genres to keep things fresh. Reviews. I ripped the disc and can use it on Dolphin Emulator. 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