Mr. Driller

Review

by Skyler Miller

Mr. Driller is classified as a puzzle game because of its colored blocks and lack of enemies, but it really has more in common with games like Dig Dug and Mr. Do!. Take away the glossy graphics, and you'd have a game that would feel right at home in an early '80s Arcade. Like many of the games of that era, it can be picked up quickly and is equally appealing to males and females. But Mr. Driller's gameplay isn't as deep as it could be, and it's missing a few key elements that keep it from ranking up there with other innovative puzzlers like Bust-A-Move.

The game has a cute, distinctly Japanese feel, compounded by the use of bright colors and lilting, New Age-inflected pop music. The visuals could probably be recreated on a Super NES without much loss of detail, but everything is rendered pleasantly enough. There is virtually no difference between the PlayStationand Dreamcast versions, but the PlayStation rendition does look darker and more grainy. Those without the benefit of a side-by-side comparison probably won't notice, however.

Mr. Driller's unique mix of action and puzzle elements is the game's strength. It can be played like an action game by quickly digging straight down, or more like a puzzle game by methodically trying to clear as many blocks as possible. Neither strategy works better than the other, and both are effective at achieving the game's ultimate goal, which is to reach the bottom of the pit.

The problem is, Mr. Driller doesn't excel in either of its genres. The action side is limited because of the lack of enemies or other dangers, and the puzzle side is too random to adequately engage the mind. Together, the two sides do work together to form a worthwhile game, but one that never reaches its full potential.

Up until the late '90s, all an Arcade-to-console conversation needed to be was an accurate translation. Often, even that was too much to ask. But home versions of Soul Calibur and Street Fighter Alpha 3 raised expectations to the point that a mere port was no longer enough. The Dreamcast version of Mr. Driller adds Survival and Time Attack modes, which increase the replay value but don't radically effect the overall appeal of the game.

While part of Mr. Driller's appeal is its barebones, no-nonsense premise, what the game sorely lacks is a multiplayer mode and the other bells and whistles gamers have come to expect. The gameplay itself could be improved with the addition of enemies, bonus items, multiple objectives and a variety of different blocks. Even Pac-Man got to munch on different fruit from time to time.

In the end, Mr. Driller is a basic, enjoyable game that screams out for a more advanced sequel. "Ms. Driller," anyone?