Mr. Driller Online

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Mr. Driller Online

Developer(s) Namco Bandai
Publisher(s) Namco Bandai
Series Mr. Driller
Platform(s) Xbox Live Arcade
Release date April 2, 2008
Genre(s) Puzzle game
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone
Media Download
Input methods Gamepad

Mr. Driller Online is a downloadable puzzle video game created by Namco based on the popular Japanese video game series for the Xbox Live Arcade.[1] The title was released on April 2, 2008 via the Xbox Live Marketplace, for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD).[2]

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

The objective of Mr. Driller Online is to drill to the bottom of a long, vertical pit filled with blocks of varying colors. The player controls Susumu (or one of his friends) and can move left or right, fall infinitely, and climb single blocks if there are no other blocks on top of them. The player can also drill in any direction. Colored blocks clear from the playfield when drilled, causing other blocks above them to shake and then fall. When falling, like-colored blocks stick together, and if they form a large block of four or more units, that block immediately clears from the playfield as well. Blocks that fall on top of the driller will crush him/her, causing the player to lose a life. The driller also has a limited air supply that depletes slowly and can be replenished by picking up air capsules and special items along the way. Drilling a brown "X" block causes the player to consume a large amount of air at once, and the player loses a life if the driller's air runs out. The game is over when all lives have been lost or the player successfully reaches the bottom of the pit.

Mr. Driller Online features two single-player modes, Arcade and Challenge. Arcade mode presents the player with the basic gameplay rules stated above, while Challenge mode adds specific, randomly-chosen challenges to each section of the level, such as completing the section within a certain time limit or picking up a limited number of air capsules. Additionally, the game supports online multiplayer via Xbox Live, allowing ranked and unranked matches of two types: Versus mode, in which two players compete for the highest score within a set time limit, and Tag Team mode, where four players split into two teams. Mr. Driller Online also supports online leaderboards, but does not support local split-screen multiplayer.

[edit] Reception

Mr. Driller Online gameplay screenshot.
Mr. Driller Online gameplay screenshot.

Mr. Driller Online received negative reviews from critics due to the game's "broken" and laggy online mode, lack of local multiplayer, and fuzzy character sprites.[3]

GameSpot reviewer Don Francis said "With a shallow single-player campaign and a broken online mode, Mr. Driller Online leaves little to recommend."[4] IGN's Ryan Geddes said "The last time I tested the online multiplayer, it froze my Xbox 360 completely, forcing me to shut the system off and restart. Needless to say, I didn't make another attempt."[5]

Namco has stated that they are aware of the issues and will release a patch by the end of May.[6][7] The game was patched on May 30.[8]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Famitsu: Mr. Driller Online made official!. xblah.net (2008-03-12). Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  2. ^ DirtyDiva (2008-03-31). Mr. Driller, son of Dig Dug Drills his way onto Xbox LIVE Arcade This Wednesday. Gamerscore Blog. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  3. ^ Metacritic Mr. Driller Online (xbox360: 2008): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.
  4. ^ Don Francis (2008-04-03). GameSpot Mr. Driller Online for Xbox 360 Review. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  5. ^ Ryan Geddes (2008-04-02). IGN: Mr. Driller Online Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.
  6. ^ Namco: 'Yeah, Mr. Driller Online is pretty broken! We're on it...'. xblah.net (2008-04-05). Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
  7. ^ Ryan Geddes (2008-05-05). Mr. Driller Online to Get Patch. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
  8. ^ Mr. Driller Online is patched!. xblah.net (2008-05-30). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.

[edit] External links

Puzzle game  This computer puzzle game-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Video game stub  This Namco Bandai-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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Dig Dug series
Mr. Driller series