Mr. Driller was originally intended to be the third installment in the classic Dig Dug series, but strayed far away enough from the familiar underground-digging simulator that it warranted its own name.
You still excavate paths beneath the earth’s surface, but Namco’s Mr. Driller is more fast-paced and puzzle-game influenced than its originator. It was in arcades a decade ago before hitting a handful of consoles, but it truly makes the most sense on the iPhone.
Mr. Driller must dig to survive, chipping away at blocks of varying colors below while avoiding the remnants that fall from above. In addition to not getting crushed, you must keep your air supply in check by picking up air capsules. You can get strategic by lining up blocks to fall upon others of the same color, which triggers Tetris-like chain reactions after they disappear.
Usually, though, you’ll be busier frantically going straight down, unable to employ the kind of common sense that suggests a person should dive out of an oncoming train’s way, rather than trying to outrun it.
With three type of difficulties, three different modes (time attack, survival mode and arcade mode), and Facebook connectivity to broadcast your accomplishments to all your friends, there’s plenty to you will, um, dig.
