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Great GBA title

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This was one of those GBA games I missed due to lack of advertisement for it. I read reviews recently and decided to get it. Although I have not beaten it, I can pretty much gather how the game will go. It's a 2D side scroller with good graphics (for GBA) good sound, and fun gameplay. Oh, and it rumbles...if that means anything to you. If you like 2D platformers like Mario or Wario , you'll like this.

It won't BORE you...ha, get it?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Game Freak, best known for their Pokemon franchise, created a Game Boy Advance gem known as Drill Dozer last February. It went largely unnoticed in the sea of new Nintendo DS titles, which is unfortunate, because Drill Dozer delivered a fun action-platform experience that relied on one move: drilling.

The Skuller gang stole the Red Diamond from the real gang of thieves, the Red Dozers. Jill and her Red Dozer comrades have to find a way to steal back the Red Diamond, but they discover there are more diamonds to be found. So what is a gang of thieves to do? Steal more diamonds! Using the Red Dozers' trusty Drill Dozer, you'll spin Jill through twelve stages on a fun adventure to track down five different diamonds.

If it wasn't already obvious, the Drill Dozer is really the star of the show and the focal point of the gameplay. As a side-scrolling action-platform game, Drill Dozer has simple hop-and-bop gameplay without the drilling factor-but using the L and R buttons on the GBA allows you to spin the Drill Dozer's drill to the left or right. You can bore the drill into all sorts of things, like walls, crates, environmental objects and set pieces, and even enemies-needless to say, you'll be holding down L or R a lot in this adventure. The gameplay is made deeper by multiple "gears" that can be found in each level. When you find your second gear (the first is always installed into the Drill Dozer), you can shift up and increase the speed and power of the drill, though the drill still needs to recover after a few moments of spinning. The third gear is the strongest gear and keeps your drill spinning quickly indefinitely. Unfortunately, at the end of each level, the Drill Dozer's gears have to be removed, so each new level you'll start with that simple first gear.

Collecting the different gears in each level is a lot of fun, and the level designers have created some good maps for the special things you can do with the drill. For example, there are lifts that have a socket that the drill can bore into, so Jill can ride up to higher platforms. There are special "jelly blocks" that Jill can drill into, and when she reverses the direction of the drill (by pressing the opposite trigger button), she will be sent flying backward. Learning all the things that the drill can be used for is the only way to master Drill Dozer. Even the game's bigger enemies require you to drill in certain ways, for example, there is a mini-boss robot character held together by a big screw. Only by unscrewing the mini-boss's robot will you defeat it, and drilling in one direction actually tightens the screw, so you have to figure out which way to drill to succeed. It's a simple concept that is played out very well.

The Game Boy Advance's visual capabilities were tested well with Drill Dozer, which features big, bright, colorful sprites and all sorts of flashy story sequences between levels. Game Freak did a wonderful job creating cute, perky characters, and the Red Dozers as well as their enemies are spunky and full of charm. The levels are loaded with detail, and it's nice that the game actually asks you to pay attention to the background: in the museum level, there are several simple puzzles that require you to move around paintings found in the background. You are kindly forced to notice the background, and it's a nice way to appreciate the game's visuals even more.

Drill Dozer isn't a long game by any means. The twelve levels can be breezed through in a few short hours, but there is some replay value to be found. There are dozens of "treasures" located throughout the adventure in places that you normally couldn't reach. Near the end of the game you are able to buy stronger drills that break into blocks that previously obstructed your path-obviously, these blocked-off areas are home to special items, so re-playing the levels is necessary if you desire 100% completion of the game. Some would think that this was a cheap way to make you backtrack, but I found it to be a nice way of fleshing out all of the levels, rather than only the later ones. There are also six secret areas in the game to explore.

Drill Dozer makes a great addition to any Game Boy Advance library. The only flaw I can fathom, other than the slightly short length of the game, would be the drill sound effect. It works, and it works well, but it is done so much that it is closer to annoying than realistic after some time. Drill Dozer's simple mechanics are accessible to anyone. Don't be turned away by the cute graphics or box art-it's a fun game that uses a single concept very well, well enough to be done repeatedly for twelve levels and more. To me, that's impressive. Most games that ask you to do the same thing over and over for more than a few minutes get pretty dull, but this drill is always sharp.

Best GBA game of 2006!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 03, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is the first new game from Game Freak in years. Most people probably know them as the creators of this other little franchise, POKEMON. Drill Dozer is an absolute gameplay delight, and the art and story are really charming.

The basic hook of the game is its heavy use of the L & R buttons. R turns your drill on, and L turns the drill on backwards. The kicker though, is they use the drill for EVERYTHING. Fly through threaded tunnels, kick backwards out of blocks, hang from platforms, open doors, fight bad guys, fly and swim with a propeller attachment, and smash through walls, desks, chairs, lamps, blocks, crates, ceilings, floors, cars...

Every couple levels they throw something brand new at you, and there is decent replay value in upgrading your drill bit to access secret areas, as well as collecting chips to spend in the store.

Next to Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents this is the must play GBA game of 2006 no matter what age you are!

Inventive and fun GBA side scroller

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: October 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

With the list of new (and good) games for the GBA dwindling down more and more, it's nice to see an original, inventive, and most of all fun, platformer making it's way onto Nintendo's classic, beloved portable. Drill Dozer features simplistic graphics and gameplay at first glance, but it's so darn addictive and easy to pick up and play, along with it's charming art style, that you can't help but love it. You play as a girl looking to avenge your father by piloting a mechanical drill and taking on some baddies, upgrading your drill, and solving a few puzzles. The drill upgrades make your drill more powerful so you can go through thicker walls and barriers, and there's lifts and blocks you need to drill into to advance around the area. As an added bonus, the GBA cartridge has a rumble feature built inside which works exquisitely well and adds to the gameplay, which in itself is a nice touch (I haven't seen a rumble feature since Perfect Dark for the GameBoy Color). The only real downside of Drill Dozer is that it's too short, way too short, and may be too easy for long time platform players. Despite that though, Drill Dozer is a worthy addition to your GBA library, and even if you have a DS you should give this a look.

Not bad of a graphics for a GBA game .... ( ' _ ' )

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I've played a lot of video games in my time from Atari to Xbox and pretty picky about what kinda games I buy and graphics is one influence in my purchasing. I found Drill Dozer on sale for like $6 bucks at Target and I was thinking about it before but at that price I just said why not. I totally don't regret purchasing this game bcuz the graphics are pretty good and the rumble pak enhances your gaming so well. Jill is a very cutely animated girl and the game is full of drilling action. It has it's tricky moments where I had to try at least 3 times to pass it. But overall this game in my opinion is worth your money and play-time. I give it 9.5 stars. (^_^)

Fun, Innovative, and Cute too :)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This has got to be one of the best games I have purchased in a long time. Prepare to get your reflexes going, because this game is going to use them. You control a girl thief by the name of Jill. She uses a 'Drill Dozer' to attack the Skullker gang in hopes of retrieving the Red Diamond. A gem her late mother passed down to her. So fasten your seatbelts and lubricate those drills and gears, because once you start this game you won't want to put it down. Get ready for one of the cutest, most innovative games to hit the GBA in a long time.

2D Platformers Live On!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: March 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

THE GOOD: Rock solid gameplay; incredibly creative gameplay mechanic offers something new, yet very accessible; catchy music; rumble feature adds intensity

THE BAD: At only 6 areas, it's short; upgrade system isn't all too rewarding during the main mission; catchy music can get repetitive.

DIFFICULTY: Medium

Drill Dozer is just what the 2D platforming genre needs, something to wake it up. Not only are you platforming through puzzles that'll not only test your quick fingers but fast eye, but the new drill mechanic and breakable solids add a tremendous amount of variety and downright FUN that anyone just looking for a game that'll keep them enthralled for a little while will get exactly what they're looking for.
The story is simple, you control a girl who's part of a trio of theives. You stole a valuable red diamond but it was stolen by another gang of theives, therefore throughout the game you need to explore areas, destroy their bosses, and test your gaming skills to get to the end and get all you diamonds back.
The drill feature is one where the left shoulder button rotates your drill left, and right to the right. You start off in one gear but are able to find 2 more that can intensify your drilling and make it last longer. All gears are placed very properly throughout levels so it never makes the game TOO hard, but the gradual challenge in figuring out how to use your moves like dashing, drilling, or jumping off a drill, etc will definitely give your brain that excersize it needs. Sometimes the levels will split into 2 paths, but it's always good to explore all because chances are there's goodies on the other side. You'll also come across enemies, though some easy to kill, others require certain techniques that'll also require your drilling skills. considering the game gives you a very understandable and useful tutorial, and gradually increases the difficulty very fairly, anyone just looking for a good time can pick this one up and play. The control layout is simple, yet what is done with it will keep your eyes glued to your GBA for a few hours.
Bosses in DD have an old-school sensibility. They're hard, and take a unique method to kill, but it's fairly easy to figure out yet tough to execute. Defeating a boss in DD feels very rewarding only because it takes reflex chops to do. Yet later in the game the platforming puzzles and enemies thrown in become pretty overwhelming, so I suggest purchasing energy tanks to increase your health after every level break. Your money can also be used to buy continues, but there's always plenty throughout the level, AND other breakables and paths you can't access yet until you purchase a certain item. Fortunately, you can always play earlier levels whenever you want, therefore finding treasure and secret areas you couldn't get to before. That all adds substantial replay value to the game (not to mention the bonus levels), so even after the regular story mode, things still stay interesting.
Unfortunately, the game is short, given only 6 areas that are split into 12 levels. but you can save mid-level so though the game is challenging, it never becomes too ridiculous, if at all. On top of that, the build-up system isn't all too rewarding because you'd rather just use your money for energy tanks and you won't want to replay earlier levels until you beat the game. It just feels underdeveloped. If the game had been longer, the upgrade system would NEED to be more fleshed out, no choice.
Yet, I did give this game 5 stars because not in a long time had I just had this much fun with a game, and it kept my attention 100 percent of the time. An incredible experience all GBA owners should undertake.

BOTTOM LINE: Fans of old-school games will adore this game, newer fans will wonder what's up with the cartoony simple graphics. But given gameplay this precise, it's rare nowadays. NOT at all a waste of money.

Fun like Pokemon

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: March 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

If you like a game with zombie skeletons and amother story of a mom being dead this is for you, Is it just me or in every danm story for kids the mom has to die. Jeez anyway have fun drilling everything you ever wanted to drill like statues and policemen and robots.

The creators of Pokemon try something new for a change!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: February 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Go ahead! Make all the silly sex jokes you can come up with, 'cause when your daddy's in the hospital after getting the living daylights beaten out of him by a rivial gang, you'll be glad you're wearing a sexy tutu with fire-engine-red pumps... er, I mean, you'll be glad you have a compact car with legs and an over-sized drill!

As it says on the box, the cartrige vibrates. What the box doesn't tell you is that you can also play the game on the Game Boy Player and make your GameCube controller rumble. For even more fun, plug a rumble-enabled controller (not a Hori or WaveBird) into port 1 of your GameCube, play the game using any GC-compatible controller plugged into port 2, and the put port 1's controller on your lap.

The L & R buttons power the drill to turn it left or right. Not as in stearing your vehicle clockwise or counter-clockwise, but like a drill going in forward or reverse. Most of the time it doesn't matter which way the drill is spinning unless you're trying to open a door, drilling screws, jumping backwards, or fighting a boss that requires certain patterns of attack.

The A button is for jumping (or sliding if DOWN is held on the cross pad).
The B button is for scouting and reading signs. I wish it was for attacking, but it's not. Jill does look cute when she pops up like a curious puppy from a box.
The Start button pasues the game and the Select button brings up the menu.
The controls are a little frustrating at first, but you should adapt quickly.

*Yes, the intro is based on an ad I saw from Keio Flying Squadron for Sega CD! Happy now?!!

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