Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary by developer and publisher BBG Entertainment GmbH—PC (Steam) review written by Susan N. with a copy provided by the publisher.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Ahh, the sweet smell of nostalgia, how we love it. Those of us who were playing video games on the Atari or the Commodore 64 may remember a fun little game called Boulder Dash - a game which has stood the test of time.
Boulder Dash is a game that was released by First Star Software. It was created by two Canadian developers, Peter Liepa and Chris Gray. However, over time the game switched hands a couple of times. As such, the 40th Anniversary is developed by BBG Entertainment GmbH, and I’m so happy they brought us yet another killer game!
The objective of the game is simple, collect the gems needed to open the exit before the timer runs out. Though it was originally available on the Atari, I played the game on the Commodore 64. Over time, the game concept took off and led the charge on similar games like Rocks’n’Diamonds, Emerald Mine, and Dig Dug. I’d even argue that Chip’s Challenge was inspired by the game as well (another favorite of mine).
I fondly recall playing this game for hours with my brother. There was something about the game and the music that kept us going back for more, a point that stands true even to this day.
Gameplay
As this is the 40th Anniversary edition of Boulder Dash, I expect the game to be fantastic, and I’m not wrong. The levels are interesting, challenging, and fun, even if you haven’t played in years. Although the Boulder Dash name has been around for decades, this version contains new levels, a level editor, as well as all three of the classic versions of the game. Not only did I have a blast collecting gems from the levels, but I very much enjoyed going back to the old levels that I remember playing as a kid.
The idea of Boulder Dash is to collect a certain number of gems and then get to the exit without getting killed by a variety of hazards. There are moths and butterflies that follow specific walls which will kill you if you are close to them. But creatures aren’t the only hazards you can run into as there are falling objects, amoebas that will spread across the map, walls that can close behind you, and eggs that may have creatures hidden inside. Essentially, you dodge or kill the creatures, collect a bunch of gems, and then haul your butt to the exit before the timer runs out. In some levels, the timer is your worst nightmare.
One of the features that I appreciate about Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary is that when you complete a level, the next *three* levels unlock for you. I think this is a nice feature because it is all too easy to get stuck in a level set because one level is giving you a hard time. Another aspect of the game that I enjoy is the ability to bounce between level sets. If one location is causing you to struggle, you can always go into another level set and try some other challenges instead. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been stuck on a level for hours on end because I couldn’t do anything else.
Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary comes with a level editor which is another feature of the game that I quite enjoy. You can set up your own levels by going into the Workshop and playing with some of the different blocks. There are options for obstacles, creatures, and teleporters! Unlike other Boulder Dash games, this one has teleporters that can bring you into areas you wouldn’t be able to get into, and that can be a fun experience; it can also be a hazardous experience too! Also, you have the option to add a little bit of flair to your level by adding some skeletal bones or atmospheric background vines to spice things up. Once you’re done creating your level(s), you can name them and set a difficulty rating. Other players will be able to grab your level sets if you upload them - which is another feature that I love. Honestly, the world is your oyster here and I’m all for it!
Graphics and UI
Rockford is the official name of the character you play in Boulder Dash and one of the first things to notice about the character is that you can choose a look. Although, just know that there are only a couple of avatars to choose from, so don’t expect miracles here. You simply get to choose a different look based on your preference. The characters don’t change the gameplay at all.
Upon starting Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary, you will be able to choose a mode of gameplay, volume options, language preferences, and more. As I was accustomed to the Commodore 64 version of the game, I opted to use that version for the classic levels.
One of the things to note about the graphics in this game is that they are much cleaner than in the older versions. The graphics are also more vibrant in color scheme, which is something that I enjoy a lot. Although I never disliked the original levels and the original look of the game, I find that it was entirely too dull from a visual standpoint.
The level menu shows each level set along with the difficulty indicator in the top right corner of the set. On the top of each box is an indicator that shows a total number of stars you can collect in them. Each level has a gold, silver, and bronze scale which illustrates how well or how poorly you did. The faster you are able to collect the gems and get to the exit, the more points you acquire. There is a total of 720 stars from the new levels alone. That’s not including the 180 stars you can get from the classic versions.
Anyways, each level clearly shows your timer, the total number of gems needed to get to the exit, and the total number of stars you receive. After completing a level, you will be presented with a quick score screen which tells you the total score you achieved as well as if your score beat your own record. Next to that is a separate score which shows the world record point holder. I’ll be honest, some of those scores are WILD to me. I may not be the best player ever, but holy heck!
Something that may weigh on peoples’ minds is what was done to the classic levels? Well, other than the top score bar visual improvements, the levels themselves and the color palette for them are completely unchanged from the original version. That is true even for the Rockford avatar. He remains the cute pixel man he was back in the day - so not to worry!
Final Thoughts
I’m over the moon about Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary because there is so much flexibility in what level of difficulty you want to dive into and you are able to make your own levels which you can upload for others to play. I especially love the fact that you aren’t stuck on a specific level to continue playing the game.
The music has been updated quite well from the 8 bit soundtrack of the original games to a unique sound created by the legendary Chris Huelsbeck. He has written music for several games like Star Wars Rogue Squadron to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, but his portfolio contains more than 80 other games that he has contributed to.
The graphics are absolutely spectacular for a 2D puzzle game and the fact that you can choose which avatar you’d like to use in the game is an added bonus. I especially adore the fact that we can make our own levels. Plus, I love that we can play the old school levels with the original graphics and music to accompaniment. I was hit with such a level of nostalgia that it's unreal.
Honestly, for a $30 price point, Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary is worth it. I had a blast collecting gems and running from creatures. I’m sure I’ll keep sinking a ton of time into it because I love it so much. I promise that if you love these games that you won’t be disappointed. Trust me.
Score: 9 out of 10
