At first glance Dig a Way, a frantic puzzle game by Digi Ten for your iOS device, looks like it stepped out of an old Saturday morning cartoon, with it's cute mustachioed man with his helpful and loyal mustachioed dog. But things get real when you realized those adorable fluffy pink bunnies are actually foaming at the mouth and will pounce on you without hesitation. But treasure awaits, and with it, danger. Your goal is to collect gold and treasure chests from the caves. Once you choose your level, three arrows will appear near the bottom of the screen. Tap once on an arrow to move or dig in the direction you desire. Press and hold an arrow to continuously move in that direction, and double tap the left or right arrow to dash, which allows you to hop over a single tile sized hole. Tap, hold, then drag to scroll up ordown so you can plan your next move. You can dig any brown dirt tile, and keep in mind you can always go down, but there's no way back up. There are four maps, the first of which is free, with the option to purchase the rest for a very reasonable price.
The game is challenging. Making it through each cave is one thing. Making it through each cave with all the treasure is quite another. Some treasure chests are special and hold artifacts that will be added to the collection at the museum, which then earn you gold. Different baddies with different characteristics are added as you progress, each with a clear explanation of how they work. Dig a Way is a unique blend of a thinking puzzle game and frantic action goodness, of patience versus running for your life. You've got to plan ahead, and one misstep can cause you to miss a treasure chest or get dive bombed by a bat. Which is why the game desperately needs an undo button, or perhaps the option to use your hard earned treasure to purchase a few. It can be frustrating just knowing you double tapped, only to get smashed by a boulder. Right now in-game money is only good for new costumes for your treasure hunter, and while they are rather dashing, upgrades or some differing power-ups would be a good addition to the game. Challenging your wits and your reflexes, Dig a Way is sure to keep you occupied for hours.
Dig a Way (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad)
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