Maroc - 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - Hier 05:15

DigDigDrill – Review

We can’t think of a game we’ve played recently that fits the definition of “niche” more than DigDigDrill. It’s something that developer Toorai is aware of, as the game’s eShop description explicitly tells you that DigDigDrill is a game aimed at people who want to lose themselves in satisfying grind tasks, love grinning at a massive collection of items, and are looking for a relaxing game to unwind. If you feel like that describes you, then pay attention as we dig into what DigDigDrill has to offer. Story Drill, baby, drill! As the title indicates, DigDigDrill is a game that is entirely about digging and drilling. As such, there is no real story here. You simply dig your way through the underground, trying to reach floor 999. The focus is entirely on gameplay here, rather than storytelling. It’s worth noting that the in-game text isn’t always written in a way that is immediately clear or grammatically correct, but the meaning behind it is comprehensible enough. Graphics Functionality, rather than aesthetics, is the driving force behind DigDigDrill’s visuals. The 2D pixel art depicts DigDigDrill’s underground as a grid made up of square blocks of different materials, ores, and special types. The block types are distinct, communicating exactly what each block has to offer, whether that’s healing, ore nodes, torches that light up darker areas, or various crates. Everything here was designed to support the gameplay loop rather than serve as a major artistic highlight. DigDigDrill runs smoothly on the Switch, with crisp, readable text and icons both in docked and handheld mode. Sound Perhaps ironically, there isn’t a whole lot of depth to DigDigDrill’s soundscape. The minimalistic soundscape is there to support the ‘mindless fun’ (the developer’s words, not ours), and as such, the sound effects are functional but nothing special. This is one of those games where you’ll probably simply turn off the in-game audio to listen to something else instead. Gameplay The core gameplay of DigDigDrill revolves around a steady, loop-driven mining simulator, where you dig through underground layers, collect different types of ores and other items, and then use those resources to craft and upgrade drills so that you can reach deeper levels, all the way up (or should that be down?) to level 999. The game is unapologetically straightforward in its approach and offers a surprisingly relaxed and cozy mining experience. There are no enemies or time limits to worry about, with the game instead emphasizing strategy and progression over action. The challenge instead comes from managing both energy and inventory space, and knowing when to return to the surface to sell materials and open chests you pick up underground. You can create warp points for fast travel and equip your vehicle with all kinds of different drills, suitable for drilling through the different kinds of materials that you encounter underground, making navigating the underground surprisingly manageable. A major part of DigDigDrill’s experience is its drill crafting system. This involves fitting differently shaped ore pieces into blueprint grids, like a puzzle reminiscent of Tetris. There is a degree of randomness involved here, as it’s difficult to completely fill up a blueprint, and the resulting drill is a product of a stat range rather than fixed values. There’s even a chance for your drill to gain special enchantments that provide additional abilities, like increased digging speeds or explosive powers that can clear large sections of rock. Should you be able to completely fill a blueprint grid, you’ll get a much stronger result. This incentivizes hunting for specific ore pieces and carefully planning when to use them. You can also upgrade existing enchantments by merging drills with the same enchantment. In addition to this, multiple drills can be equipped in separate slots, allowing additional drills to lend their enchantments to your main one, even if they don’t contribute to its base power. As you go deeper, DigDigDrill keeps introducing new mechanics, such as having to illuminate dark areas and different kinds of blocks that require specific equipment to be destroyed. Resultingly, early game progress can feel quick, but later stages require more careful crafting and preparation, shifting the focus from simply digging downward to refining your tools and strategy instead. This is something that is reflected in the game’s pacing. As you inch closer towards the elusive floor 999, the gameplay loop slows down to what feels like a snail’s pace. That’s fine if you’re here to do some relaxed, methodical digging but we couldn’t help but feel like DigDigDrill outstayed its welcome and became repetitive rather than engaging. Reaching the end of the game took us around 15 hours, which may actually sound fairly short for the kind of game that this purports to be, but feels fair for the €8.99 RRP. Conclusion Within the parameters that DigDigDrill has set for itself, the game does what it wants to do exceedingly well. The caveat is, of course, that this is very much a niche title aimed at people who just want to do some semi-mindless, repetitive tasks while doing something else, like watching a movie or listening to a podcast. As such, DigDigDrill has been stripped of a narrative, and the presentation is as minimalistic as it gets while still being recognisable as a mining game. This is a game that scratches a very specific itch, but it does so in the best way possible.