Boulder Dash: 30th Anniversary
- October 14, 2014
- BBG Entertainment GmbH
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Boulder Dash: 30th Anniversary" is a classic-style puzzle game where players control a character named Rockford who digs through caves filled with obstacles like boulders and enemies. The goal is to collect a certain number of diamonds in each level before reaching the exit, while avoiding being crushed by the boulders or touched by enemies. This version includes new levels, features, and visuals, while maintaining the core gameplay of the original game released in the 1980s.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Windows
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game is a beautifully made remake that captures the essence of the classic Boulder Dash.
- It offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the original game, with updated graphics and enjoyable gameplay.
- The game includes new features and modes, such as a relax mode, which enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay mechanics have been altered, making it less enjoyable and more reliant on power-ups, which detracts from the original challenge.
- The graphics and presentation are considered cheap and messy compared to the original, leading to a lack of nostalgia.
- There are significant issues with controller support and some broken achievements, which hinder the overall experience.
- graphics10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some players noting improvements while others feel they lack charm and quality, often comparing them unfavorably to the original game's visuals. Many describe the art style as cheap and blocky, detracting from the overall experience, and express a desire for an option to revert to retro graphics. Overall, the graphics seem to be more suited for mobile platforms, leading to disappointment among players expecting a higher standard.
“The graphics are effective and stylized enough to avoid being ugly, and the music and sound is exactly what you would expect from this kind of game.”
“The C64 original had distinguished coloring and graphics.”
“The graphics were simple, but this allowed players to focus on the puzzles.”
“The blocky graphics are not charming, and for some reason, there's all kinds of clutter in the foreground, making it hard to tell what's actually a path and what isn't.”
“I dislike the art style - it looks cheap.”
“The new graphics aren't fun.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for lacking fun and depth, with mechanics deemed ridiculous and a flawed scoring system that prioritizes speed over quality. Many users feel it resembles a casual mobile game, suffering from grindy free-to-play elements that detract from the original's engaging puzzle-action experience. Overall, the changes have led to a less satisfying gameplay experience compared to its predecessor.
“In terms of the feel of the game and the gameplay, it really looks and acts very similar to a casual iPhone/Android game.”
“The original Boulder Dash was an amazing puzzle game with action gameplay.”
“Because of the decision (I could see this being the right call, but I think this added to the challenge of the original game) to allow level select, the score -> extra lives mechanic was out.”
“The mechanics are ridiculous; the scoring system is just stupid, rewarding higher scores for doing things quickly rather than properly.”
“In terms of the feel of the game and the gameplay, it really looks and acts very similar to a casual iPhone/Android game.”
“The grindy free-to-play mechanics require you to farm the same levels over and over for power-ups and unlockables.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback; while the Steam version disables microtransactions and loot boxes present in the mobile version, players note that the game still feels designed around a monetization model, leading to a grindy experience for unlocking heroes. Despite this, many users appreciate the absence of paywalls, allowing for enjoyment without additional costs.
“Not that there are any microtransactions in this Steam version, but they essentially just took the mobile game and disabled the purchasing of gold bars.”
“But just because microtransactions are disabled doesn't mean the game isn't still built around them!”
“I'm having a lot of fun with it - the game is very grindy to get all the heroes unlocked, but at least you don't have to pay for them as the microtransactions of the mobile version are not included here.”
“Except 'modernized' in this case means 'mobile game with microtransactions and loot boxes'.”
“But just because microtransactions are disabled doesn't mean the game isn't still built around them!”
“Not that there are any microtransactions here in this Steam version, but they essentially just took the mobile game and disabled the purchasing of gold bars.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game consists of a single, repetitive elevator-music remix of the classic Boulder Dash theme, which plays continuously across all game modes. Many players found it monotonous and grating, leading some to turn off the in-game music after a short period. Overall, the soundtrack fails to enhance the gaming experience and quickly becomes tiresome.
“The graphics are effective and stylized enough to avoid being ugly, and the music and sound is exactly what you would expect from this kind of game.”
“There is only one music track in the game, a weird elevator-music remix of the classic Boulder Dash theme, which plays constantly regardless of whether you're in the game, the menu, or the editor.”
“I got sick of it after 30 minutes and had to turn on my own music.”
“There is only one music track in the game, a weird elevator-music remix of the classic Boulder Dash theme, which plays constantly regardless of whether you're in the game, the menu, or the editor.”
“I got sick of it after 30 minutes and had to turn on my own music.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be significant, requiring repetitive farming of levels to unlock heroes and obtain power-ups. However, the absence of microtransactions in this version is appreciated, even as the grind can feel excessive, especially with the need for a large number of special stones from limited stages.
“Grindy free-to-play mechanics that require you to farm the same levels over and over for power-ups and unlockables.”
“And if the last one needs 500 of its own special stones and you get those only if you find chests, and the regular game has 'only' 220 stages, happy farming!”
“The game is very grindy to get all the heroes unlocked, but at least you don't have to pay for them as the microtransactions of the mobile version are not included here.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's stability is compromised by buggy achievements, which detracts from the overall experience.
“Achievements are buggy, though.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
“I experienced constant lag and instability during gameplay.”
