Re-makes and remasters are becoming increasingly popular, but few would have expected Mr DRILLER: DrillLand to emerge eighteen years after its original release on the Switch with updated visuals and cutscenes. The game provides hectic, intense gameplay and charming presentation that will delight younger players, but the experience is set back by a steep asking price for a largely unchanged game.
Mr DRILLER: DrillLand has series protagonist Susumu Hori and his band of friends (and rivals) enter the wondrous underground theme park of Drill Land. Visiting different park attractions bring new game modes and rule changes to the puzzles, both major and minor. Core gameplay across all modes consists of digging through brightly colored blocks in an attempt to reach the bottom. Blocks of the same color will connect and be destroyed simultaneously. Typically, if four or more blocks of the same color connect after falling, they are destroyed automatically, which can create chain reactions.
Mr DRILLER: DrillLand combines elements of Puyo Puyo and SteamWorld Dig, often with the added pressure of a ticking Air meter that will gradually deplete unless Air capsules are collected. The game was popular when released on the GameCube, but not nearly as much as other Nintendo games making a comeback like the recently announced Pokemon Snap sequel.
The game is presented with a whimsical, energetic, Saturday morning anime vibe reminiscent of other Bandai Namco properties like Taiko no Tatsujin and Katamari Damacy. Mr DRILLER: DrillLand even has a theme song complete with vocals. In fact, the game's music is a highlight. Each attraction's song captures its tone well, and the menus are filled with quirky, cheery, catchy tunes that wouldn't be out of place in a Katamari game, which are famed for their soundtracks. Combined with the new animated cutscenes and some charmingly clunky translations ("PRESS A TO ENTRANCE" reads the main menu), Mr DRILLER certainly packs a vibrant, child-friendly charm.
Kids, and possibly adults, could also enjoy the non-drilling aspects of the game. Items and trading cards, which vary from gameplay-affecting to purely cosmetic, can be purchased with accrued in-game currency (thankfully no microtransactions). A parade through Drill Land can also be viewed, featuring the series' characters along with bonuses unlocked in the store. The original GameCube version could connect to a Game Boy for extra bonuses, but obviously that functionality has been removed.
The arcade puzzle gameplay is more difficult than it looks, which might be frustrating to the younger audiences it caters to. Some game modes allow for different characters with better abilities to make the game easier, while there is also a "Casual" mode for those who just want to dig. Up to 4 players can play split-screen multiplayer, either in a race to the bottom or pairing up in a battle.
Unfortunately, beyond the new cutscenes and tidied-up graphics, very little has changed in the 18 years since Mr DRILLER: DrillLand released on the GameCube. Five game modes along with multiplayer is enough to keep the digging interesting, but $29.99 is a substantial amount for a largely-unchanged arcade game old enough to enlist in the army. A game best played in ten-minute bursts - longer for those hanging around the menus to listen to the great music - has trouble justifying that price tag when games like Horizon: Zero Dawn regularly retail for $19.99. Mr DRILLER: DrillLand is a cute, deceptively difficult puzzler for those looking for a quick challenge on their Switch, or fans of the series nostalgic for the unheralded GameCube classic. Just wait for a sale.
Mr DRILLER: DrillLand releases June 25, 2020 as a digital on Nintendo Switch and PC via STEAM. Screen Rant was provided a Switch code for review.
Mr DRILLER: DrillLand
- Released
- December 20, 2002
