Boulder Dash
January 2008
Name: Boulder Dash
Programmer(s): Chris Grey & Peter Liepa
Publisher: First Star
Year: 1983
Description: Boulder Dash is a puzzle/maze/action game with elements of Dig Dug and Pac-Man. Played on an island of dirt the goal of the game is simple. Collect as many diamonds as you can and escape without getting killed by falling rocks or the various enemies running around tunnels.
The dirt maze which all action takes place isn't entirely visible also making Boulder Dash a side scroller game. To escape out the door you must collect a set number of diamonds before the door opens. Doing this isn't so simple.Gravity also plays a big factor in achieving your goal. Along with the diamonds, there are Boulders... which is where the game gets its name. Many times to get to a diamond you must move, drop or destroy a boulder or set off a trap which will drop dozens of boulders down on top of you if you're not fast enough to get out of the way.
You're given 3 men during the game. There are many different levels to Boulder Dash starting off with the almost simplistic ones moving up to the down right impossible ones.
Personally one of my favorite games on the Apple 2. It's been ported over to many different systems including cell phones and now I'm finding it on my Amazon Fire TV :) Sure it's not the same one but the music is dead on...
8/16/2015 Found a full play through of Boulder Dash (first version). It's on a C-65 but the game levels are identical.
Complete Boulder Dash Walk Through
Video by http://www.c64-longplays.de/ [[1]]
And why not.. here's a complete play through of Boulder Dash ][ from the same guys
Complete Boulder Dash ][ Walk Through
Boulder Dash is a puzzle action game that came out for the Apple II in 1984. Created by Peter Liepa and Chris Gray, the game was published by First Star Software. Players control a character named Rockford who digs through caves to collect diamonds while avoiding falling rocks and deadly creatures.
The game takes place underground in 16 different caves. Each cave is filled with dirt, rocks, diamonds, and enemies. Rockford must collect a certain number of diamonds in each cave before the exit opens. The time limit adds pressure as players race against the clock. If Rockford gets crushed by a rock or touched by an enemy, he loses a life.
The physics in Boulder Dash made it special for its time. Rocks and diamonds fall realistically when the dirt beneath them gets removed. Players must think ahead because digging the wrong path can cause a rockfall that blocks important areas or crushes Rockford. Some rocks can be pushed horizontally to clear paths or trap enemies. The game requires both quick reflexes and careful planning.
Four types of enemies appear in the caves. Fireflies and butterflies move in predictable square patterns and explode when touched by falling objects. The explosion can help by clearing blocked paths or hurt by destroying needed diamonds. Amoebas grow and spread through the cave, turning into diamonds or rocks depending on how much space they have. The magic wall transforms falling rocks into diamonds when activated.
Boulder Dash uses simple graphics with a black background and colored sprites for different objects. The Apple II version displays everything clearly despite the computer's limited colors. Sound effects include digging noises, falling rocks, and explosion sounds. The joystick controls feel responsive, with Rockford moving smoothly in four directions.
The game became very popular and appeared on many other computers including the Commodore 64, Atari 800, and IBM PC. Over 30 sequels and remakes have been made since the original. Boulder Dash influenced many later games that combined puzzle solving with action elements. Games like Dig Dug and Mr. Do share similar digging mechanics but Boulder Dash's physics system remained unique.
Players enjoyed Boulder Dash because each cave felt like a new puzzle to solve. The combination of strategy and action kept people playing for hours. Even today, many consider it one of the best games ever made for the Apple II. The simple concept of collecting diamonds while avoiding dangers created endless entertaining challenges that still hold up after nearly 40 years.