Producer: Ocean, 16K
£5.90

Digger Dan is armed only with a spade. He must dig holes in the four levels of platforms, using the ladders to get up and down. Four monsters chase him around, hopefully upending in the holes, which he promptly fills in to kill them. There are safe spots at the end of each platform but he can't linger because the oxygen's running out. An oxygen bottle appears from time to time but getting at it can be difficult. If the screen is cleared it returns with fresh and slightly more clever beasts. Only one screen and speed, but the graphics are smooth and nicely animated. Dan can ump down through the holes too, useful in a tight spot. The control key positions are sensible, but with six of them, a bit of a handful - Reasonable value for money.

Producer: Ocean, 16K
£5.90

Digger Dan is armed only with a spade. He must dig holes in the four levels of platforms, using the ladders to get up and down. Four monsters chase him around, hopefully upending in the holes, which he promptly fills in to kill them. There are safe spots at the end of each platform but he can't linger because the oxygen's running out. An oxygen bottle appears from time to time but getting at it can be difficult. If the screen is cleared it returns with fresh and slightly more clever beasts. Only one screen and speed, but the graphics are smooth and nicely animated. Dan can ump down through the holes too, useful in a tight spot. The control key positions are sensible, but with six of them, a bit of a handful - Reasonable value for money.

Producer: Ocean, 16K
£5.90

Digger Dan is armed only with a spade. He must dig holes in the four levels of platforms, using the ladders to get up and down. Four monsters chase him around, hopefully upending in the holes, which he promptly fills in to kill them. There are safe spots at the end of each platform but he can't linger because the oxygen's running out. An oxygen bottle appears from time to time but getting at it can be difficult. If the screen is cleared it returns with fresh and slightly more clever beasts. Only one screen and speed, but the graphics are smooth and nicely animated. Dan can ump down through the holes too, useful in a tight spot. The control key positions are sensible, but with six of them, a bit of a handful - Reasonable value for money.

HEADBANGERS - PANIC GAMES

Armed with little more than a trusty spade, nimble fingers and wilting joystick, our two arcade playing reviewers, CHRIS PASSEY and MATTHEW UFFINDELL, enter the dusty platforms in search of monsters 'Panic' games involve climbing ladders to various levels within the screen, digging holes in the floors and letting the monsters fall into them. When you trap a monster in this manner, there is usually a short time in which to reach it, bang it on the head so that it falls through to its death, filling in the hole as it goes. Failure to kill it in time will result in the beast escaping and becoming a super monster. The more super a monster becomes, the more holes it must fall through in one go, which means digging holes in a vertical line. You have an ever-diminishing supply of oxygen, so speed is important. This selection contains some close copies and some slight variations on the theme.

DIGGER DAN
Ocean
Memory Required: 16K
Retail Price: £5.90

This is a rather good version, conaining large, colourful graphics with reasonable movement. The control is also good, although there is no joystick option. It is easy to get on and off the ladders which is a help. I think this is better than the Visions/Mikrogen version. It features oxygen and four monster types, and separate keys for dig and fill, which are well laid out. Digger Dan is enjoyable and addictive, and one of the best 'Panics' here.
CP

This version has now been available for quite a while, yet it shows hardly any signs of age. The game takes place on five very solid looking platforms connected by several well-drawn ladders. It starts off as the simplest of the bunch but gets progressively more difficult by adding one monster for every two screens completed - unqique. The monsters are well drawn and move smoothly, although they are not at all intelligent. Your man is nicely animated and moves with reasonable speed. The keyboard positions could have been better, but nothing too much to complain about. It is slightly lacking in the Sound department, but colour has been well used. Good.
MU