This is another one of my favorite games of all time. It's another one of those childhood gems of mine as it's another one of the very first video games I played when I was six. One of the other things that make this game special for me is it's another game that came out on my birthyear so that's cool.
Yeah, this game takes cues from the classics "Dig Dug" and "Pac-Man" from Digging Tunnels and collecting all the items to clear out of the maze. It's nothing new but it's everything done right as it's really doing its own thing to make it stand out.
It's also the first in a franchise, this game is the first volume in a four-game series which is interesting because back then franchises for video games were a bit rare and an unconceived concept at the time. Though what makes this franchise unique is that each of the games are totally different but with the same character, which I think is cool that something that rare as most video game franchises tend to repeat the same gameplay.
The game also has some music which a bit of was a first in video games at the time and it's good even adds to the experience as the music really fits the frantic pace and nature of the game. I really love the designs of each of the tunnel mazes as all of them are unique in design and color. Each is always a different challenge that cause you to adjust quickly and come up with some best laid plans.
However, what really makes this game stand out is that it gives you a lot to do, hence its title. This game you have two ways to win. You can either play it safe (sort of) by collecting all the cherries in the level or you can waste all the monsters to clear the level the choice is yours.
Personally, I always like to waste all the monsters, it's a little more on the risky side but that part of what makes it even more fun, it contributes to the games risk reward element which is the other thing that makes the game stand out. If you waste all the monsters you collect more points that is if you can do the job because they literally outnumber you.
But also, there is a neat trick where after the generator spot where all the monsters come from is empty there is food that is left and if you eat/collect it, then all the monsters would freeze up which gives you full court advantage. But there is one catch and opportunity, once you do that the generator on the letter box produces a platoon of letter monsters that come after you. But if your able to neutralize this platoon you will collect one of the letters and get bonus points; your best bet in doing this is to kill the walking letter monster it' the leader so it will put them down for good. Though word of warring you can only kill them with the magic ball, dropping apples on them won't do any good as they just eat them, unless it's the letter monster then it's exceptional. Though the apples chomped on can work to your advantage as it will slow the monsters down a bit and you can nail them.
Speaking of letters, you have this letter box that says, Extra. If you get all the letters to spell it out, then you get an Extra Life. It's always satisfying whenever I do that because after you do there is a brief but cool cut scene where Mr. Do runs with his magic ball and throws it at a monster, just seeing that one scene lets me know it was all well worth it.
Of course, most importantly the gameplay is great. The control is fluid really like that your guy moves at a good speed. Like with "Dig Dug" you have freedom to use your environment to your advantage by digging tunnels to create pathways for yourself to get some distance from the monsters, escape, collect fruit, or simply dig traps for the monsters.
Your weapons are a magic ball that can bounce around and always hit your enemy. However, the catch with this is after the ball is thrown and vaporizes the monster you are unarmed, and it takes a matter of seconds until your magic ball regenerates, so use the ball wisely. This really give the game a slight edge in difficulty because it leaves you with only your wits as your weapon, which is your real weapon in the game.
The other weapon is the giant apples which are cool, there is a cool effect when they hit the ground you see them split open. These apples are basically the boulders like with "Dig Dug" you use to squash the enemies. But unlike those boulders you can push them which I thought was cool because it really increased your advantage giving you other ways in its usage. I always like waiting for enough of the monsters to line up in whatever tunnel they run though and then just push that bolder down on them and see them get smooshed, kind of like in the Looney Tunes cartoon.
Mr. Do is a vintage classic that is never out of fun things to do.
Rating: 4 stars
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