Cavernous Conundrum- Lazy Raiders Review

Like Cameltry (also known as On the Ball and Labyrinth) gamers don’t directly control the game’s portly protagonist, Dr. Diggabone. Instead the move the entire stage, sending the archeologist rolling and bounding through each of the title’s eighty levels. Pushing right or left on the analog stick rotates the stage in the desired direction, allowing Diggabone to roll down hills and imperviously fall down any open shafts. Additionally, a tap on the ‘A’ button will instantly invert the map, turning the floor into a ceiling. Although this simple mechanic is perpetuated through the whole game, each level brings a variety of interesting obstacles- from color-coded keys which open corresponding doors, to volatile TNT boxes, and spikes.

Each map’s primary goal is to retrieve a golden pick. Additionally, players longing for leaderboard status will want to sweep each stage clear of treasure or alternately, complete the level as quickly as possible. Having multiple objectives for each level secures Lazy Raider’s replayability- often I found myself clearing the level, then instantly replaying in an attempt to secure a disregarded trinket.  These motivations are also heightened by the aforementioned scoreboards which track both worldwide and rankings among your Xbox Live friends.  Lazy Raider’s even tracks the net worth of all your archeological unearthings, giving players a keen sense of accomplishment through the game.

Easily frustrated gamers who typically avoid single-solution challenges should appreciate Lazy Raider’s difficulty. Not only are players given unlimited lives, but participants can instantly reset any stage with a press of the back button. Fortunately, Dr. Diggabone’s hearty girth allows him to be more than a one-hit wonder; touching any of the title’s impediments will flash the hero red, only killing him if the player maintains contact with the object.

Visually, Lazy Raiders shines thanks to its unwavering framerate and adorable art style. The game’s later levels not only require a bit of strategic planning, but also quick reflexes to navigate the labyrinthine environments and avoid abundant obstacles. Thanks to a speedy refresh rate, any Diggabone deaths are instigated by the player, rather than a languid display, or unresponsive input system. Although each stage takes about six seconds to load, the results are worth the short wait- each character and obstacle is drawn with noticeable detail from the craggy edge of a granite block to each shimmering gold artifact. Players that are tired of combing mazes with the game’s main hero may alternatively use their own avatars.