Game Reviews

I Dig It Expeditions

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I Dig It Expeditions

Like the original, I Dig It Expeditions hands you control of a flying digger, which is able to tunnel underground following a path of your choosing as well as flying back up to the surface.

Yet by building on this simple concept, the game isn't just digging itself a deeper hole. A thorough excavation of this highly polished sequel uncovers a slew of improvements that cement its status as a superior game.

Digging deeper

Gem hunting takes you around the world in I Dig It Expeditions, your digging machine leading the way. Controlling it is merely a case of taking charge of an on-screen thumbstick, any direction you stroke it sending your digger tunneling in that direction.

This muddy marvel goes a fair bit deeper than its predecessor, in all senses of the word. That's because, more so than ever, it's a bit of a balancing act. While your digger has many talents it also comes with restrictions aplenty.

Every move you make uses up fuel or heats up the engine. You even have to be careful to avoid underground collisions that damage its outer shell.

Repairs costs money, which in turn is earned by finding treasure and selling it on the surface. When you consider that many of these trinkets are stored deep in the ground - just locating them requiring long excursions that use up all such amenities - the balance between using up your funds to find further treasures and staying safe becomes tricky.

It's getting hot in here

That said, even if you do overheat and explode, you just revert to your last save point. And, in truth, regular saves are essential because I Dig It Expeditions is quite simply huge.

Though it comes with just three levels besides its extensive tutorial, all of them are pretty massive. You can dig and dig and dig before reaching any boundaries. The further you get from the surface the narrower your vision gets, the darkness literally drawing in around you.

Radar comes to your aid here, its scope yet another feature that can be upgraded with earnings. Keeping such upgrades in check is essential. Getting ahead of yourself and spending all your cash can land you in trouble.

Watery wonderland

There's good variety, too, with the game venturing beyond mere digging to include an underwater level (oxygen having to be sourced from the surface every now and again to keep you alive), as well as underground ants that can tear your digger apart.

It's a prime example of how I Dig It Expeditions is just that little bit braver than both its predecessor and some of its rivals. Such diversity and depth, especially when combined with its simple controls, makes I Dig It Expeditions palatable to all.

A full spectrum of modes - Money Challenge, where earning a set amount is your one target, a 'points challenge' where a set tally is your goal, and a Free Play mode that lets you explore at will - available for each level open it up to those who want a light bite as well as those after something more substantial.

In truth, even if you intend to play for just a few minutes you're likely to find it hard to put it down. I Dig It Expeditions is a treasure hunt that proves much to be a gem itself.

I Dig It Expeditions

I Dig It Expeditions offers a bit of exploration, a touch of puzzle play, and more than its fair share of fun
Score
Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font. He's also Pocket Gamer's resident football gaming expert and, thanks to his work on PG.biz, monitors the market share of all mobile OSes on a daily basis.