C&VG


Diamond Mine

Publisher: Blue Ribbon
Machine: BBC Model B

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #50

Diamond Mine

When I first played Diamond Mine, I almost decided it was impossible. You're a pipe being unreeled into a diamond mine and you've got to snake your way through narrow, tortuous tunnels to reach the diamonds.

Trouble is, the mine is full of bugs which seem to live off unwary pipes - if they eat you, the length of pipe in the mine at the time is lost. Not only that, if you touch a wall, you lose more pipe, and don't think you're safe if you've safely wound your way down to a likely diamond cache - a bug could grab you anywhere.

You get points for every diamond you manage to grab, and each one you reach is a real triumph, believe me. The pipe has a finite length, which didn't seem all that long to start with, and in successive screen it gets shorter.

The controls are simple enough: left, right, up and down - it's choosing the right split second to change direction and move down another tunnel that's so difficult.

This is by far the best of the release of games from Blue Ribbon worth every penny of the £2.50 you pay for it.