5/5 ★ – RawMetal's review of Drill Dozer.

System: Game Boy Advance Started: June 13, 2017 Ended: June 15, 2017 Flashback Review If you went to E3 2017 and saw a guy playing on the Game Boy Advance SP while waiting in line, that was me. It was a dream come true to finally attend E3 now that it was open to the public at the time. After my experience at PAX 2010, I knew I would be willing to wait in line for hours just for a 30-minute game demo. So, I brought my Game Boy Advance with a game of my choice: Drill Dozer. I got this game at a Retro Gaming Convention and was curious enough to pick it up based on its appearance. Playing Drill Dozer made the long wait in line worthwhile, and I believe this game deserves more love. If you've played Super Smash Bros. Brawl and later titles, you might notice that one of the trophy assists features a character with a girl on a drill machine. That girl is Jill, who is on a drilling mech called the Drill Dozer. This Game Boy Advance game is an action platformer where she’s the daughter of a group of bandits called The Red Dozers. Jill is on a quest to reclaim the Red Diamond, her prized possession that was stolen by rival bandit thieves known as the Skullkers. Basically infiltrating their base and fighting the end boss per level. Drill Dozer has vibrant, colorful graphics reminiscent of old Saturday morning cartoons. In fact, I get Mega Man vibes while playing Tron Bonne since both characters operate mechs. The game’s simple concept revolves around drilling while progressing. The controls are straightforward: the left and right buttons are used to drill in those directions. This mechanic is essential for opening doors, diffusing bombs, moving platforms, crossing gaps, and smashing enemies, including giant bosses. You can also collect parts to upgrade the Drill Dozer or purchase maps to help with level progression. One of the coolest features is the rumble inside the Game Boy Advance cartridge itself. The cartridge is coated in brick red, and the top part looks funky. As you play and use the Drill Dozer, it actually causes the Game Boy Advance to vibrate. A pretty nifty feature. Sadly, Drill Dozer is a short game. I managed to finish it the same day E3 2017 ended. I even completed all the extra level challenges and purchased every item available. Still, I wanted more. I’m sure Game Freak was going out of their way to create another IP outside of Pokémon. It’s a rare occurrence, considering other games they’ve developed outside Pokémon, like Pulseman, for example. I consider Drill Dozer their lightning in a bottle, and I really believe it deserves a sequel. Short but sweet, Drill Dozer is arguably Game Freak’s most underrated gem. It’s a damn shame that it never received a sequel or even a re-release. A remastered port would be fantastic, as it would definitely get enough attention to even push for a sequel. It truly deserves a second chance. If you really want to get this game, the last time I saw a copy at a retro store recently, the price had doubled since I bought it long ago. If you have some extra money to spend on a Game Boy Advance game, other than Pokémon, definitely go after this one.