why does Dig Dug II get no love?

[Edmond Dantes]

So, the original Dig Dug is on pretty much every iteration of Namco Museum, and is host to various updates and remakes....

.... And yet, it's boring as all hell. I honestly don't get what made Dig Dug the First a classic, as even compared to its contemporaries there's not much happening. I mean you can make rocks fall on the enemies, but its difficult to set up and in my experience either the rock misses or you get nibbled because you put too much effort into trying to make it work instead of just hosing everything.

.... Then there's Dig Dug II, where you CAUSE LANDMASSES TO FALL INTO THE SEA, and if there's monsters on them, you get them all wondering where the ground went, Looney Tunes style, before they hit the drink themselves.

Yeah, I think I know which game I prefer.

Yet as far as I know, Dig Dug II is pretty much forgotten, its only home port being for the NES as far as I know (I'm not sure if its on ANY of the Namco Museum collections), while the inferior first game is all over the place.

What the hell is up with that?

[celerystalker]

I prefer Dig Dug II. I primarily play the NES version, and it's a great little game to play from time to time. I don't feel like either game is an all-time great, but I enjoy them pretty well.

[Aussie2B]

I like both, though neither are the type of game I'd play for long stretches these days. That said, I remember being at an arcade in Seattle many years ago (we're talking probably 20 years ago), and they had free play with admission, or at least the retro gaming section was free play, and I basically played Dig Dug II for an entire day, haha.

[Steve W]

I think Dig Dug II hit around the time of the North American video game crash, and just isn't remembered very well. I personally don't remember seeing it in arcades, ever. And yet I have played the original in multiple arcades back in the heyday. It's kind of like how I had never heard of Pitfall II for the Atari 2600 until the mid-'90s when 'zines like Digital Press and The 2600 Connection talked about it so much.

Are there any stats on how many units of the original arcade game and the sequel Namco sold?

[OldSchoolGamer]

Dig Dug IIFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Platform(s) Arcade, Famicom/NES, Famicom Disk System, Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dig_Dug_II

[Bloodreign]

If you have a PSP, and have Namco Battle Museum, it's on there in all it's arcade glory. Checked my copy to be sure, and it is listed.

[Jorpho]

Dig Dug: Digging Strike (DS) has elements of Dig Dug II. It doesn't seem like anyone really cared for it, though.
http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dig-dug-digging-strike-review/1900-6136007/

[Tanooki]

I prefer Dig Dug II over the original, you're not alone liking it and yeah in comparison it does get snubbed.

[Edmond Dantes]

If you have a PSP, and have Namco Battle Museum, it's on there in all it's arcade glory. Checked my copy to be sure, and it is listed.

Now I have a reason to pick up Battle Museum.

[TinStarFox]

Dig Dug II is also on Namco Museum Megamix for the Wii.

Prior to buying it, I was looking into both arcade Dig Dugs on the NES[but don't have to now]!

The original Dig Dug is similar to Mr. Do!, which I vastly prefer.


I don't hate it, and even see some comparisons in Super Mario Bros. 2's underground desert levels!

These things being said, Part II is indeed more fun...and I enjoy some of the more obscure stuff on Megamix.

With King & Balloon this is especially true: Think Space Invaders/Galaxian....but with royal monarchs, umbrelllas, green army men, and early voice synthesis{"thenk-yu!", "help!!"}!