Coalminer

Coalminer

Game No.	196
Voting	6.12 points, 17 votes
Developer	Joachim Fräder
Company	Game On
Publisher	CP Verlag
Musician	Detert_Thomas
HVSC-File	MUSICIANS/D/Detert_Thomas/Coalminer.sid
Release	1991
Platform	C64
Genre	Arcade, Collect'em Up
Gamemode	Single player
Operation
Media
Language
Information	Game On 1991/09, Abo Disk #2

Description[edit | edit source]

COALMINER is a game where speed is the key. Your task is to lead a small digger through the mine using the joystick within a given time, which at the beginning will appear to you quite as a bad joke. You need to collect a certain number of symbols (diamonds) without colliding with one of the numerous underground inhabitants, as this instantly leads to the loss of a life. This game principle has a familiar ring to you? Yes, you are right, the game is a Boulder Dash clone...

Design[edit | edit source]

... the loading screen ...

... the game area ...

The intro/loading music, an arrangement of Vangelis' "I´ll find my way home", taps the potential of the SID sound chip of the C64.

The graphics are at its finest, but the game area seems a bit overcrowded so that the pawn is only visible on second sight.

Hints[edit | edit source]

On the right side of the screen next to the game area you can constantly see the most important game information. At the very top you see the available time in seconds, below that the number of symbols which need to be collected to get to the next level. In the middle you see the current score, below that the lives that are still left and at the very bottom the number of the level you are currently playing.

For each collected symbol you are credited 100 points to your account. At the start of each level the game area remains in a kind of "freeze image". By this you have enough time to get an orientation in the new screen buildup and create a good tactic. Furthermore it is advisable to get now the information about how many symbols have to be collected and how much time is available. By a press on the fire button you start the game. The coalminer follows the joystick movements.

Of course you should avoid every collision with one of the numerous underground inhabitants, as this instantly leads to the loss of a life. If you make it to eliminate one of your followers with the help of a well-aimed stone drop, you will have one enemy less and some more points.

If you reach enough points, you can enter your name into the highscore list which is saved on disk.

Solution[edit | edit source]

Tips:

Do not let yourself get irritated by the many colours, fix your sight onto the "Coalminer", the blue flashing figure.

Look closely at the buildup at the start of each level and try to find out the easiest and shortest way, then press the fire button, then hurry.

Cheats[edit | edit source]

Voting[edit | edit source]

Voting of the C64-Wiki users (10=the best vote):
6.12 points at 17 votes (rank 769). You need to be logged in to cast a vote.
C64Games	6	26th July 2008 - "good" - 1723 downs
Lemon64	4,5	04th January 2011 - 10 votes

Reviews[edit | edit source]

Sledgie: "I liked the music and the intro very much. The game itself is a grade too difficult at the first try and this already in the first level. Also, in my opinion there are too many things to be seen. Sometimes less is more; see Boulder Dash. Maybe I will test it a bit closer later. For now Coalminer gets 5 points as a mixed voting from me."

TheRyk: "Not too bad extremely speedy single screen Boulder Dash variant. However, the game is not really good, despite the appealing design and a coherent principle. Instead of all the graphic details, the graphicians should have contributed to a clear view, maybe with less colours. This is a rather moderate game among all the other Detert clan products, 5 points."