Screwbreaker GBA

[venom743]

Another GBA gem from Nintendo!
The cart is slightly bigger than a GBA cart as it has a vibration built in. The game is basically a platformer where you use a drill as your main form of transport and weaponry to get from A to B. Within the levels there are a lot of unique ways to use your drill to get past the numerous obstacles. The GBA vibrates everytime you use the drill.
The graphics are really nice with some great animation and the vibration feature is a welcome addition. If I didn't know better I would've thought that this was a Treasure title but it's not! (Yes, it's that good!)

Check out the official web page:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/v49j/index.html

[spagmasterswift]

Love the ad on that site and there's some pretty sweet wallpaper too

This should play on a DS too right, despite the rumble thingy?

[venom743]

It works perfectly well on the DS. I'm playing it on my famicom GBA micro though.

[spagmasterswift]

Nice one! Is there any score attack elements to it bruv, or just straight progression through levels?

[venom743]

Doesn't seem to be score attack mode but you can replay levels.

[Zapp$ter]

How import friendly is this? I was just about to order Dr Mario & Panel De Pon from Yesasia when I noticed this in the best sellers list. Might just go for them both if there's not too much japanese text

[SharkAttack]

Love the ad on that site and there's some pretty sweet wallpaper too

This should play on a DS too right, despite the rumble thingy?

Yeh the rumble carts are designed with the DS in mind too. In fact, Metroid Pinball due out in November for DS comes with a GBA Rumble Pack.

[venom743]

How import friendly is this? I was just about to order Dr Mario & Panel De Pon from Yesasia when I noticed this in the best sellers list. Might just go for them both if there's not too much japanese text

It's mainly an action platformer with some Japanese text to guide you through the stages. Nothing to hinder gameplay though.

[ItsThere]

thank you for the translation all who took part in it, twas indeed very helpfull. Good game too, cute and fun and all things Nintendo.

[Jet Set UNITED]

Yeh the translation was really helpful... top job!
Anyone having any probs on world 2-2 with the vault gate? What do I do!?

[Spatial]

You have to

->Open Spoiler<-

turn each of the tumblers by finding the drill blocks scattered around the level (they're the small blocks with metal pincers on them). There's three of them, one for each tumbler.

The combination sequence of left and right turns is scattered around the level on notes but as the text is in Japanese I had to crack the old fashion way - trial and error.

Best thing to do is keep track of how many turns you give before it makes the sound which tells you you've turned it the wrong way. I wouldn't rotate the tumblers at speed either as if you do this you won't hear the error noise.

I've read that the combination is random and changes each time you switch the game on. I did it first time through, so I don't know if that's the case or not.

Best advice I can offer I'm afraid

[Woofer]

I'm on world 4-2 at the moment and so far i'm really enjoying it, Best Gba game i've played in ages. It doesn't half hurt my hands playing it on ds though.

I thought a few people might have problems with 2-2 as up to now it's the only time in the game where a puzzle has relied on japanese language skills.

->Open Spoiler<-

I just replayed the level a couple of times and the combinations given by the memos was the same both times so you could try these combinations...

Red : Right 2, Left 4
Blue : Left 5 , Right3
Green : Left 6 , Right 1 , Left 12

[Geoff D]

Currently playing this under its US guise Drill Dozer - what a superb little game it is; every day there seems to be another handheld game to get at least semi-erect about & it's great that in the midst of DS/PSP fever, the GBA is still kicking.

The drill action is excellent - cranking up through the gears is top fun & the rumble cart never distracts.

If I didn't know better I would've thought that this was a Treasure title but it's not!

I know what you mean - it's a beautifully polished title that's lots of fun to play. If you're after a puzzle platformer it's well worth your time.

[The Mole]

Does it work on the DS?

[Kotatsu Neko]

Does it work on the DS?

Yes of course. The cart is over sized (pointless in my opinion, the rumble adds little), so looks ugly, but you'd get that on a GBA too. I find it hard to play on the Micro though, as the bulky cart makes the system tricky to hold.

I've been playing this on and off this week and it's not bad, but not great either. I was initially shocked at the basic visuals and sound (very 8-bit sounding music, like a Gameboy Color game), and the shoddy frame rate (30fps for something so simple is inexcusable), but once past that it's entertaining enough.

If the GBA had still be a living system with lots of support I doubt this would have got much attention though.