Dig Dug: Digging Strike

Dig Dug: Digging Strike (also known as Dig Dug DS) is a Nintendo DS game developed by Namco.

Plot
Taizo Hori, chairman of the Driller Council and hero of the Dig Dug Incident, has become somewhat bitter over the fact that the the media spotlight has left him in favor of his own son Susumu Hori, AKA Mr. Driller. Thus, when the government of the island nation of Horinesia calls to request the help of Mr. Driller, Taizo decides to go handle it himself in order to prove his superiority. Once he arrives in the nation, the president of Horinesia explains that while searching underground for fossils, the people of the island seemingly awoke monsters sleeping beneath the surface. Taizo declares that he will handle the trouble by himself, but Susumu decides to tag along anyways to support his father.

Overview
Dig Dug: Digging Strike combines elements from the original Dig Dug and its successor, Dig Dug II. The top screen shows an overhead view of the stage, islands similar to Dig Dug II. The bottom screen shows the stage in classic Dig Dug side view as you dig. Your goal is to defeat a single large boss character that has taken over the stage. This is accomplished by digging out the dirt beneath large stakes stuck into the ground, driving them deeper. Strategically driving these stakes into the ground will cause pieces of the island to break off into the ocean, hopefully taking the boss with it. Enemies move around underground with you, collecting food. Should they get their hands on food, they float up to the surface and are then consumed by the boss character, which then evolves into a more difficult form. You've got to avoid this by taking out food and enemies under ground. You have a number of weapons and items at your disposal outside of just your drill. Underground, you'll find magnets, bombs and boxing gloves which can be used to defeat enemies. You'll also find parts strewn about underground that you can use to build new weapons. Additionally, certain power ups can be found that will allow you to temporarily take control of Mr. Driller to do various tasks, such as stunning the boss or changing the direction of the stakes.

Taizo's Items
These power up items are used by Taizo. Some activate immediately once you pick them up, while others will activate once you press the "B" button.
 * Boxing Glove -When activated, will punch an enemy directly in front of you away.
 * Stone -Allows you to create a stone directly in front of you.
 * Lightning -Surrounds Taizo with a lightning shield, which will cause any enemy it touches to inflate.
 * Air Capsule -Replenishes your air supply when moving underwater.
 * Bubble -Blocks a single enemy attack.
 * Snorkel -Causes your oxygen to be consumed half as quickly while underwater.
 * Fruits and Vegetables -Gives bonus points when picked up.
 * S. Flag -Gives you an extra life when picked up.
 * Fossil Fragments -Hidden throughout the game, collecting them all will unlock extra stages.

Susumu's Items
When activated, these power ups will allow you to take control of Mr. Driller as he rides in various vehicles.
 * Horicopter Bomb -Allows you to drop a single bomb onto the surface of the island. The blast can destroy minor enemies, and temporarily stun the boss.
 * Horicopter Weight -When dropped on a stake, it will drive it all the way down.
 * Horicopter Screwdriver -This can be used to change the direction the stakes are facing.
 * Horivalou -Allows you to pilot a fighter ship which can attack enemies both on the ground and in the air. Hitting a boss enough times will temporarily stun it.
 * Hori X -You can drive a race car around the island, leaving out a smokescreen behind you. The smoke can destroy minor enemies, and slow bosses down.

Terrain Items
These objects will show up underground, and can harm both you and your foes.
 * Rock -When the dirt beneath it has been dug out, it will fall straight down, crushing any creature beneath it.
 * Round Rock -When the dirt around it has been dug out, they will roll until they hit a wall, crushing anything in their path.
 * Metal Ball -Similar to the Round Rock, they will roll around crushing anything in their way once they are dug out.
 * Water -When pools of water are dug out, they will flow down the passages until coming to a wall. Anything caught in them will be swept along with them and temporarily stunned.
 * Lava -When pools of lava are dug out, they will flow just like water. However, anything caught in them will be killed.  Additionally, when the lava hits a wall, it will solidify into a Rock.
 * Bricks -Solid brick walls that can only be destroyed by a falling Stake, Frygar's fire attack, or the HEM Drill.
 * Bomb -Hitting them with your harpoon will activate them. They will then explode several seconds later, destroying the dirt around them, along with any creature in its range.

Trivia

 * The "Hori X" power, and the music that plays when it is activated, is reminiscent of the Namco game Rally-X. In addition, the extra life Flag items are also taken from this game.
 * Likewise, the "Horivalou" power is derived from the "Solvalou", the fighter piloted in the Namco game Xevious.