Game structure[edit]
Digger: The Legend of the Lost City is structured in 8 levels, which you will have to overcome one after the other, until you reach the Lost City. Each level consists of a labyrinthine cavern, with tunnels, precipices secret passages that can teleport you from one area to another. You will also encounter hordes of enemies ready to block your way, which you will have to defeat. The goal in each cavern is to reach the exit door, which leads to the next one. In order to open it, however, you will first have to find a special pillar, which when pressed, will cause the door to open for 60 seconds. You will therefore have to hurry in the meantime to reach the exit door before it closes. If you fail, you will have to go back, press the pillar again and try again. Between one level and another you will have the opportunity to pass a bonus room, in which you will have to collect all the treasures present in a short amount of time, avoiding being hit by falling rocks. If you succeed, you will earn an extra life. If you manage to reach the exit door of a level with a time remaining of at least 40 seconds, you will also find two diamonds in the next bonus room. There are also 4 types of items that you can collect during the adventure and that will help you proceed: stones, ladders, dynamite and diamonds. Once collected, they will appear in the appropriate menu. The game screen is shown below:
1 Action screen
2 This timer indicates how much time remains before the exit door closes. To activate it and open the door, you must press a special pillar.
3 This white bar represents your life energy. Whenever Digger is hit by an enemy or falls from an excessive height, you will lose some energy. If your life energy runs out, you will lose a life. The only way to restore your vital energy is to take special mushrooms (see items section). Also, every time you pass one cavern, your life energy will be fully restored when you enter the next one.
4 This number indicates the lives available to you. If you lose all your lives, it's game over. The only way to earn an extra life is to successfully complete the bonus rooms located between one level and another, collecting all the treasures.
5 Depth reached.
6 This is your score. You will earn points by defeating enemies, collecting items and using secret teleportation passages. If your score is high enough, you can register your name on the high score screen at the end of the game.
7 Indicates the number of stones available (see items section)
8 Indicates the number of ladders available (see items section)
9 Indicates the number of dynamites available (see items section)
10 Indicates the number of diamonds available (see items section)
Ground[edit]
To move safely inside the caverns, you will need to know the types of ground you will encounter:
1 - Hard rock
It forms the walls of the cavern and cannot be destroyed in any way.
2 - Friable rock
You can dig this ground with your shovel, to open your way. Once excavated, you will be able to go back whenever you want, as you can climb the walls behind it.
3 - Climbing wall
You can climb these walls.
4 - Falling rocks
These pink rocks can be precipitated by hitting them with the shovel. Sometimes it is necessary to do this in order to proceed or to reach some objects. Other times it is better to leave them in their place. It is very important to never be under these rocks when they fall: if you are hit you will immediately lose a life.
5 - Inclined plane
Climbing on these sloped floors, Digger will slide to the end, without having the option to stop, backtrack or jump. So be careful before climbing on it, as it could also lead you to dangerous precipices. However, if you fall on top of an inclined plane when you fall from a great height, you won't get hurt.