According to the latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu, Namco is set to release a new version of its successful Mr Driller franchise on the Japanese WiiWare service this month.
Entitled Mr Driller World, the game will retail for 800 Wii Points and should be digging its way to sunlight on the 24th February. In addition to this, another Mr Driller game is due to emerge from solid ground on DSiWare the following day; as yet the points cost of this portable version is unknown.
Here’s a photo of the news as it appears in Famitsu:
Let’s hope this is the start of Namco throwing a bit more support behind the WiiWare service.
Source: GoNintendo
About Damien McFerran
Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media's sites from an editorial perspective. He's also the editor of Time Extension, the network's newest site, which – paradoxically – is all about gaming's past glories.
Comments 44
very interesting...
awesome. I have Mr Driller DS and that was a fun game. Let's hope this is will be just as good. I'm anticipating an EU/USA release
I could anticipate this more, since Mr Driller isn't too exciting for me, but it's still very good news.
I really like mr driller
Here's hoping for a western release.
Maybe we can see support from Namco like we do from Hudson (hopefully in quality as well as quantity), or am I being too optimistic?
Probably a better price for the game than retail. The only way I liked playing it was Dhrystone mode though.
@Killraven / KDR_11k: I tend to remember people by their avatars, as I'm sure many others also do: so, which one of you two is going to change your picture first?
@Willoveit:
Neither of them have avatars. That's the new default pic that shows up when somebody hasn't uploaded one.
But, yes, you guys should definitely upload one, so that people don't skip over your comments based on the assumption that you're a transient noob.
I love Mr. Driller. I still play it on Dreamcast, so this is good news.
I await more information (modes, music etc...)...though that said given how terrible Namco Europe is at doing anything I'm sure they'll find a way to make sure Europe gets the game in Feburary...2010...
Awesome it'd be great to see some more somewhat established franchises appear on wii-ware. I'm still holding out for a Castlevania Ware though.
Namco support would really be awesome. Although I don't know any Mr. Driller games, this does get my hopes up for a point blank on WiiWare:DD
I've never played Mr. Driller...Could be interesting.
YEEEESSSS!! I loved Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits on the DS! I remembered giving an arm and a leg trying to find the GBC version as a kid...
Hopefully there will be enough to differentiate itself from Mr. Driller Online.
When I saw this earlier, I was so happy. Must-buy. I've never played Mr. Driller either but I can't wait! Looking forward to more details surfacing! Let's hope for WFC Support.
@Chicken Brutus: Ah, that makes sense! Sorry you gaise!
Anyways - it's the WWW team that's trying to confuse me instead, eh? I'm gonna blame Corbie's usual avatar antics.
Mr. Driller? MR. DRILLER?!? WAIT, NEXT WEEK?!?
Ooooooh man, that is all kinds of awesome. One of my main motivations for getting a Japanese Wii was being able to properly play Mr. Driller Drill Land for Japanese Gamecube (I also have an amusing story about bricking my PAL Wii over it, well, not really) since Namco saw fit to put code in the game to check the system region which only the most sophisticated modchips could outwit, meaning it wouldn't format a gamecard properly. You could play, but not save, which completely sucks.
When this was announced for XBL I was quite disappointed, so this is great news and hopefully a Western release is in the offing. If you have a GBA or DS, Mr. Driller A is the counterpart to Mr. Driller Drill Land and is awesome as well.
I will totally get this next week and give you the news.
With regard to Namco Europe they're strictly arcade amusments; they have nothing to do with console releases, which is why Namco titles like Namco Museum Remix are published by Atari in Europe. Hopefully the recent purchase of D3 by Namco-Bandai will give them a more global publishing base (at least in Europe as North America seems covered by Namco-Bandai North America) and we'll start seeing stuff like Fragile (please!) get released here in PAL-land.
Awesome! I've never played any of these games, but I've always loved how that littke dude looks. I'll buy this for sure!
But...what kind of game is it? I can't figure out if it's a puzzle game, platformer, or like Dig-Dug?
Hurray, I love Mr.Driller! If it has online, I'm sold!
@Popyman
It's kind of like Mr. Driller combined with Pop 'em, Drop 'em Samegame.
The best bit is that there's an identical game on the DS for £30.
@mickeymac: So you destroy blocks of the same color and work your way down? Cool, I've always liked SameGame.
I`ll keep an eye on this game, though it doesn`t look too promising.
Another puzzle game by the looks of it ...
Pop pop pop pop pop... Puzzle crack. Online would be nice.
This game looked pretty good on DS so I look forward to its WW release. Wonder what the differences between the DSi and WW versions.
Instant buy. I have Mr. Driller for the PS. Just a stupid amount of fun involved.
I played Drill Spirits on the DS. I guess I'll get the Wiiware version not so sure I'll get the DSi version.
@Popyman
Yep, that pretty much discribes it. And like lockelocke said, it's a stupid amount of fun!
Wow, this is awesome news!
cool
What I find odd about Mr. Driller is that it came out in the 90s, but has a really retro feel about it, yet the gameplay is quite basic. Despite this my iBook G4 cannot properly run the ROM in emulation for the arcade game.
Of course between this and Mr. Driller Drill Land that's completely unnecessary, but contrary to the MAME=piracy crowd, if it wasn't for MAME I probably would never have played this game and realised how awesome it is.
I just watched some gameplay videos, I'm gonna love this _
Cool! Love Mr Driller!
In anticipation of this release next week I've decided to put up a review of the Gamecube import classic Mr. Driller Drill Land, which is pretty much the ultimate Mr. Driller game:
http://www.seanswiiworld.co.uk/2009/02/mr-driller-drill-land-gamecube-review.html
Sounds pretty good. I'll probably get the DSi version though
Checking out the screens on the Japanese WiiWare site where -- in typical fashion -- they've already updated with next week's releases, it looks like the game is pretty much the basic game with artwork and country changes from Drill World Tour from Mr. Driller Drill Land. I saw that there's 300m, 500m and 800m games, so possibly more levels than usual or different modes (especially since the 500m had smaller blocks in greater numbers than the other two).
Also looks like the full Mr. Driller cast of characters is there. Getting excited now!
@ Sean Aaron
Please post block size
I will. Given that my recent activities have used all but 55 blocks, I'll have to remove the Japanese Nintendo Channel to get this one (and possibly some VC content)...
Can the screens from the Japanese WiiWare site be added to the Driller gamepage? What's the link?
Thanks Sean,
Thats why I ask... my block space is slim, and this is one of those games that I would like to keep on the dashboard...
I reckon I'm gonna have to delete all my VC eventually.
Until it gets added you can find screens here:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/wdrj/index.html
So, when does Japan get WW and VC updates? It's today, right? Eitherway, I can't wait to hear how it is Sean!
Yep, it's today. I'm looking forward to getting this tonight; I should have a write-up online some time tomorrow.
Sweet!
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