Subtitled “Rockford’s Revenge“, Boulder Dash II was again designed and programmed by Peter Liepa and published in North America by Electronic Arts in 1985 as “Super Boulder Dash” (alongside a re-release of the first game). Boulder Dash II was published in Europe as a stand-alone game, though, by Beyond Software.
The sequel features sixteen new levels, and they are generally excellent, although they don’t really feature any new hazards or enemies. Some levels take a slow, methodical approach to clear, while others require urgency and a specific strategy.
I’ve seen a lot of reviews of Boulder Dash II, criticising the fact that it’s “just” sixteen new levels, but I’ve seen enough badly-designed Boulder Dash levels to know that well-designed levels are not easy to make, and original co-designer/programmer Peter Liepa is one of the best Boulder Dash designers around. His levels are interesting and challenging and he obviously puts a lot of thought into them.
While I would’ve welcomed a few new hazards, and maybe more levels, Boulder Dash II is still an excellent game that has stood the test of time well – unlike the next game in the series; Boulder Dash III.
See also: Boulder Dash Special
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