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View Full Version : Turning The Spigot - Week 39 - Devil Dice


Spigot
02-15-2009, 08:06 PM
It's time for a trip on the way back machine to the PS1!

Turning The Spigot rolls the bones and gets snake eyes as it takes a look at an addictive little puzzler.

Devil Dice

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3436/3281988049_afa4c1baf2.jpg?v=0

Year: 1998
Platform: PS1
Rating: Sinfully Addictive
# of Players: 1-5

Devil Dice is a puzzle game for the PS1 that takes a relatively simple ruleset and creates a mind-bending experience for the player.

You play as a tiny little devil that run around on top of the titular die. Each level is a grid with a variety of dice scattered across it. The goal of most levels is to rid the field of all of the dice before time runs out or your opponent clears the board. As time progresses, more dice will appear on the board and you'll have less room to maneuver the dice already present.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3282805272_90b025f501.jpg?v=0

In order to do this, you must create a chain of dice equal to or greater than the number of pips on the top side of the die and each die must display the same number of pips to be included in the chain.

Sound complicated? It really isn't that bad once you see it in motion. The tricky aspect is when you start linking dice together into ever larger chains and destroying large swathes of the field.

Here's a sample of how the game works and how chaotic it can get in multiplayer.

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A PSP version of the game came out in Japan but, alas, never saw the light of day on this side of the ocean. A sequel, entitled Bombastic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi-1RcFqiqI), was released for the PS2 and is essentially the same game as the PS1 version with a few tweaks to gameplay, a more involved and varied quest mode and an upgrade to the visuals.

Devil Dice can be found on Amazon for ~$15 with copies of Bombastic ranging in price from $5-$30.

frederec
02-15-2009, 08:14 PM
Rating: Sinfully Addictive



Yes. This is absolutely true. Multiplayer was lots of fun. Got really hectic. The puzzle mode sucked up lots of time, especially once I discovered that once you cleared the ton of main boards, there was something like a thousand other, simpler (looking, but still hard) boards.

For some reason Bombastic on the PS2 never grabbed me the same way the original did. I blame it on the lack of a puzzle mode. And if there is a magical puzzle mode on Bombastic like the original that I missed, I would love for anyone to point that out to me.

Spigot
02-15-2009, 08:19 PM
I have Bombastic but never spent much time with it either and I think you've hit the nail on the head as for why that was. I missed the puzzle mode.

mister slim
02-15-2009, 08:58 PM
Bombastic or Devil Dice with five players is complete madness.

Purple Santa
02-15-2009, 09:04 PM
I still have this! Originally bought for an evil person (my X) I actually ended up playing with this quite a bit. I'm starting to worry I either recognize and/or have played many of your TTS picks Spigot. I'm worried about my prior gaming taste ;).

I think I have Bombastic too. Time to check the boxes...

Straximus
02-15-2009, 10:18 PM
This and Intelligent Qube were my favorite PS1 puzzle games. Great games.

Mike Kelehan
02-15-2009, 10:21 PM
Important note: Bombastic for PS2 is easier to find, and has a classic mode that is the exact same as DD. Right down to the menu music.

Spigot
02-16-2009, 12:08 AM
Important note: Bombastic for PS2 is easier to find, and has a classic mode that is the exact same as DD. Right down to the menu music.Does it really?

Hmmm... I might have to fire up my copy of Bombastic and spend a bit more time with it then. I only briefly dabbled with the quest part of it.

Variable Gear
02-16-2009, 12:11 AM
I've never played Devil Dice, but I've had a ton of fun with Bombastic.

mightbe
02-16-2009, 06:00 AM
Just chiming in yet again that Bombastic is a badass game but I only have had a few sessions with DD.

Also, loves the spigot retro feature.

MagGnome
02-16-2009, 11:10 AM
Great write-up as always Spigot! This game never really interested me, but it looks kind of cool none-the-less.

Spigot
02-16-2009, 12:48 PM
Great write-up as always Spigot! This game never really interested me, but it looks kind of cool none-the-less.Thanks!

I needed something that I could do a write-up of that wouldn't involve a lot of time last night. Hooray for puzzlers! Plus it was nice to do an older game after all of the 2008 releases I've been pimping.

I was basically torn between Devil Dice and Nobody Can Stop Mr. Domino.

Psykoboy2
02-16-2009, 02:39 PM
I'd like to throw Uniracers into the pot for a TTS article.

MagGnome
02-16-2009, 03:21 PM
Nobody Can Stop Mr. Domino is a great title for a game.

Purple Santa
02-16-2009, 03:26 PM
I was basically torn between Devil Dice and Nobody Can Stop Mr. Domino.
I have Nobody Can Stop Mr. Domino too. Damn, I did buy a lot of puzzlers...
Nobody Can Stop Mr. Domino is a great title for a game.

It's a great game. It would make a great Steam title if it existed for the PC. And if there is a PC existence of that title...then we need to send a copy to Mr. Gnome...

Spigot
02-16-2009, 04:24 PM
I'd like to throw Uniracers into the pot for a TTS article.I never did try that. I must rectify that at some point.

MagGnome
02-16-2009, 05:17 PM
It's a great game. It would make a great Steam title if it existed for the PC. And if there is a PC existence of that title...then we need to send a copy to Mr. Gnome...

You know I'll try anything that goes on Steam. :p