ARCADE WATCH
Keeping an eye on the coin-op gaming scene
Game Super Drill
Manufacturer Ace Amusement
One of the more unusual antics in Paul Gascoigne’s colourful life occurred when the former footballer stopped a London double-decker bus (which he was driving, naturally) alongside a set of roadworks and jumped out so that he could have a go on a pneumatic drill, proceeding to dig up a section of tarmac. Some of us might have had similar urges, but unfortunately we’re not afforded Gazza levels of leeway. Step forward Super Drill, which puts the eponymous tool in your hands, inviting you to burrow into the earth in search of shiny collectables. Ace Amusement’s game is a kind of modern-day spin on Dig-Dug and allows you to drill in all directions, rather than the simple left-right-updown action of Namco’s classic. Interestingly, the cabinet’s controls have been updated since the game’s debut model (pictured): a new version replaces the original’s jumbo-sized joystick with a pair of handles, bringing the entire experience a bit closer to the real thing, with juddery force feedback. Naturally, any kind of hi-vis tabard is not included.