Dig Dug (Atari, rev 2)

Mastering Dig Dug (Atari, rev 2) is easy to learn but hard to perfect, and following these key tips will help you set high scores and beat more levels without wasting lives. First, get familiar with the core controls: use the 4-way joystick to move horizontally or vertically through dirt to carve tunnels, and press the single action button to activate your air pump. Hold the button down repeatedly to fully inflate enemies until they pop—stop halfway, and they will deflate and start chasing you again within 2 seconds. One of the most effective high-score strategies is to prioritize rock kills over pump kills whenever possible. Crushing a single enemy with a rock earns you 1000 points, while inflating a Pooka only earns 200 and a Fygar earns 300. If you can lure 2 or more enemies under a single rock, you earn double the total points for all enemies crushed, making this the fastest way to hit the 10,000 point threshold for a bonus extra life. Avoid digging long, unconnected horizontal tunnels across the map, as this lets Pookas phase through solid dirt to chase you from unexpected angles. Instead, carve a grid of connected tunnels so you always have an escape route if you get cornered. When facing Fygars, never stand directly in front of them on the same horizontal line: Fygars can shoot a 3-tile long flame attack that kills you instantly, so always approach them from above, below, or behind to inflate them safely. Note that the rev 2 version patched the popular “rock gap invincibility” glitch from the first Atari port, so you cannot hide between two adjacent rocks to avoid enemy attacks anymore. Finally, grab vegetable collectibles as soon as they spawn: they despawn after 10 seconds, and the rarest watermelon collectible earns you 8000 points, enough to get you almost to your first bonus life on the first level alone.