How to Play "Boulder Dash" for the PC
- 1). Install the software. You can find the game on numerous abandonware sites, such as Abandonia and The House of Games (see Resources). Installation requires an emulator to run on a modern computer. You can use programs such as DOSBox (see Resources) to help you, according to classic games website Glenn's Guides.
- 2). Dig through the map. Rockford will begin each level at a certain point on a two-dimensional field and will need to dig his way to an exit, according to Softpedia.com. To dig, move the character into a dirt square, which Rockford will remove. Certain obstacles, such as walls and boulders, can't be removed and Rockford must navigate his way around them.
- 3). Collect diamonds to make the exit available. Rockford must gain a certain amount of diamonds to open each level's exit. Diamonds are scattered throughout the map. Rockford also can collect diamonds by destroying enemies.
- 4). Reach the exit before time expires. Rockford has a certain amount of time to dig through the map to the exit on each level or you lose. You may have to do a bit of searching to locate the exit on a particular level.
- 5). Avoid enemies. Softpedia.com lists a number of enemies, such as the firefly, which explodes when Rockford touches it. Butterflies are similar, but when they explode, they leave behind nine diamonds. Amoebas are creatures that expand at a random rate into adjacent spaces and dirt, which, although it does not directly harm Rockford, can trap him or block him from the exit.
- 6). Use different types of walls to your advantage. Explosives can destroy walls. An expanding wall looks and acts like a destructible wall, but expands and can trap Rockford or an enemy. A magic wall looks and acts like a destructible wall, but when a boulder is dropped on one, it falls through the wall and turns into a diamond. A diamond dropped on a magic wall turns into a boulder, according to Softpedia.com.