DESCRIPTION

In 20 Tons, created by Pete Cooke and Chris Newcombe, there are treasures buried underground and, like any treasure seeker, you want them! It's a dangerous dig with hungry Scrubblies and falling rocks to contend with as you search for the valuable rings on each level.

Gameplay in 20 Tons is similar to the arcade game Boulder Dash. As an intrepid underground explorer, you must gather up the treasure (rings) in each room and take it to the level's exit — depicted by a yellow square. The rings, shown in blue against the brown (dirt) and green background, are collected as you move over them as you maneuver left, right, up and down.

As you dig your tunnels, you have to avoid digging underneath 20-ton weights that crush you if you move too slowly. Rings and weights fall due to gravity if you burrow tunnels below them. Get crushed and you must restart the level. An added difficulty is the timer that counts down to zero on each level — take too long to collect the rings and reach the exit and it's game over.

The 20-ton weights can rest on dirt, another 20-ton weight block or a ring. If you stand still beneath a 20-ton weight after digging through the dirt below it, you can prevent it from moving but, once you move down or sideways, it starts to fall. The game also features options to toggle the tune on or off, save and load games and switch between joystick and keyboard control.

When playing in basic game mode, you can actually select any of the screens available and also set the game speed to slow, medium or fast. 20 Tons also allows you to create your own levels by filling a blank template with objects. ~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide