Power Shovel (Game)

Power Shovel

GAME » on July 19, 2001

Operate an excavator in various realistic and unrealistic scenarios in this arcade (and later PS1) game from Taito.

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Overview

Power Shovel ni Norou!! Power Shovel Simulator is an excavator simulator and mini-game collection developed and released by Taito for arcades exclusively in Japan in 1999.

Developed in cooperation with construction machinery manufacturer Komatsu, Power Shovel Simulator has players doing a variety of tasks (both in realistic and unrealistic scenarios) while operating an excavator.

Similar to the Densha de Go! series, the game's controls were designed to simulate the feeling of operating the vehicle, with the player given two large analog joysticks and two pedals that operate the same way as the actual excavators. Two sets were provided in the machine for split-screen multiplayer, and both the levers and seat have vibration. Its mascot is Kantoku-kun, a clam-shaped robot supervisor.

It later received a home release for the PlayStation (Platform) on September 21, 2000 as Taito GO! Series: Power Shovel ni Norou!!. This version makes use of the PS1 analog controls while adding bonus game modes (including a level editor for custom challenges). It later received a North American release by Acclaim on July 19, 2001 as Power Shovel, a European release by JVC on November 30, 2001 as Power Diggerz, and a budget Japanese re-release by D3 Publisher for their Simple (Franchise) series on March 28, 2002 as Simple 1500 Series Vol. 89: The Power Shovel: Power Shovel ni Norou!!.

The Japanese PS1 version received a dedicated controller peripheral that aimed to simulate the arcade version's two-joystick setup. While it doesn't include pedals, each joystick is analog and has buttons on the front and back of each joystick mapped to the PS1's controls.

Gameplay

The game's controls make use of two large joysticks (or the analog sticks in the PS1 version) and two large pedals. It makes use of the standard "ISO"/"JIS" control pattern:

The left lever controls the swing (left/right) and the stick boom (upward to stretch out, downward to bend in).
The right lever controls the bucket's motions (left to curl in and right to curl out) and the main boom (upward to lower, downward to raise).
The two pedals move the tracks forward and backward.

Game Modes

When starting the game, players have two game modes to choose from (Serious Simulator Mode and Comical Minigame Mode), each with their own unique selection of mini-games. A third game mode, Secret Time Trial Mode, can be played with a cheat code (arcade version) or as an unlockable (home version).

The home version adds a bonus in-game level editor, along with a series of challenges built from it.

Serious Simulator Mode

Also known as Genba-ō Mode ("On-Site King Mode"), this mode mostly focuses on more realistic scenarios and is split up into three difficulty modes, each based on a different excavator.

Players are graded based on their performance, gaining "wages" based on the game's difficulty and the time taken to complete the job and receiving penalty deductions by damaging or spilling things.

PC30MR

Used for "Beginner's Mode" (or Nyūmon-hen), which serves as the game's tutorial. As it is a smaller excavator, there is little chance for mistakes.

Scooping sand from a pile to the truck bed right next to it, all while following the "shadow guide" and on-screen control guide.
Scooping sand from a pile to the truck bed right next to it, after moving to the right spot.

Completing both jobs without a penalty allows players to play the "Destroy a bad car!" mini-game for bonus points.

PC100

Used for "Practice Mode" (or Jissen-hen), which focuses on simple jobs with a larger excavator.

Scooping sand from a pile to the truck bed, after moving to the right spot. As the truck is a bit further away, players need to turn more to reach it (taking care not to drop the sand or damage anything).
Demolishing the foundation of an old house by ramming into the frame, while taking care not to damage the other buildings.
Scooping gravel from a pile to the truck bed. It is similar to the first job, but has a building under construction right next to the pile, requiring further care not to damage it.
Digging a long ditch on the road, taking care not to spill dirt or dig too deep (and burst the pipe underneath).

Completing all four jobs without a penalty allows players to play the "Cook curry as ordered!" mini-game for bonus points.

PC1100

Used for "Hard Job" (or Gekitō-hen), which focuses on special emergencies (such as a landslide and an erupting volcano).

Demolishing the foundation of an old house (nearly identical to the second job of Practice Mode).
Breaking down large rocks fallen on the road after a landslide and pushing them out of the path.
Scooping a tall pile of sand from the same landslide onto the haul truck bed to form a path.
Scooping dirt onto a broken bank to stop the approaching lava flow. This challenge is difficult, as it requires players to rotate 180° between the dirt and the bank.

Completing all four jobs without a penalty allows players to play the "Aim a goal escaping trap!" mini-game for bonus points.

Comical Minigame Mode

Also known as Baito-ō Mode ("Part-Time King Mode"), this mode focuses on casual play, often with fantastical scenarios and a stronger focus on speed rather than coordination. Unlike the other mode, two players can play at once, and players can choose the following scenarios in any order:

Destroy a bad car! - Demolish a limousine.
Cook curry as ordered! - Scoop the right curry and load it onto giant bowls of rice.
Aim goal using catapilar! - Drive the smaller excavator through a floating course, taking care not to fall off.
Destroy the shed and bring down the poles! - Destroy a bunch of sheds and reach the flag.
Dig deeper and deeper! - Dig deeper and deeper down a pile of sand, dumping them at specific piles.
Load the truck with sand! - Load sand from a giant pile to the truck bed.
Save a turtle! - Scoop turtles from a large swimming pool into a smaller one, with bonus points for scooping faster golden tortoises.
Aim a goal escaping trap! - Guide the excavation arm through a convoluted course without touching anything. It is reminiscent of the "iraira bō" segment from the late-1990's Japanese variety show Ucchan Nanchan no Honō no Challenger).
Be a good buyer! - Push the right group of giant buttons to "buy" various items at the exact price.

Home versions added three new unlockable mini-games:

Destroy all of the robot men! - Drive the smaller excavator around a floating maze, destroying the floor tiles underneath evil robot Kantoku-kuns.
Hit wooden dolls! - Swing at beach balls in order to knock down wooden dolls.
Defend from the invasion of missile man! - Knock away missile robots before they reach the excavator.

Secret Time Trial Mode

Also known as Hayagi-ō Mode ("Technique King Mode"), this secret mode tasks players with performing a variety of quick tasks within the time limit (from playing whac-a-mole, to knocking down a house frame, to destroying a limousine, to loading sand onto a truck bed). Players are timed for each task, with a high score system for not only each task, but the entire run.

License King

Also known as Getchū Menkyo Kaiden-ō ("Get Driver's License King Mode"), this mode is exclusive to the home versions and provides a 10-challenge "driver's exam", with the player graded based on their performance in all challenges:

Knocking down groups of poles with the excavator arm.
Driving forward to a group of flags, then backing up to park in the right spot.
Driving through a course, knocking over flags without hitting cones.
Scooping sand onto a truck bed.
Driving forward to the correct spot, scooping sand onto a truck bed, then backing up to park in the right spot.
Driving forward to the correct spot, digging a deep hole and scooping sand onto a truck bed, then backing up to park in the right spot.
Flattening a tall sand pile.
Filling in a long ditch with dirt.
Driving through a course, knocking over flags without hitting cones, while breaking down and pushing away rocks and backing into the goal.
Driving through a course, knocking over flags without hitting cones, while scooping up a Kantoku-kun ball from a pond and backing into the goal.

The game's box says earning a high grade in this mode unlocks content for another arcade game through the PocketStation.

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