Emerald Mine

Emerald Mine - the 1987 action puzzle for Commodore 64 from Kingsoft.

Mine through dirt to collect emeralds before oxygen runs out while dodging
falling rocks and hostile creatures.

Core loop
- dig through soil to gather emeralds
- avoid or trap enemies in tight tunnels
- reach the exit before air supply depletes

Systems and items
- emerald - collect for points and to unlock exit
- rock - falls with gravity, can crush or be pushed sideways
- exit door - opens when target gems collected
- enemies - move in set patterns, react to tunnels

Level design and feel
Fixed-screen caverns inspired by Boulder Dash but with faster pacing and
two-player simultaneous mode. Tight timing and route planning are vital.

Why it is notable
- one of the earliest C64 games with cooperative simultaneous digging
- inspired many Amiga sequels and level editors

Tips
- clear a side route before freeing large rock clusters
- lure enemies into falling debris to clear paths
- conserve air by planning minimal detours

At a glance
Year - 1987
Developer - Kingsoft
Design and programming - Klaus Heinz and Volker Wertich
Graphics - Klaus Heinz
Music - Eckhard Kruse
Publisher - Kingsoft
Genre - Action puzzle
Players - 1 or 2 simultaneous
Controls - Joystick in port 2