Taizo as he appears in Dig Dug Digging Strike.
Taizo Hori (ホリ・タイゾウ Hori Taizou?), originally known as Dig Dug (ディグダグ?), is the protagonist of the Dig Dug series and a main character in the Mr. Driller series. Taizo was born on January 1st, and is 45 years old in the Mr. Driller series. His blood type is O.[1]
Story
In 1982, Taizo solved the "Dig Dug incident" caused by Pookas and Fygars, and some time later the problem in the tropical islands that happened in Dig Dug II. Afterwards he was treated as a hero. At one point of his life, Taizo was married with Masuyo Tobi, but they separated for unknown reasons. They had three sons: Susumu Hori, Ataru Hori, and Taiyo Tobi. Taizo is the chairman of the Driller Council.
In Taizo's appearances in the Mr. Driller games as a playable character, he can drill at high speed, but his air gauge decreases fast.
In Dig Dug: Digging Strike, Taizo is jealous of Susumu receiving all the attention as he was the first Driller. When he received a call from Horinesia to ask for help from Susumu, Taizo said he could help with it, but as the person never heard of him and insisted to talk with Susumu, he got angry and decided to do the job himself.
Appearances in other games
Star Trigon
Taizo appears as a playable character in the Windows release of Star Trigon, where he is simply known as "Dig Dug".
Namco Super Wars
Dig Dug is a playable character that joins the group alongside Mappy in the end of stage 16.
Namco × Capcom
Taizo Hori in Namco × Capcom
In the game Namco × Capcom, Taizo was a former soldier that now lives as a Digger (Digouter in Japan, a term from the Mega Man Legends series). In Chapter 21, Taizo, Mega Man Volnutt, and Roll Caskett ended up in the Third Moon because of a dimensional transfer and are attacked by the villains inside, which includes Pookas created artificially. The party rescues them and Taizo joins the group. In the end he says the way he likes to dig isn't like a Digger, and wonders if a job called "Driller" would be more fitting. Masuyo jokingly calls him "Mr. Driller".
Dig Dug BIG NCT
Taizo appeared in the slot machine. In the screen of the casino slot machine, he can be seen running from a Pooka; goal scene with Pooka and Fygar, and the gameplay of the arcade.
Namco High
Taizo become the principle of the Namco High, with King being is his assistant.
Cameos
- The Famista series features a member named after Taizo as part of the Namco Stars team.
- Taizo makes a cameo in Wreck-It Ralph, where he drills underground while approaching Ralph. In the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Taizo appears in a crowd of people discussing the WiFi.
- In the Bravoman webseries episode Couch of Doom, a statue of Taizo and a Pooka appear in Bravoman's front yard.
Gallery
See also
Trivia
- His name is a pun on the Japanese phrase "Horitai zo" (掘りたいぞ) or "I want to dig!" (掘り = dig, たい = want, ぞ = !)