Lode RunnerLode Runner is a re-haul of one of the most beloved gaming gems, combining fast-paced action with brain-stretching puzzles. The original Lode Runner was made in 1983 for a number of devices including the Apple II and Commodore 64. It was extremely popular and has received a large number of sequels, and ports over the years. Lode Runner for Xbox Live Arcade is in all respects the ultimate version of Lode Runner.
I never did play the original or any of its other incarnations so I don’t have the whole nostalgia factor that might make the game even more appealing to some people. What was surprising to me was how hard this game is, and the difficulty spikes pretty early on. Two player co-op is fully playable throughout the Journey and Puzzle modes. Together or alone it requires a ton of concentration and fast reflexes. Of course the co-op works over Xbox Live to play with mates over the tubes, for people that way inclined.
The basic concept of the game is that you are a lode runner that gets chased around a 2D stage by enemies, all the while collecting gold with a block breaking gun as your only defence. You cannot jump but you can climb ladders and across monkey bars. As your gun is pointed only at the ground you can shoot the blocks below you to the left and right, to trap enemies or to reach well placed gold. Be careful though, the blocks will reappear in a number of seconds. You don’t want to be imploded from the inside out now do you? Once all the gold is collected you need to head to the exit. Journey is the main mode in Lode Runner, progressing through themed levels such as jungle, ice and lava, that increase with difficulty as you go on. The lives don’t even really matter, a Game Over screen appears and you’re back into the level with three lives. I for one am thankful for this given the game’s unforgiving difficulty!
Hang On is a nice little mode that unleashes dozens upon dozens of enemies as you run about collecting the constantly re-appearing gold. It starts off easy but I couldn’t manage to get anything better than a bronze medal.
Puzzle is my favourite mode next to Journey. Single and co-op have a ton of levels that you can play through in any order. These puzzles usually only have one solution and the retry button is a handy addition to your arsenal. The co-op levels are designed in such a way that you have to work together. Suffice to say the experience can be frustrating; it’ll be hard to hold back from punching your buddy in the arm for causing you to die on that last piece of gold!
Last Man pits 2-4 players against each other trying to escape the onslaught of the enemies without becoming one of them. Last Man isn’t the best of modes; there is an unfair amount of enemies that come out and a round usually lasts less than a minute. It feels slapped on but it’s better than having no four player mode at all.
Not to forget the Level Editor. It does take a little while to get used to the controls as with most level editors but once you’ve passed that stage you can pretty much create any level that comes to mind. As well as playing your own levels, community sharing is the big thing these days. I haven’t tried it myself because no one is ever online! Which is the crux of the issue, you can only download levels from people that have a Lode Runner lobby open. I think the game would have benefited if the levels were stored on a server somewhere. That way I could have actually tried some user-created levels for the much touted community feature.
There is a Download Content option in the main menu that looks like it will be used to download DLC level packs in future. I wish that they had included some sort of retro mode to experience the original game. Given that Lode Runner proudly displays “25th anniversary” on start-up, you would think the developers would chuck the original in there. Regardless, with over 200 levels included you’ll have plenty of platforming-puzzle action in Lode Runner to keep you busy. It is the perfect co-op game, provided you and your partner can handle the difficulty.
8/10
By Mriceguy
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