Return of Lode Runner

Published April 22, 2009

One of gaming's most beloved franchises, Lode Runner, is now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Lovingly recreated by Tozai Games and SouthEnd Interactive, Lode Runner recaptures the magic and accessibility of one of gaming's most celebrated "cat-and-mouse" games, simultaneously injecting the series with new features bringing it nicely in line with current-gen games.

Lode Runner gameplay never gets old.

Get That Gold
For those unfamiliar with the franchise, Lode Runner finds our treasure-minded hero scampering across vertically-oriented levels in search of enormous gold nuggets. He must run, climb, and shimmy his way through ingeniously designed levels to grab hold of his precious treasures, while also avoiding any contact with the nefarious creatures relentlessly pursuing him.

The goal is not just to escape a level, but to dominate the challenge in the shortest time possible.

While our hero is not a violent individual, he does possess one remarkable weapon in his arsenal, a ground-shattering gun that temporarily blasts destructible blocks into oblivion. By removing the blocks, he can slip into previously inaccessible areas, and send enemies hot on his heels into a temporary trap.

Lode Runner on Xbox LIVE Arcade spices things up even more with level-specific features (such as suddenly appearing/disappearing blocks or teleporters), adding a level of unpredictability to the proceedings expert players can turn to their advantage.

Things are about to get hairy.

Beyond the Journey
While the standard gold-gathering, enemy-fleeing Journey game mode makes up the standard game experience, there are three other equally compelling game modes to keep you on your toes and add some welcome variety:

• Hang On: This survival-based game type ratchets up the tension by asking you to survive as long as possible against an ever-expanding army of enemies. The longer you survive, the more critters the level will unleash upon you.
• Puzzle: Here enemies are taken out of the equation. Instead, you're confronted with mind-bending levels, where only one path will lead to the successful capture of each chunk of gold.
• Last Man: This multiplayer only game type supports up to four players, and plays out much like a game of tag.

In Record Time
Like so many games born in the early years of gaming, Lode Runner places the onus on both level completion and high scores. The goal is not just to escape a level, but to dominate the challenge in the shortest time possible, racking up lofty high scores by virtue of expert awareness and reflexes allowing you to find the shortest, safest path to success.

I knew these heat-proof shoes would come in handy.

Build Your Own
The original game broke new ground with its revolutionary level editor, and Lode Runner for Xbox LIVE Arcade continues this excellent trend with a level editor even the most casual fan can instantly understand.

Because the gameplay operates on a 2-D plane, the level editor simplifies things with a simple grid display. This way, you never have to worry about confusing the issue in regard to where objects lie in relation to one another. This removes the challenge from actually building the level, and allows you to put the challenge into the level, where it belongs.

The level editor.

Levels can be created for each of the four game types, so whether you're hoping to build Journey, Puzzle, Hang On, or Last Man challenges, the only limit is your own ingenuity.

Best of all, once you're done fine-tuning the level, upload it to the Lode Runner community for download over Xbox LIVE. Of course, you can leaf through levels created by other community members as well. With a nearly limitless supply of levels to play through, Lode Runner overflows with almost unprecedented replay value.

Lode Runner for Xbox LIVE Arcade continues to prove that great gameplay is ageless. What worked so long ago continues to prove fun and refreshing all these many years later. With new technology powering slicker graphics and more fluid animation, multiplayer support, leaderboards, community level creation and more, longtime series fans and newcomers alike can experience the richest Lode Runner experience yet. Download the demo today!

Article by Ryan Treit