Lode Runner, 1984 Irem/Broderbund

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crazyclimber80

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Published on April 24, 2019 9:54:04 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PppYHGkl0fk

Game:

Lode Runner (1983)

Duration: 33:23

213 views

7

Very good version of the legendary puzzle game originally created by Doug Smith and sold to Broderbund in 1983. That version had a whopping 255 stages and a level editor; this arcade version has but 24 rounds and no level editor. That's just the right amount of rounds as far as I'm concerned anyway; the game can get really tough as it is, with the ways you can get trapped. The gist is that you are some sort of miner trying to collect all the gold in the maze. Enemies try to catch you (which is fatal) and your defense is but a laser pistol that destroys brick floors below and to the left or right of you (controlled by 2 buttons). This is a temporary hole that will fill after a handful of seconds, and the enemies can fall in and be killed-- and so can you-- and the enemies will regenerate somewhere at the top of the screen and fall back into play. Running out of time is also deadly to your miner, but generally you have plenty of time. Ladders are often plentiful on each round, and there are also shimmy bars that you can drop off of by pressing down. Note that the enemies can grab gold-- they will flash if they are carrying a pile (they can't carry more than one, and I think only one enemy can carry gold at once). To get them to drop it make them fall into a hole. You can score bonus points by falling onto an enemy's head from above (not fatal), getting multiple enemies to fall into holes and walking over all their heads, not killing any enemies on one round, completing the round in less than half the allotted time (double points), and collecting multiple piles of gold right next to each other. There will be a new group of enemies after every 3 rounds, and after you pass round 24 the rounds and enemies start over. The non-brick floor areas are a solid color and cannot be dug through. When you collect the last of the gold one or more new ladders will appear, and the one connecting to the top of the screen is your escape ladder-- climb it to the top to end the round. Impressive entry in the famed Lode Runner franchise, with several other arcade entries and home ports of the series to come (including a very good NES port). Suggested by YouTube user Nathan Williams.