### 'Lode Runner' makes technological leap

By James Bottorff, Cincinnati Enquirer

If video game history were taught in schools, the Lode Runner series would deserve its own chapter in the class textbook. In its 16 years of existence, the game has shown up on Apple II, Commodore 64, eight-bit Nintendo and now, with Lode Runner 3-D, on Nintendo 64.

InfoGrames

Lode Runner 3-D takes place on the planet Pandora, home of the Evil Emperor Monk.

In his quest for riches, The Emperor has stolen all of the gold from Lode Runner’s home planet. Now the pillaged people have called upon Lode Runner to travel to Pandora, retrieve the hijacked gold, slay the emperor and return home in one piece.

To reclaim the complete treasure you must gather a set amount of gold pieces from each of the game’s 100 levels. Locating the gold pieces is easy, they’re scattered throughout the gaming board, usually in plain view. Actually getting to them is the hard part.

Navigating the levels is a matter of running, using transport mechanisms, and like the other games in the series, breaking through blocks with your blaster gun or bombs. The mazes of curves, destructible blocks and lifts are dizzying and require a lot of trial and error before you can escape with the gold and your life.

Lode Runner 3-D is broken into five worlds, each containing 20 individual levels. As the levels progress, so does the difficulty, often reaching peaks of frustration that can only be overcome by turning the machine off. Fortunately, the high frustration factor is offset by the addictive nature of the puzzles, which won’t let you leave the game for long.

Success in the game is largely dependent upon controlling your view of the gaming surface. Because of the multiplatform layout, it’s not rare to run around a corner and find your view obstructed. The true three-dimensional nature of the game makes the wealth of camera controls, which include zooming and 360-degree rotation, as vital to the game as eluding the guards or grabbing the gold.

Lode Runner 3-D may come as a shock to the series’ faithful fans. While the game’s characteristics remain the same, the advancement in console technology has allowed it to take a pretty big leap in gameplay. While some may shy away from the new approach, those that don’t will be treated to an addictive puzzler that reawakens memories of gaming’s days gone by.

Lode Runner 3-D
InfoGrames
www.loderunner3d.com/
Ages: Everyone
Requirements: Nintendo 64
Cost: $49.95
Difficulty: Medium to Hard

James Bottorff welcomes your comments. Please send e-mail to

jbottorff@enquirer.com.