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## That should be on XBLA: Lode Runner

Posted Sep 11th 2006 11:30AM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: Xbox Live, Fan stuff, Xbox Live Arcade

Last week, we gave you Power Stone as a great XBLA candidate. However, after going through the comments, we've decided to revise our rules a little bit. A few of our readers pointed out that they'd rather see a full blown next gen sequel to Power Stone rather than a Live Arcade rehash. You know what fanboys? You're right. From now on we will try and steer clear of games that might actually get legitimate sequels. And with that out of the way, we present this week's pick, Lode Runner (as submitted by BklynKid). A puzzle game of the highest order, Lode Runner has all the right curves in all the right places for an XBLA title. The game is simple, fun, addictive, and easy to play in quick bursts. Read on to find out what makes Lode Runner super special.
In Lode Runner, you play as -- get this -- Lode Runner. It's your job to collect all the gold on a level -- by way of ladders, platforms, and monkey bars -- and then make it to the exit. Of course, no video game would be complete without some obstacles and baddies to get in your way. So, naturally, evil robots (or Mad Monks) are out to stop you at every turn. And that's where the game's puzzle dynamic comes into play. Instead of crassly shooting the evil robots, Lode Runner digs holes that act as traps or a handy escape route. Over time, the landscape regenerates itself and the holes close -- occasionally trapping baddies (or our hero) inside. Trapped robots reappear if they get sealed inside a hole, whereas Lode Runner will lose a life. This can become fairly tricky in later levels, as you have to dig holes in the right places and in the right order to reach buried gold -- fail to do this and you will be sealed up in Poe-like grisliness. And on top of all that, there are camouflaged holes that appear to be solid at first glance. All of these things combined often mean that a level will have to be played several times in order to learn the proper sequence of events.
Lode Runner game makes a good XBLA candidate for fairly obvious reasons, but the right additions could make it a truly great experience. What we'd love to see: versus mode, co-op, leader boards, and a level editor. The versus mode could have players competing to get all the gold and escape before the other, co-op is self-explanatory. A level editor could extend the life of the title infinitely. Of course, giving your users infinite content isn't always what businesses want when they're fighting for the bottom line. Still, it would make a great addition -- ah, who are we kidding? We just want to make levels that spell out dirty words.
So, do you think Lode Runner is the dog's bollocks? Or is it just bollocks? Tell us what you think and give us some suggestions for next week's game.
Previous entries:

- Bubble Bobble
- Power Stone

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## Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. Better yet, BATTLE LODE RUNNER from the TGX.

Posted at 11:47AM on Sep 11th 2006 by J.Goodwin 0 stars

2. Lode Runner is a great choice, mind you I haven't played this game since the early 80's...
Other than pinball, I would like to see some of the classic Starwars arcade games on XBLA.

Posted at 11:58AM on Sep 11th 2006 by jc 8 stars

3. Yes Lode Runner would rock so hard! One of my favorite games of all time for sure. Major Nelson had some guy from the XBLA team on who said that he was personally a big fan of the game and was working hard to get it on XBLA at some point. So here's to hoping.
My name is in a post! :) Do I get a star for that?

Posted at 12:20PM on Sep 11th 2006 by BklynKid 0 stars

4. I would love to see spy hunter over load runner...
Yard's Revenge and Super breakout and asteriods would be AWESOME... *drooooooooling*

Posted at 12:28PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Giddieon 0 stars

5. I loved the original Lode Runner on the Apple II. But I found it's sequel Championship Lode Runner a bit too challenging.
I also recall an arcade translation, that just wasn't fun. The controls were oddly too stiff. I can't remember if Sega was the one to release the arcade version. The original was from Broderbund.
What is really needed for these type of games is a really good joystick.

Posted at 12:42PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Xfan 6 stars

6. Used to play Lode Runner obsessively on my original Macintosh, back in 1985. The guy who lived next door to me played it so much he failed his classes and was kicked-out.
150 levels, no save. He played all 150 just to see what would happen at the end. Turns out it just goes back to level 1! D'oh!

Posted at 12:57PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Drengy 0 stars

7. I think I've already mentioned Lode Runner on this site a bunch so I'll spare you all my drooling over this idea.
But I also remember playing through the entire game (no saves) and then being taken back to Level 1 and thinking..."I'm exhausted..." Course I was probably like 8 or 9 at the time.
Also, the guy that talked to Major Nelson was either Ross Erickson or Greg Canessa if memory serves...and he said that they were trying to track down who owned the IP since it had been sold a bunch of times. He stated that they did finally uncover the owner but that there was "nothing to announce...yet."
Here's hoping!

Posted at 1:19PM on Sep 11th 2006 by LunarDuality 0 stars

8. The creator of Lode Runner is Doug Smith, and was originally published by Broderbund (which has changed hands over the years and no longer publishes games). There was a Load Runner Online, which I believe came from Sierra.
Last I recall, Doug Smith was attempting to re-secure the rights, with the thought being a new version would be released.

Posted at 2:09PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Xfan 6 stars

9. Lode Runner is great. Played it on my Mac incessantly when I was a kid.
I'm hoping that Rush'n Attack makes its way to Xbox Live, though I see myself going crazy with the d-pad. I remember that I had problems jumping without meaning to in the arcade version, and the 360's crappy d-pad will not help in that department.

Posted at 2:30PM on Sep 11th 2006 by EnderAl 0 stars

10. How about Lemmings?

Posted at 4:23PM on Sep 11th 2006 by NorCal05 0 stars

11. two words.
dig.
dug.

Posted at 4:55PM on Sep 11th 2006 by get over it 0 stars

12. I have one....Let's bring back Solomon's Key!!

Posted at 8:54PM on Sep 11th 2006 by ctrl-alt-del 0 stars

13. Speaking of classic Apple II games, how about any of the following:
Bilestoad (multiplayer flying robots, who fight each other with axes) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilestoad
Bolo (a fun tank game) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_(computer_game)
Chivarly (a multiplayer medieval board game)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry_(game)

Posted at 9:07PM on Sep 11th 2006 by hey alex 0 stars

14. Jumpman and Jumpman Jr.
2 very fun games from C64 days.
Cheers!

Posted at 9:52PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Deth 0 stars

15. I CAN'T WAIT FOR CONTRA, THE MUSIC IN THAT GAME IS FREAKING AMAZING.

Posted at 12:07AM on Sep 12th 2006 by cerberus414 0 stars

16. Great choice.
The level editor is a must. It was one of the features that really separate Lode Runner from the crowd back in the 8-bit home computer days.
On the same theme, Pinball Construction Set would also be a great item for XBLA, especially if people can share their designs. Microsoft used to talk about user created content int he marketplace. This would be a perfect way to do that.

Posted at 12:15AM on Sep 12th 2006 by epobirs 10 stars

17. I second the call for Jumpman and Jumpman Jr.
I also cry for Archon & Archon II and STAR CONTROL II, dammit.
Mail Order Monsters would be awesome over live, updated for the HD era.

Posted at 12:19AM on Sep 12th 2006 by ZeroCorpse 1 star

18. Yes, LodeRunner would make a great addition. I too played this game far too much on my rich friends apple computer. Back then only rich kids had computers. :)
We also used to play a tron light bikes rip off. I loved that game, hitting your opponents trail was immediate death. Made for some great puzzle action versus games.
Also, we used to love this game, I think it was simply called Bruce Lee. It was a quasi platformer where the objective was to punch out light bulbs in each room before a ninja and Sumo killed you. Next room, rinse, repeat.
Those games would all be great but as long as I'm on the nostalgia trip, there was this game a friend of mine had on his tandy (the model escapes me). It was called "Downland" and it had this little mario-esque guy that was exploring caves. I just remember jumping up steps and trying to avoid drips of acid from the Ceiling. I didn't even like the kid, but I would go over to his house after school to play and I would always end up convincing him we should play some downland.

Posted at 12:38AM on Sep 12th 2006 by subnet6 0 stars

19. Return fire from the 3DO. Perfect for two player split screen and should be perfect for live play. Been waiting for a game like this since, well, Return Fire (Return Fire 2 blew chunks).

Posted at 1:08AM on Sep 12th 2006 by cannedsoda 0 stars

20. Ho come on, enough with that kind of (very) little games...
I mean, at this cost !
Remember they are actually free phone games...
(sorry for my poor english...)

Posted at 1:34AM on Sep 12th 2006 by neko 0 stars

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