Talking about revitalizing an old franchise. It took over 25 years to produce a good remake of this classic title, but it is finally here thanks to Xbox Live Arcade. Lode Runner makes an HD return and it is as addicting as it was back in 1983. This is where platforming was made famous, just be aware that as this game may look simplistic, the challenge and difficulty it offers will win you over.
The developers just didn't port over a couple of levels to whet your appetite either, as this game offers a ton of features that makes it worth the $10 price tag. You get a single player journey, a multiplayer mode, 50 puzzle levels; a survivor mode called Hang on, and even a history of lode runner for those who've never heard of the game. Oh and did I forget to mention the ridiculously deep level editor? Well it's there too, with even the ability to edit levels that you've downloaded.
The game itself while simple to play is intense and very difficult at times. Don't fret, however, as the developers were kind enough to allow you to continue from the last level completed instead of from the beginning of each world. This is a good thing considering you have a limited amount of lives and many gamers would have given up before completing this game if they hadn't. There are even some additional brain teaser levels between missions to allow you to earn extra lives.
I must point out that in the heat of the moment I found that sometimes the controls were awkward, especially when trying to climb a ladder to avoid an on coming enemy. The shooting mechanics also take a few rounds to master, but if you have the time and the patience, you will find that this classic is very rewarding, fun, and easily worth the price of admission.
With a ton of XBLA titles on the market, and I'm sure more to come, Lode Runner can find a happy place in anyone's queue if you are a fan of platforming/puzzle games. The game looks the part, is fun to play, extremely challenging, and offers a ton of bang for you buck.
